Overview
There are five TAFE colleges throughout Western Australia, with campuses from Esperance in the south to Wyndham in the north. TAFE colleges are vocational education and training (VET) institutions established under the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996. Funded predominantly by the State Government, through the Department of Training and Workforce Development, they offer VET training to more than 100,000 people each year.
Governance in WA's public sector is defined as encompassing the systems and structures by which an organisation is directed, controlled and operated, and the mechanisms by which it and the people within it are held to account. Governance arrangements vary between different types of public sector bodies.
The TAFE college governance resources provided here are consistent with public sector wide governance guides developed by the WA Public Sector Commission.
For further information about TAFE college governance requirements, please contact our Training Provider Governance team at trainingprovidergovernance@dtwd.wa.gov.au.
TAFE Governing councils
The governing council is the governing body of the TAFE college and has the authority to perform the functions of the organisation and govern its operations and affairs. The governing council ensures that local industry and the community have direct input into the strategic development of TAFE colleges; and is responsible for ensuring that clear management, effective decision making and governance frameworks are in place and functioning for the college.
Under Section 39 of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996, each TAFE college is required to have a governing council.
The effectiveness of each TAFE college is influenced by the efficiency of its governing council. Members have the opportunity to contribute expertise to a significant public training enterprise and participate in the growth and development of a vital community and State resource.
TAFE Governing council handbook
The TAFE college governing council handbook is an important and useful resource for prospective, incoming and existing governing council members. It provides information and tools necessary to meet the legislative, policy, accountability and governance responsibilities of governing council members of WA's TAFE colleges.
It also provides information on WA's VET system, Commonwealth and State priorities, and details the role of key stakeholders who are involved in achieving high quality training and workforce development outcomes.
View and download the TAFE Governing council handbook here
Nomination committees
The governing council can establish standing committees as required. Committees of the council consider certain issues and specialised functions in detail and then report back to the council with any recommendations.
Nomination committees formulate policy for governing council member composition, renewal and evaluation, and make recommendations to the Minister on appointments. They are also responsible for:
- developing criteria for evaluating the skills and experience of the governing council;
- identifying potential candidates, interviewing and conducting referee and ‘fit and proper person’ checks for the governing council;
- determining processes for reviewing the performance of the governing council and inducting new council members; and
- considering potential conflicts of interest.
Guidelines, resources and templates
The following guidelines, resources and templates are available to support governance process and practice for the TAFE college governing councils.
General governance
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Title |
Summary |
|---|---|
| Good governance guidelines for governing councils | Minimum governance requirements mapped against the seven Public Sector Commission governance principles |
| TAFE college governance maturity self-assessment tool | A TAFE-specific governance measure for governing councils and colleges |
| TAFE college governance accountability and information network (GAIN) | Terms of reference for the GAIN |
| Terms of reference exemplar | Based on requirements outlined in the TAFE Governing council handbook |
| Managing director performance agreement | The process of reviewing and assessing MD performance agreements |
| Bylaws process | Information on bylaw amendment and the process for gazetting |
Ministerial guidelines and VET Act instruments
Show more| Title | Summary |
|---|---|
| Strategic plan guidelines | Ministerial guidelines for three-year strategic plans |
| Annual business plan guidelines | Ministerial guidelines for annual business plans |
| Annual business plan | Annual business plan templates for commercial, domestic and international activities (Excel spreadsheets) |
| Minister's instrument of delegation (governing councils) No. 1 of 2017 Summary | Administrative instrument delegating governing council Chairs the power to approve member's leave of absence up to three months |
| Ministerial instrument of delegation (colleges) | Outlines the conditions and limitations for delegated officers, to ensure compliance |
| WA (VET) Ministerial Corporation instrument of authorisation (colleges) | Outlines the conditions and limitations for authorised officers, to ensure compliance |
| TAFE colleges commercial activities guidelines | As issued by the Minister |
| Ministerial guidelines: International commercial activities of TAFE colleges | A framework to guide TAFE colleges’ offshore commercial activities |
| Business case template | A sample template outlining elements to be included in commercial activity business cases |
Nomination committees
Show more| Title | Summary |
|---|---|
| Information for TAFE college governing council selection | Provides an overview of the role and processes of nomination committees |
| Position description for council members | A summary of the role and responsibilities of council members |
| Fit and proper person declaration | Declaration for existing and nominated governing council members |
| Governing council appointment timeline | Timeframes for advertisement and selection of council members |
| Skills matrix template | For use in governing council nomination and succession planning |
| Nomination assessment template | For making nomination recommendations to the Minister |
| Governing council evaluation template | For governing council members to rate their own performance |
| Frequently asked questions | Answers to questions commonly asked by prospective governing council members |
| Diversifying boards – Your cultural advantage | This guide to diversifying your council is provided by the Office of Multicultural Interests |
