Page 3546 - Week 13 - Thursday, 26 November 1992
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In conclusion, I note that one of the arguments advanced for the name change was the ignorance of or objections held overseas to the TAFE acronym. I am aware that the institute's council has high expectations of benefiting from the export market and I trust that this endeavour will prove successful. It will not do so, however, unless our own local Australian demands can be satisfied. Otherwise, no matter how successful overseas promotion might be, it could degenerate into anger, into envy and into resentment among our own people who, in this quite desperate training market that exists at the moment, miss out on places they perceive as being taken by overseas students.
This is a matter that is the responsibility not of the proposed institute but rather of governments, and I would urge them at both the Federal level and the local level to be aware of this potential problem. Let me conclude as I began, Madam Speaker: The Liberal Party supports the legislation and we wish the proposed Canberra Institute of Technology good teaching.
MS ELLIS (4.16): I rise in support of the Canberra Institute of Technology (Amendment) Bill 1992. The change in the title will reflect more properly the national reputation the institute enjoys for the quality of courses that it is able to offer, the excellence of the students it graduates and the professionalism of the teachers it employs. It will also guarantee better recognition for students' achievements. It will not diminish TAFE's determination to maintain its commitment to quality education, nor will it reduce the institute's responsibilities to further education and pre-vocational training.
The institute will sustain its practical relevance to the workplace by continuing to play a very significant role in the provision of trade training and will also uphold its second chance courses for students who need to upgrade their literacy, numeracy and preparatory skills. It will allow the active pursuit of national and international opportunities in areas such as tourism and hospitality - for example, the new International Hotel Management School - and environmental training, such as the new Waste Management Centre recently launched by the Minister, Mr Wood.
The new International Hotel Management School will serve us well. It will work towards the rapidly growing tourism industry in this Territory and in this country, and career employment opportunities. It will enhance the nationally recognised leadership role in tourism for this area and it offers enormous export possibilities. The new Waste Management Centre will provide and encourage enterprise in waste management and pollution control. It will offer specialised training in public and private sectors. Educational materials for education, community and special interest groups will be provided, new industry and new jobs will be promoted, and it will promote a very badly needed environmental responsibility in our community.
The new title will also provide a clear indication in international markets that Canberra means quality education. It will fix firmly in the public's collective mind the recognition that the institute provides important skills in advance technologies as well as established manual arts training. It will also clearly state the institute's position in the south-east region in terms of comprehensive provision of post-secondary education and training. By using the name "Canberra" the several local, national and international markets can more readily recognise the geographical origins of the institute.
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