NSW Government plans to cut equine studies courses from Richmond TAFE have raised alarm bells with local TAFE teachers, industry employers, and students, according to Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman.

It’s been revealed the government is consulting with staff on plans to cut three racing industry courses – Certificate II in Racing Industry, Certificate III in Racing (Stablehand) and Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider) – as well at the Certificate III in Performance Horse studies.

The proposal would also see the Certificate IV in Farriery move into Animals Studies –completely shutting equine studies down at the Richmond campus. Twelve TAFE staff are set to lose their jobs if the plan goes ahead.

“The Hawkesbury has a vibrant equine industry, encompassing racing, sport horses in the Olympic sports of dressage, showjumping and cross country, not to mention polo, pony clubs, breeding and agistment,” Ms Templeman said.

“Hawkesbury’s Local Strategy Planning Statement, published in January last year, estimated equine services in the Hawkesbury to be worth nearly $160 million annually, employing nearly 700 people. The racing industry alone employed more than 100 people back in 2016.

“That’s why it’s completely unfathomable that the State Government wants to cut these courses.

“Local equine operators - including global racing giant Godolphin, which has its state-of-the-art facilities located at Agnes Banks - have employed students enrolled in the TAFE courses because they receive excellent training and are passionate about the job.

“Working with horses is dangerous, and industry employers want to provide the safest environment possible for their workers. To do that, staff must arrive on the job knowing the basics.

“COVID has meant people travelling from areas like the UK and Ireland, who would traditionally work in Australian stables, aren’t arriving in the same numbers.

“These TAFE students could provide a greater pool of trained local workers, but the NSW Government is allowing that pool to dry up.”

The NSW Teachers Federation has opposed the plan outright, describing it as “short-sighted and reckless”.

NSW Teachers Federation, Deputy Secretary Post Schools, Phill Chadwick said, “The TAFE Equine Studies teachers and support staff provide critical theoretical and practical skills to students at Richmond TAFE.

“These teachers are consummate professionals in their industry and the training they provide ensures that students are not only work-ready but can safely work in high-risk environments," Mr Chadwick said.

“For our equine studies teachers, their work is so much more than just a job – it is a passion – and their work has transformed the lives of so many students.

“This proposal is yet another example of the failure of the NSW Government’s so called ‘Smart & Skilled’ policy, where inadequate and drastically reduced funding has seen courses cut and colleges closed across NSW.

“Federation is astounded that the NSW Government and TAFE NSW are opportunistically using the COVID-19 Pandemic to cite low student enrolments as justification to shut down courses such as Equine Studies.

“TAFE NSW is absolutely essential to a skills-led economic and social recovery and cannot happen if the government continues its attacks.

“It is time that the government recognises vocational education and training as an investment and not a cost and restores guaranteed and increased fund