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Technical and further education (TAFE) head teachers: their changing role

Abstract Change in Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in Australia is being driven by government initiatives that must be operationalised at the college level. Head teachers are the frontline managers in these colleges, who have to ensure their sections are responsive to the changes while also meeting the educational requirements of their traditional student base. This research was designed to explore how head teachers were managing in this change-focused environment by examining the reflections of a number of head teachers in one institute of TAFE in New South Wales (NSW). The results of a content analysis of interview data are presented to allow a better understanding of the tensions being experienced in these positions. The findings of the research indicate that head teachers are preoccupied with routine administration and have little time for either effective business management or the leadership of quality educational delivery.