Thursday, 9 June 2022

TAFE funding

Mr FOWLES (Burwood) (17:12): (6421) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Higher Education, Minister Tierney, in the other place, and the action I seek is for the minister to accompany me in visiting one of the TAFEs offering the diploma and advanced diploma level courses in Auslan and Auslan interpreting, which have been added by the Andrews Labor government to the free TAFE program.

There has never been a better time to train for a new career, and our expansion of the free TAFE initiative makes it easier than ever. But there have of course been worse times to train for a new career, like when those opposite were in power. In 2012, in typical fashion, the Liberal-National government completely cut all sign language interpreting courses from TAFE. In fact the entire Victoria TAFE and training system was comprehensively gutted by those opposite between 2010 and 2014. In contrast, not only has the Andrews Labor government brought those sign language interpreting courses back, it is also investing $4.8 million to add the diploma and advanced diploma level courses in Auslan to the free TAFE program. We have invested $3.2 billion since 2015 to rebuild the TAFE and training system, and since free TAFE was introduced by the Andrews government in 2019 it has delivered $240 million worth of fee-free courses, with more than 100 000 people having commenced a free TAFE course.

The work of Auslan interpreters during the pandemic showed just how important interpreting work is for the wider community. There are an estimated 3200 signing deaf people in Victoria. However, only 300 qualified and accredited interpreters exist in the whole of Australia. Building capacity in this sector is critical for our deaf and hard-of-hearing community who use sign language. When an Auslan interpreter is not available it can be incredibly difficult for signing deaf people. It is a barrier that can stop them from attending medical appointments, court hearings, work meetings and social opportunities. By boosting the interpreter workforce we are opening doors that should not be closed and bringing an essential communication tool to thousands of people. I look forward to seeing our investment in action alongside Minister Tierney.