SMART decisions must be made at the Warwick TAFE campus as the education system prepares for a major overhaul, according to TAFE South West general manager Trevor Schwenke.

While in town to meet with the business community on Monday, Mr Schwenke delivered a speech to the Chamber of Commerce updating members on the future of Warwick TAFE operations.

"We're not here to close things down," Mr Schwenke said.

"As we move forward we're looking at what qualifications we can deliver - a lot of the ones we registered for won't be funded."

While business and community leaders were relieved to hear the TAFE campus would remain open, many expressed concerns about the future direction of the longstanding educational facility.

Speaking at the Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Southern Downs Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley said he wished to see the future of rural education remain strong in the Rose City.

"It's refreshing to hear you're not closing the TAFE down," he said.

"We used to run some fairly unique rural courses out here - this campus has a lot to offer."

Mr Schwenke said as a rural person he cared about the TAFE, but admitted there would not be solutions for everything.

"There's some programs people just don't want to do anymore," he said.

"We need to make smart decisions for the future - it's all changing very quickly."

While the final details of changes are still be negotiated, there is still a level of concern among the community about the effects of any major cuts to the campus.

"It's refreshing to hear you're not closing the TAFE down."

Warwick Chamber of Commerce president Bruce Partridge said the chamber was aware that if a strong business case demonstrating adequate TAFE student numbers were not presented, then marginal training would be at risk and courses could move away from the Rose City.

"The old system of TAFE putting on courses and the community filling the seats is gone," he said

"The needs have to be identified and funding sourced - TAFE is just another provider."

Among changes signalled for TAFE campuses were a HECS-style payment system called VET fee HELP, and a shift from Certificate Fours, which were not subsidised, to diplomas, which qualified for funding.