Mr BAYLEY – Final question: in terms of the 2021 commitment, around 100 jobs, we’ve had extensive conversation across the table about that 69 FTE, including I guess 24 who have been bumped up to full time. That leaves 31 underneath the commitment of 100. You are recruiting. Can you confirm that you’re recruiting to meet that 100 full-time equivalent position target? Does that still stand that you are recruiting and trying to fill another 31 positions?
Mr ELLIS – Yes, but we’re working, as we say, in a more targeted way. Rather than going out and being really scattergun, we’re being much more focused. We expect it will probably take us a little bit more time because highly experienced electrical trainers, for example, don’t grow on trees.
Mr BAYLEY – I understand that. So the target stands: you are still trying to get to 100 and is that fully funded in the Budget to meet that commitment?
Mr ELLIS – We’re working through as far as delivery of this process. I’ll pass over to Mr Dreher in terms of the sense of the timeframe that we might have. I mean, we’ve sort of already provided evidence that it will depend on who becomes available and some of that broader national work. Is there anything further you want to add?
Mr DREHER – Thank you, minister, only to reiterate that we are very specific in the type of skills that we need now. It’s not just a broad brush let’s get 100. It’s very important that we get the skills in the areas –
Mr BAYLEY – I understand that, but through you, minister, the aspiration is still to meet that 100 target and that it is funded.
Mr ELLIS – Yes, we’ll continue to work through as far as providing funding as those teachers come online and become available to us. So yeah, we’ve got a strong target to recruit 100 and we think that there are some big opportunities to continue to work together but noting that now is the time to have that change in approach. We’ve had the broad uplift across TAFE’s teaching capability and now we need to be more targeted and more, I suppose, discerning in terms of the different areas that we’re looking to recruit for. So, that’ll depend on the Tasmanian economy and what courses are in demand and where teachers become available.
CHAIR – The time for screening has expired.
