Guest Speaker: The Wodonga TAFE story … Tony Brandt

Tony gave us an interesting and informative presentation of the challenges and successful results achieved in many areas throughout 2012 at Wodonga TAFE … here are some highlights … 2012 brought many challenges including significant reductions in funding to the TAFE sector as a result of the Victorian State budget in May, restructuring, strategic partnerships and alliances, successful tender bids, the opening of new campuses, and, of course, the merger of Wodonga TAFE and DECA (Driver Education Centre Australia). Quite a year really!

• in spite of all of the challenges, the Institute ended 2012 ahead of all predicted targets.      Wodonga TAFE is in an excellent position to tackle what will certainly be a difficult year ahead.
• Continuing to develop our partnerships with universities and other organisations.  These partnerships have generated significant grant income and will continue to generate growth      and opportunities for us in the future.
• We will begin the delivery of medic training under our three-year contract with the Department of  Defence in June.

Our organisation is in a very exciting phase. We have successfully navigated the integration of Wodonga TAFE and DECA, and we now begin the next phase of transitioning all functions and activities under the broad banner of Wodonga TAFE. While many of these activities are completed, or nearly completed, there are a range of activities that require longer term planning.

The New Organisation The DECA company will be retained and all driver education from Wodonga TAFE and DECA will be delivered under the DECA brand.  All DECA sites and the Wodonga TAFE Logic campus will continue to deliver driver education and expand into additional areas where appropriate.

• The Institute’s executive team has personally visited every DECA site over the last few weeks and will formally induct staff to the new organisation.

The new project The objectives were to merge the two organisations, achieve a new organisational structure, transfer DECA staff to employees of Wodonga TAFE, and to appoint a new DECA Board.

Governance and Leadership It is intended that DECA would continue as a company but that its governance, leadership, and operations would be integrated with those of Wodonga TAFE.

• · Under a new constitution there will be a Ministerial appointment of Boards on 31/03/13. Michael O’Loughlin has been appointed CEO of both Wodonga TAFE and DECA.