6 minute read
EMPOWERING GROWTH ACROSS THE COAST
Six months after taking the helm as General Manager of TAFE Queensland’s East Coast region, Mark Reilly shares his vision for the future of vocational education and training on the Sunshine Coast.
“If you’re not prepared to take on the job of leading the team, you lose the right to complain.” Those are the sage words of wisdom Mark Reilly recalls his mentor bestowing on him when he first embarked on his career.
Now, more than 30 years on, Mark credits this notion, and his desire to empower others to experience the lifechanging impact of education, as the driving force behind his own career path and his recent ascension to the role of General Manager for TAFE Queensland’s East Coast region.
“For me, it’s about acknowledging that the power is in our hands –that if we truly want to make a difference, we have to be willing to put our hand up and walk the talk,” Mark says.
“It’s about putting yourself out there, being vulnerable and taking on the job with the view of improving the future for others.
“My passion is around supporting the student experience, which is really at the heart of everything we do. I want to continue building on the incredible work of my predecessors to ensure we’re putting the student at the forefront of our decision-making. I am where I am today because of what TAFE has provided to me, and I want our people and our students to feel the same.”
Mark began his career as an apprentice electrician when he was just 15 years of age, and still maintains his accreditation to this day; however, it wasn’t until after he’d completed his qualification and practiced in industry for five years that he discovered his true passion lay in education.
“I was at an awards dinner as a recipient and one of the trainers from the business I was working at said to me, ‘You really need to be one of the teachers here’. As a young tradesperson, I was supervising a lot of apprentices and I really enjoyed showing them what I’d learnt,” he says.
“I just had that natural affinity, and one of my peers recognised that in me. Like a lot of our teachers, I found that sharing my knowledge and experience with students and helping them achieve their career goals was incredibly rewarding.”
Mark taught electrotechnology in New South Wales for 13 years before making the move to Queensland. Over the next 18 years, he climbed through the ranks of the vocational education and training (VET) sector, taking on various managerial roles within TAFE Queensland, as well as the Australia Pacific Training Coalition.
After six years as the Executive Director for Education and Training for TAFE Queensland’s East Coast region, stepping into the role of General Manager was not only a natural progression, but an opportunity to lead the region’s VET sector into the future for the benefit of students, local industry and the community.
“At TAFE Queensland, we have the opportunity to offer programs that meet the needs of all members of our community, but it’s about getting the balance right to ensure that we address the greatest areas of priority while creating opportunities for students to succeed in a career they’re truly passionate about,” Mark says.
“Supported by the Queensland Government through the Fee Free TAFE initiative, we’ve been able to increase our training in the East Coast region by over 30 per cent on last year, and for this region–including online programs–we’re looking at delivering training to around 35,000 students this year.
“This is not only a significant increase, but it’s also great news for the local economy and local businesses, with these skilled, jobready students set to graduate and fill the jobs that are most needed in our community – and there are so many great opportunities for our students on the Sunshine Coast.”
With this in mind, Mark says the region will be investing significantly in its facilities, equipment and training for staff to ensure TAFE Queensland is delivering the most upto-date skills to local students.
“Education opens doors and changes lives, which is why we’re partnering with the Queensland Government and consulting with Local Government and community groups to fill the jobs of now and into the future,” he says.
“We’re investing a significant amount into the development of new programs and resources that will enable locals to secure jobs in our emerging industries, including hydrogen and renewable energies, advanced manufacturing, automation, and cyber security.
“For example, we’re the first Registered Training Organisation in Queensland to deliver the Certificate III in Automotive Electric Vehicle Technology (AUR32721), enabling us to deliver the hybrid EV training that local automotive businesses need now and into the future,” he says.
“We’re currently working on our infrastructure plans for the next 10 years with the guidance of local businesses, community groups and governments, so that we can ensure we’re addressing their needs and putting qualifications in the hands of our regional communities.
“We’re also improving our flexibility to support students and businesses in developing their skills while improving our own sustainability. At TAFE Queensland, we pride ourselves on delivering practical, hands-on training, so while there are still large components of courses delivered on campus, we have used technology to adapt and offer a mix of training where people have the option to study remotely from their home while still feeling like part of the TAFE community, which is really game-changing.”
With so many exciting developments, Mark and his team’s vision for the future is certainly taking shape, and will have a positive lasting impact on students, industry and the community for many years to come. It’s a plan they hope will help highlight the value of VET and encourage more young people to make trades and VET qualifications their first choice.
“Vocational education and training provided me with the ability to choose my own future, and this is the case for our students too,” Mark says.
“The qualifications we offer at TAFE Queensland are a real opportunity for individuals to have an extremely rewarding, lifelong career.”
For more information about how TAFE Queensland can help you or your business to achieve your goals, visit tafeqld.edu.au or call 1300 308 233, and let TAFE Queensland help you define your greatness.
