The Queensland Government has announced the passage of legislation that will establish the TAFE Queensland as a new, independent statutory body.

State Minister for Education and Training, John-Paul Langbroek, said that the new body will manage all TAFE institutes from July this year.

“Establishing TAFE Queensland will position our public provider to deliver training that meets the needs of students and industry and contributes to better employment outcomes for Queenslanders,” Mr Langbroek said.

“This is a major achievement and the first milestone for our plan to revitalise vocational education and training in Queensland.”

Mr Langbroek said and the Queensland Skills and Training Taskforce undertook extensive consultation with industry and they told us that we should keep TAFE at arm’s length from the government to enable it to thrive in an increasingly competitive training market.

“Up until now the government has been both a purchaser and provider of training,” he said. 

“By setting up TAFE Queensland as an independent statutory body we will be stronger and more responsive to the skills and training needs of students and industry.”

Mr Langbroek said one of the first tasks would be to recruit up to nine board members with high levels of commercial experience and in-depth knowledge of VET for the TAFE Queensland board.

“This board will determine the new organisational structure of TAFE Queensland so it is important that we have the right mix of commercial skills and experience, balanced with an understanding of Queensland’s rapidly changing training market,” Mr Langbroek said.