General News
6 August, 2026
Caramut specialist named TAFE board chair
AS South West TAFE’s first board chair to progress from the Observership Program, Caramut’s Kirsten Diprose has had plenty of time to ponder the importance of the organisation.
The Observership Program encompasses a range of south west bodies in giving applicants the opportunity to gain unprecedented access to the inner workings of a governance body over 12 months, in addition to training from the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Ethics Centre.
Ms Diprose was named board chair last week, saying there’s never been a more important time for TAFE as it helps the region to address a critical need for trades such as in building new houses and training essential workers in nursing, aged care and agriculture to bolster major industries.
“TAFE has never been more important and more accessible and we need to maintain that,” she said.
Ms Diprose, a communications specialist, podcaster and farmer, joined the Observership Program in 2020 and was appointed as a board director in 2021.
“That observership year was highly beneficial,” she said.
“It is designed to give potential board directors a chance to experience the inner-workings of a governance body.
“I was fortunate to be placed with South West TAFE and really loved what it does.
“It gave me a good grounding in strategic direction as well as governance, and I hope that helps to guide South West TAFE to a positive future.”
As a former journalist and journalism educator, Ms Diprose has had a life-long passion for education.
“I can see the value it creates for people, giving them opportunities to change their lives entirely,” she said.
“South West TAFE is a great contributor to the local community as an education provider but also through its alignment with industry, making sure we’ve got the right people doing the right jobs for a vibrant economy and community, and as a major employer in the region.
“TAFE has a huge role in the fabric of life right across the south west.
“It is trusted by the community, students want to go to TAFE and industries want to employ people who have been trained at TAFE.
“Both federal and state governments have huge priority areas in trades, aged care, early childhood education and nursing and TAFE plays a vital role in addressing that.”
While this is her first appointment as a board chair, Ms Diprose been a director of Food and Fibre Great South Coast, a committee member of the Rural Press Club of Victoria and president of her local hall.
Although upbeat about the future of South West TAFE, Ms Diprose said the organisation will need to deal with the challenges and opportunities which come with increasing demand.
“There are great opportunities for us to deliver solutions for our region, but because demand is so high, we have to be able to meet that,” she said.
“We also have the ongoing challenge of covering a large geographic area with a comparatively small population compared to other TAFE regions.
“Being able to do as many of the courses we would love to do is always going to be a challenge, but we look at industry needs and interest in a course and try to find ways to make it happen.”
Ms Diprose said the board was mindful of the cost-of-living crisis and recognised the importance of Free TAFE to help students.
“We want to make sure education is as accessible as possible in our region and look at how to best support students,” she said.
“I feel very privileged to be part of an organisation that has meant so much to so many people and played such an integral role in their lives, and hope to continue to be part of that story.”
Ms Diprose replaced Brian Crook as the board chair.