Dunedin education providers are keeping quiet on the Government's decision to get rid of the regional branches of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), but the public sector union is worried young people could miss out on valuable careers services.
Last week the commission said regional offices around the country were closing, and offices in Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson and Dunedin will consolidate to Whangarei, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Five staff members working from the commission's Princes St office in Dunedin will be affected.
The TEC took over Careers NZ last year and provides services including career information and professional development service for career advisers.
The TEC media team confirmed on Tuesday Dunedin services would be operating from Christchurch by the end of June.
Careers and Transition Education Association president Warwick Foy said his association was taking a "wait and see" approach to the changes.
"We really value the relationship [with TEC]," he said.
Several Dunedin secondary schools had no comment to make, and the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic also declined to comment on the changes.
However, Public Service Association secretary Erin Polaczuk said the union, which made submissions opposing the proposed changes, was "disappointed" by the Government's decision.
The TEC had offered its staff members the chance to relocate, but the PSA was still concerned about a loss of expertise, Ms Polaczuk said.
"We still believe this will lead to young people missing out on crucial advice they need to make decisions about their careers and futures," she said.
"Moving services online is not a substitute for the kind of face-to-face contact that regional advisers can offer."
A TEC media spokeswoman said staff in the Dunedin office provided business support services, development services to careers professionals and guidance to the public through the careers advice line.
Nationwide, development services and workshops for school careers advisers would continue until the end of the year while the Ministry of Education looked into alternative arrangements.
However, they would be delivered from the four regional centres, she said.
"The [advice line] provides access to career services via telephone, letter, web chat, email or other correspondence.
"This service will continue and does not need to be location-specific," she said.
TEC chief executive Tim Fowler said in a statement late last week some other key changes to the commission would include the creation of three new directorates, including a learner success team with a focus on lifting Maori and Pasifika achievement.
- By Elena McPhee
