The release of a 'shopping list' of 19 TAFE sites to sell off across the state, including in Bourke and Dubbo, is stirring controversy as an already struggling workforce loses crucial training to the lure of online learning.

Just as the Western Plains celebrates some of its lowest unemployment rates, leading the region in employment recovery since the fall of the workforce in the pandemic, the sale of local TAFE sites has been criticised by the NSW Labor party as a threat to the skilled workforce. 

According to the documents, 10 of the sites have been listed for full divestment, while nine have been listed for partial divestment from the government. 

NSW Teachers Federation Deputy Secretary of Post Schools Phil Chadwick says the sale could prove dangerous to what was already a skills shortage crisis. 

“We think it’s outrageous that TAFE New South Wales is forced to cannibalise its own property to meet operational costs due to a declining budget,” Mr Chadwick said. 

The matter was pursued in state budget estimates on Thursday October 28, where Skills and Tertiary Education Minister Geoff Lee was questioned about the likeliness of the sales. 

Mr Lee denied knowing details of the proposal, however hesitated to completely rule it out as a possibility. 

“It’d be silly for me to actually say anything in terms of what’s going to happen in the future,” Mr Lee said. 

Shadow Minister for Skills and TAFE Tim Crakanthorp says that the estimates were very revealing in coming across the ‘shopping list’ of 19 campuses that the Minister had allegedly never seen. 

“They give guarantees that they’re not selling things off, which they did at last year’s estimates, and then two days later they sold off seven campuses - you never know what to believe,” Mr Crakanthorp said. 

Bourke Shire Council Mayor Barry Holman says that while the list is holds no official capacity right now, council is unlikely to let any local divestment happen without a fight.

“Our hands are never tied - there’s always an avenue - if it comes to that, we will be seeking those avenues before it comes to the crunch," Mayor Holman said.

Both the Labor party and Teachers Federation have noticed a correlation between the divestment of TAFE properties after the establishment of Connected Learning Centres (CLCs) in those communities, following the sales of 13 campuses that netted over $81 million. 

“If your town gets a Connected Learning Centre you can kiss your TAFE campus goodbye,” Mr Crakanthorp said.

“In areas like Bourke and Cowra, they’re keeping the CLC and selling off the rest of the campus. It doesn’t leave much room for expansion in the future, and doesn’t give the students an option to work face-to-face," Mr Chadwick said.

According to TAFE NSW’s description, a CLC utilises interactive technology such as simulations and virtual reality experiences to deliver practical learning and to alleviate the restrictions of distance and lesser facilities. 

If the theory of the Teachers Federation and the Labor party rings true, Bourke isn’t the only Western Plains community in danger of losing their TAFE campus, with another CLC location in Coonabarabran, and one planned to be established in Cobar. 

“Online delivery plays a vital role in supplementing hands on and face-to-face learning, but it can never at any point in time, and should never be considered as a replacement for it,” Mr Chadwick said. 

The online learning model will be scrutinised under a microscope, as practical subjects such as Cert III in Welding and Metal Fabrication as well as Fitting and Machining courses that are undertaken next year will be moved online. The classes will also see 144 hours cut from the syllabus, according to Mr Crakanthorp. 

The decision recently saw a rally in the Hunter Region, disputing the move to online learning. 

“We want our tradies to have tools in their hands,” Mr Crakanthorp said. 

Considering the current climate, online learning is no longer a foreign concept and has allowed students to continue their education through the pandemic. As a result, TAFE’s increasing reliance on online resources appears less dramatic. It’s a move that the Minister in opposition described as "opportunistic" of the government. 

“The measures that were needed to be taken during the pandemic were an emergency measure. We’re moving out of the pandemic and as part of returning things to normal, students deserve to have the option of being able to choose whether they wish to learn face to face or complete their learning online,” Mr Chadwick said. 

“What’s basically happening in this case is the government is taking advantage of the great work that TAFE teachers did during the pandemic and removing that option from students by only running courses online."

A Dubbo TAFE campus, despite making the list of cuts, has supposedly been saved as its lease by a police training organisation has proved it to be an asset. 

For Bourke’s tertiary students and whichever local towns may fall next, however, some fear a future of a lack of training support, a lack of practical experience, and eventually a lack of skilled workers.