Our Vision

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Centre of Excellence in Disability Inclusion

We are a Network Centre of Excellence that unites students, the TAFE network, place-based communities, industry partners, and government bodies to lead inclusive education through innovation, policy advancement, knowledge sharing and capability building, ensuring TAFE is accessible and enriching for all.

Making TAFE accessible for all


Diversity

Recognising and understanding the diverse experiences of disability and multiple intersectionalities.

Culture

Cultivating an inclusive safe culture by listening, respecting and being led by diverse students and staff with disability (current and future) to improve access, supports and experiences at TAFE.

Innovation

Having a mindset of curiosity, flexibility, openness and willingness to explore and pilot innovations and solutions to improve inclusion.

Collaboration

Actively sharing knowledges, resources and practices across the TAFE network and stakeholders framed by ongoing learning, reflection, and improvements.

Development

Developing competence and confidence in inclusion, equity, diversity and intersectionality, across the workforce, TAFE network, industries, communities and stakeholders.

How do you capture the people who have fallen through the cracks somewhere and re-engage them back into the school system as well or the further education system.

–     Workshop participant

OUR KEY PILLARS

Informed and underpinned by diverse-lived expertise, practice and place-based knowledge.

  1. Operating from a genuine, collaborative governance and continuous improvement approach to meet the goals of The Centre.
  2. Fostering a collective-benefit mindset to achieve The Centre’s vision.
  3. Exploring and implementing transformative actions and solutions to improve systems, practices and experiences.
  4. Creating and promoting collaborative resources, training and knowledge exchanges.
  5. Raising awareness, promoting and influencing the changes needed in TAFE, governments and workforces/industries through shared systemic advocacy.

OUR GOALS

  • TAFE has a culture of inclusion where every student and staff person has a voice, belongs and thrives.
  • Inclusive TAFEs and networks operate from a learning, sharing, respecting, reflection and continuous improvement model.
  • Enhancing attitudes, capability and confidence through education and training formed by lived experiences and their intersectional identities.
  • Support all individuals in having easier, fairer and dignified access to transition to TAFE through each process step, incorporating physical and digital accessibility.
  • Through a holistic and individualised approach, all students have access to what they need to succeed in their education and training.
  • Integrate pathways beyond TAFE into the curriculum and services.
  • Redefining student success beyond completion to include a range of indicators of accomplishment.

CHANGE REQUIRED

  • Reduce disability discrimination in TAFE Systems.
  • Removing silos that lead to poor practices and processes.
  • Changing attitudes about disability and diversity.
  • Removing the multitude of barriers to accessing and commencing TAFE.
  • Overhauling how support is offered, how systems work and how training is delivered.
  • Addressing the large gaps in employment and further education rates of people with disability.
  • Shifting ableist and limited measures of success.

To get involved or to find out more email our team: coeinclusion@gordontafe.edu.au