The ninth decade 1980-1989
| Computer training |
| New partnerships |
| Women’s increased participation in the workforce |
| New college facilities |
Student Profiles Industry Profiles
The early eighties saw a continued expansion of the State with diamond mining in the Kimberley and the development of the gas pipeline off the North West shelf. These new ventures created a demand for specialised training. For the construction of the gas pipeline, pressure vessel welders were required and expertise had to be brought in from Italy. Salaries were very high creating a strong demand for training. Midland College of TAFE was the first training provider to meet this demand. Although the training included the usual MIG, TIG and aluminium welding, it required more complex techniques and accuracy, as the joins had to withstand x-ray scrutiny.
This decade saw a rapid increase in the computerised treatment of information and systems technology. A report released by the Western Australian Government in 1982 (The Forrest Report) called for a transformation in Vocational and Technical Education to encompass the restructuring that was occurring in industry. A commitment to high technology became the underpinning issue for planners of vocational education and training. The Forrest Report: Vocational and Technical Education futures and the Western Australian Economy, 1982.
Computer training at Midland was first introduced as part of Office and Secretarial Studies. ‘An Introduction to Computers’ was particularly popular with groups of high school students.
Specialised courses and opportunities to experience a range of trades were offered to high school students during the 1980s. This was in line with another of the Forrest Report’s recommendations: to expose high school students to vocational training.
At Midland gender stereotypes were broken with girls being given the opportunity to try their hand at Motor Mechanics. At the end of these ‘taster courses’ students nominated the areas of most interest to them which assisted future planning of their school programs.
During this decade under the direction of Ernie Serls who had replaced Eric Hoare as Principal in 1983, Midland became a regional college. Its sphere of responsibility was extended to coordinate programs for towns within the central wheat-belt area. Regional coordinators were based at Northam, Kellerberrin, Narrogin and Merredin. New links were established with agricultural colleges and high schools and support was provided from Midland for general training areas.
A new telecommunications centre via satellite enabled Midland to conduct a then highly innovative style of correspondence classes. Video conferencing and instruction on subjects such as pilot training and dressmaking were beamed out to country students. At Merredin a telecentre was built equipped with a satellite dish to receive Midland’s signal.
Some country centres offered mainstream courses. Midland supported Moora with kilns to run a full time Diploma in Art Studies. At Narrogin an Automotive course and Commercial Studies were delivered. However most country centres ran part time courses. Adult education, largely catering for hobby groups was one of the main functions of country TAFE centres. The other main area of activity was in Aboriginal Education. Midland had been a centre for programs specifically to meet the needs of Aboriginal people since 1978 and the groups at country centres formed part of the community network. Sports days bringing country and city students together provided a social slant to these programs.
Special Aboriginal traineeship programs were supported by the College, drawing students from all over the State including remote North West areas. Main-stream traineeships were also supported by the College. During the mid eighties the Labor Government under Bob Hawke set up traineeships through a whole range of government departments. Trainees were paid 75% of a Level 1 salary provided they attend TAFE for 25% of their time. Some came to Midland for one day a week while others attended in a block.
At the beginning of the nineteen eighties the Railways
still played a very significant role in determining training at the College. In
1982 students in the first full time course in Mechanical Engineering were
mainly railway employees. But by the mid eighties, the focus on apprenticeships
had changed. Higher wages for apprentices resulted in a drop off for demand,
with firms preferring to take on fully trained tradesmen. Government departments
including the Railways also began to view the training of apprentices as an
expensive 
exercise. The emphasis changed to the individual taking responsibility
for their training rather than the Government. Apprenticeship schools at the
Workshops closed as the Railways only took in apprentices to meet their own
needs. This trend coincided with a steady reduction in staff numbers at the
Workshops as steel and aluminium wagons replaced high maintenance wooden wagons.
The range of trade training for railway employees was also reduced as trades became redundant. The Railways and the College jointly developed a new course combining Blacksmithing and Boilermaking. Locksmiths who had once had their own trade trained as fitters.
In addition, the Abattoirs, the next largest local employer of apprentices closed in 1982.
Decisions on new directions for training were greatly
influenced by the College Advisory Committee. Local community representatives at
that time included Bill James, viticulturist, 
Joan Piesse librarian and art
advocate, John Stefanelli local businessman, Bill Kirkham (on right)
Master of
Apprentices for the Railways , Ron Dollard Mundaring Shire, John Sharp-Collett,
unions representative, Neville Davis, trades lecturer and Mrs Galloway who
represented seniors’ interests.
Industry Training Boards made up of representatives from
the Chamber of Commerce and unions were a major influence on the development of
curriculum through the Technical Education Advisory Committee. Superintendents
of study areas and Principals had the responsibility for running and resourcing
programs.
During this decade a training partnership with the Swan Shire Council greatly boosted Carpentry and Joinery classes. In 1985 Electrical Training was introduced. Viticulture was established in 1989 to service the rapidly growing wine industry which had expanded beyond the Swan Valley to the South West regions.
Midland’s sphere of influence was extended during the 1980s through its lecturers taking their skills to other countries. Fred Flottmann had established a reputation for Railway trained Midland TAFE lecturers through his work with the International Labour Organisation. George Macauley was another example with his training for Shell Oil in Brunie.
Women’s participation in the workforce continued to grow during this decade. New Opportunities for Women was designed as a bridging course to increase women’s participation in mainstream study areas. The College set up one of the first child care centres to support a training institution. Originally housed in the old caretakers cottage it was moved to the College’s new site in Lloyd Street, where a child care centre was built. In turn the child care centre formed part of the training ground for students of the Associate Diploma in Child Care which commenced in 1989.
During the 1980's new facilities in technical education
were funded by the Federal Government. The new TAFE at Thornlie,
which is now part of Swan TAFE
opened in 1980, and in 1981 planning began for a
‘state of the art’ facility at Midland. Land, which had originally been
utilised by the Midland Railway Company was made available through the Midland
Shire Council.
The new blocks of workshops for training students in Fitting and
Machining, Automotive and Aviation
(Block E) and Metal Construction (Block F) were the first opened in 1985
along with the Central Store( Block H). Gradually each department was moved to Lloyd
Street: in 1987 blocks A B and C opened, and in1989 the new library and canteen
opened.
As the decade came to a close the impact of the stock
market crash, high interest rates and the fall out from the State Government’s
business involvements impacted strongly upon training.
Educational Programs for Unemployed Youth (EPUY) run by Pam Ellinson gained momentum during the 1980s. In 1990 the Wills shirt factory in Midland closed after 40 years and unemployed women, largely with English as their second language were given literacy training at the College.
By the end of the 1980s the total student enrolments at the College was 4500. All program areas were housed in the new Lloyd Street facility and in 1990 the old building was opened as an enterprise centre.
The Midland Technical College staff cricket team in 1982 (from L
to R)
top row: Theo Mika, Ian Ray, Russell Gilbert, Ralph Mattner, Duncan
Morton, David Jamieson
middle row: George Horsborough, Derek Russel (Principal
1981-2), Pat O'Brien
front row: (unknown), Alex Watt, Brian Matthews,
Graham Batten.
During this decade the College had three Principals: Derek Russel from 1981-82, Eric Hoare from 1983-84 and Ernie Serls who remained until 1994.
Thanks to Ernie Serls, Jim Cairns, Bill Kirkham, Lyn Gerovich, Shirley Andrusiak and Ron Wadham.
