Change is coming but Ms McGregor rejects claims made this week by the NSW Public Service Association (PSA) that "more than 200 TAFE staff, including part-time and full-time administration and support workers, have been told their jobs have been 'deleted' and they will be put off before Christmas."

The PSA claims "staff are being cut from 16 local colleges along the North Coast."

The Manning River Times this week contacted Ms McGregor to seek details of the mooted staffing changes for the Taree campus.

"North Coast TAFE is definitely not 'putting off more than 200 staff before Christmas', as claimed by the PSA. North Coast TAFE is changing 197 jobs, not removing 200 jobs," she said.

"At the request of the unions, we have agreed to extend the period of consultation with our staff so final details, numbers and timeline aren't yet in place for Taree campus.

"We can say that numbers of staff will vary according to customer demand across the year our proposed structure is deliberately focussed on meeting our customer needs. This means that it's always going to be difficult to estimate the exact number of staff, since it will vary based on customer demand at different times of the year.

"At peak times we estimate that staff numbers will be similar to the number of staff working in the current structure."

Ms McGregor said that "one strong theme" emerged from consultation with staff.

"We anticipate an increased need for a virtual team. The virtual team members would be able to be based in any town in our footprint and provide staff in Taree campus with additional job opportunities."

Questions to Ms McGregor about the number and type of positions that will go from the Taree campus, proposed restructuring to call-centre based positions, and salary cuts to existing positions elicited the response, "this has not been finalised."

The PSA contends the "cuts follow the disastrous implementation of a new computer system across NSW, that had botched enrolments."

PSA acting general secretary Steve Turner said North Coast TAFE management had failed to meet staff and community expectations and was now sacking the local colleges' lowest paid workers.

"To add insult to injury, staff believe the institute director will receive a substantial bonus for reducing numbers," Mr Turner said.

"Local people are losing their jobs and the loss of those jobs will hurt local economies."

Ms McGregor branded as "false" Mr Turner's claim that she would "receive a substantial bonus for reducing numbers".

"There is no bonus for management to reduce numbers this is about working together as best we can to make sure we prepare for the future."

Mr Turner said "some jobs will be replaced by temporary contracts at call centres at Kingscliff and Port Macquarie on much lower rates of pay."

"There will be a few staff remaining at local colleges, but they will be forced to take pay cuts of up to 30 per cent to keep a job," he said.

Mr Turner argued that the changes would impact TAFE students.

"Students will no longer be able to deal with college staff face-to-face to make course enquiries, pay fees or enquire about progress," he said.

"Like so many other users of taxpayer-funded services, TAFE students will now have to queue on the phone to speak to someone at a call centre."

Ms McGregor contends "students will still be able to deal with staff face-to-face, as well as by phone or online whichever they choose."

"This plan will provide students with high quality advice and service from 8am to 8pm, six days-a-week and 24/7 online all year round," she added.