Macquarie Fields TAFE and South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE

Dr ANDREW McDONALD (Macquarie Fields) [5.59 p.m.]: I bring to the notice of House the achievements of our local TAFE system, in particular the I Am Me Program at Macquarie Fields TAFE and the 2007 Student Achievement Awards for the South Western Institute of TAFE. Earlier this year I attended the I Am Me presentation at Macquarie Fields TAFE, which was a fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The presentation was organised as part of a course targeted at disadvantaged women, with the aim of empowering them with self-esteem. The course identifies their transferable skills, helps them develop job-seeking skills and helps with further education.

The outreach course was implemented as part of the Premier's Department's Strategic Plan 2005-2006 that was developed in consultation with community, government and non-government organisations as a result of the civil unrest in 2005. The object was to engage women living in Macquarie Fields and provide training to enhance their opportunities for employment. Part of this process involved the students in decision making in relation to a project that they would plan, implement and review.

Michelle Morrison was the course organiser, and the students decided to organise a fundraising event for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, including linking up with a local fashion retailer to provide a fashion parade. A total of $916 was raised during the two-hour event. I had a wonderful time and was really impressed by the effort of the staff and students, all in support of one of my favourite causes. The Soul Sisters from year 8 at Campbelltown Performing Arts High School sang brilliantly. Another student, Lisa Blackley, gave a courageous and inspiring speech, in which she described her son's brave fight for life from ultimately fatal liver disease. Her words will live with me forever. Courses such as I Am Me are very important to the social fabric of our area. The staff at Macquarie Fields TAFE are committed and do a wonderful job for our community. We look forward to future expansion of the college. I commend both the I Am Me Program and Macquarie Fields TAFE to the House.

In July I was fortunate to attend the 2007 South Western Sydney Institute Student Achievement Awards held at the Liverpool Catholic Club in my electorate. The South Western Sydney Institute, the largest TAFE institute in Australia, comprises nine colleges, and has 550 courses for 75,000 enrolled students. New South Wales is extremely fortunate to have Barry Peddle, the director of the South Western Sydney Institute, who is a committed, passionate educator. The TAFE system provides the first, second and third chance for education for our people and the South Western Sydney Institute has many innovative programs, such as the I Am Me Program, and others that are conducted 100 per cent of the time in the workplace. The Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. John Della Bosca, was present and he said, "TAFE gets things done". Achievements such as those of the students present on the night do not come easily. TAFE New South Wales is the largest workforce training provider in Australia and the current annual State budget is $1.7 billion.

The State Plan for 2005-2016 aims to increase the number of people in education from 11.7 per cent to 16 per cent and to allow more flexible training. The goal is that the number of 18-year-olds in year 12 or in recognised training will increase from 82.7 per cent to 90 per cent. The Iemma Government's 25 trade schools will be a major step forward in trade training for our people. The institute director's medal was given to Cheralyn Darcey, who was selected from all the finalists. Eamon Brown from Granville College Students Association spoke on how life would be dull without the input of the student association, and he paid tribute to the dedicated teachers at TAFE and the way TAFE makes a difference to the way our students live.

The night was organised by Beverley Dimitrovski and was an enormous success. Sponsors included Optus, the South Western Sydney Institute student associations, Advance Metal Products, Fuji Xerox, Liverpool City Council, Volvo Commercial Vehicles, Hunt's Comfort Inn, Liverpool Catholic Club, TAFE and Community Credit Union, Thiess, Bankstown City Council, and Telstra. We are extremely fortunate in south-western Sydney to have such committed TAFE teachers and students. They do a great job and deserve the praise of the House.