Benjamin Preiss
May 23, 2012
Brenda McKinty and fellow language students at Kangan Institute are signing ”bad” at the prospect of their course being cut. Photo: Pat Scala
THE only Victorian TAFE to offer sign language diplomas will stop teaching the course because of state government funding cuts.
Kangan Institute told students this week its Australian Sign Language (Auslan) course was ”unviable” and would close by the end of the year. In a statement the TAFE said it would cease enrolling new students.
”Kangan Institute is very proud of the role its Auslan staff and programs have played over many years in serving the needs of the deaf community and understands the distress caused by what appears to be unplanned outcomes resulting from measures in the state budget,” the statement said.
Students who want to work as an interpreter must obtain a diploma in Auslan before transferring to a diploma of interpreting at another provider.
Kangan Auslan co-ordinator Julian Hertan said there was already a shortage of interpreters, which would worsen without another course.
”Demand is still high. Losing this course means that training in Victoria stops and the situation deteriorates,” he said.
But a spokesman for Tertiary Education Minister Peter Hall said the government would offer subsidies to the Deaf Society of NSW so that it could offer Auslan training in Victoria.
The spokesman conceded funding for diplomas had been cut, but the government had hoped Kangan would continue to offer Auslan despite the reduced funding. ”The government is disappointed that Kangan Institute has chosen to withdraw delivery of these courses. However we are confident that training in Auslan will continue,” he said.
GippsTAFE withdrew its Auslan course last year. Vicdeaf chief executive Graeme Kelly said it was important to find another Auslan provider in Victoria. ”We’ve got to find an alternative because we have to provide the service,” he said.
Mr Hertan said Kangan staff in Richmond had hoped the TAFE would find a way to continue the course. ”It’s a profession that we’re passionate about. But for the deaf staff who are qualified teachers it’s a part of their identity.”
Auslan student Brenda McKinty said students were horrified by the coming closure. ”Without the level of training I need I won’t be able to converse fluently with deaf people,” she said.
Kangan students held a meeting yesterday to discuss a campaign to keep Auslan training in Victoria.
Federal Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans will meet TAFE executives at William Angliss Institute this morning. The Age believes Kangan chief executive Ray Griffiths is not expected to attend the meeting.
Senator Evans said TAFEs were essential training providers in regional Victoria and for disadvantaged students.
”The Victorian government is risking significant skills shortages if its budget cuts mean some of the biggest state’s biggest training providers are forced to downsize or worse, shut down,” he said.
Yesterday Swinburne University revealed the extent of the cuts to its budget. Vice-chancellor Linda Kristjanson told staff Swinburne would lose $35 million for its TAFE in 2013.
She said the university would have to make some staff redundant. Professor Kristjanson said the cuts could affect the university’s growth because 20 per cent of undergraduates were admitted into university because of their TAFE qualifications.
