BendigoWeekly www.bendigoweekly.com.au
ISSUE 842 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2013
Bright future for the pool AGAINST the odds, the Golden Square pool will re-open tomorrow. The community-run campaign to keep it alive will culiminate with a free family day of celebration - STORY Page 2
SUNNY DAYS: Golden Square Community Pool president Ken Hamilton and Cr Elise Chapman. Photo: ANDREW PERRYMAN
MORE JOBS GO
By CHRISTINE MCGINN
A FURTHER 47 jobs will be lost at Bendigo TAFE as it tightens its belt in the wake of State Government funding cuts. The TAFE also announced the closure of its BRIT Beginners Childcare Centre and the cutting of three more courses – bricklaying, cabinet making and mining. About 20 teaching, 12 administration and support, and 15 child-
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TAFE funding cuts continue to bite
care positions have been made redundant in the latest cuts. This brings the total to 147 jobs lost since the TAFE’s restructure began in March last year. On top of the cuts, 33 courses overall have been slashed, a library lost and the Kyneton campus closed
to ensure a viable business model. Bendigo TAFE interim chief executive officer Peter Coyne said he made the challenging decisions to ensure the viability of the organisation. “These changes are very, very necessary. The traditional TAFE
Detective answers critics – Page 3
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model is not a viable model,� he said. “We must be a viable, independent business in our own right and cannot rely on government handouts.� Mr Coyne said the job cuts were part of a long-term business plan
PND laid bare – Page 5
80 The only place to be ...
model that ensured the TAFE could compete as a premium Victorian educational facility. “2014 is our stabilisation year and the plans we have put in place go a long way to stabilise the viability of the business in 2014. 2015 and beyond is growth,â€? he said. Mr Coyne said changing learning methods forced the TAFE to quickly adapt to the educational landscape. Continued Page 3
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