Following a 20 year career in Tasmanian senior secondary colleges as a teacher, curriculum officer, department head and principal, Graeme Kirkwood managed his own education and training consultancy for seven years, before joining TAFE Tasmania in 2002 as Manager, Learning Development. Graeme has developed a whole-of-organisation change management plan for TAFE Tasmania which combines strategies for building staff capability with a focus on knowledge sharing, blended learning and 'high quality learning environments'. Implementation of TAFE Tasmania's Flexible Learning Plan is currently Graeme's primary focus.

This article focuses on the initial stages of managing change in a large VET sector organisation. In particular it deals with strategies for proposing and communicating the need for change, gaining support, and building early momentum. Using a case study approach, the article traces the development and early implementation of TAFE Tasmania's Flexible Learning Plan, which was the outcome of the author's year as a Flexible Learning Leader in 2003.

Click to download Graeme's plans for guiding the Institute of TAFE Tasmania's transformation.