Page 1312 - Week 04 - Thursday, 8 May 2014
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MS GALLAGHER: It is, for the reasons I have just outlined. If Mr Hanson is suggesting that we should slash the salaries of VMOs to make them more comparable to New South Wales, then go out and start arguing that. These are complex reasons. Yes, the ACT health system must find savings and must drive efficiency. We are signed up to the national efficient price, and that is helping to drive efficiency across the health system. That is part of it.
These are not easy savings to find. Ultimately they get back to the patients. Our approach to health care has been to provide high-quality care to patients and to provide as many of those services in Canberra as possible. That is what we will continue to do, but we will look to drive efficiency. (Time expired.)
Education—Canberra Institute of Technology
MS PORTER: My question, through you, Madam Speaker, is to the minister for education. Minister, can you highlight some of the key outcomes in the recently tabled CIT annual report and how they place CIT for future success?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Porter for her question. As the report shows, while CIT has faced challenges in recent years, it continues to perform very well. Vocational education and training has seen significant changes over recent years, including changes to the public TAFE sectors in Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. As the ACT’s only public provider, CIT has fared better than most of its counterparts, particularly in international markets and increasing enrolments.
CIT’s mission is to change lives through quality education and skills development for individuals, industry and community. In 2013, despite a period of real change, the CIT met its delivery targets and student and employer satisfaction remained very high. During 2013 the CIT council conducted a review into CIT’s future governance, and it provided some positive direction as the CIT moves through changes expected in the coming years. I am currently considering those options arising from that review and can indicate to the Assembly that some changes will come into effect.
To address its internal capacity and organisational culture, the CIT has also undertaken a strategic review and planning process. This resulted in a major internal restructure last year. CIT continued to maintain strong partnerships with businesses and industry and released its new strategic plan after significant consultation with staff and other key stakeholders. The new plan has greater focus on strengthening CIT’s position to be successful in the increasingly competitive vocational education and training market.
Other highlights for CIT during 2013 include learner satisfaction remaining at 92-plus per cent and employer satisfaction at 89 per cent, CIT receiving a further seven-year accreditation as a higher education provider, and CIT being successful again at the Australian awards for training of excellence with a local student Ian Goudie being runner-up in the Australian vocational student of the year for 2013.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
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