The state and federal governments will deliver up to 62,800 extra Fee-Free TAFE places in Victoria, ensuring more Victorians, including those in Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay, get the skills they need for the jobs they want.
The Commonwealth funding of almost $107 million will give tens of thousands more people access to education and training in sectors needing workers.
Fee-Free TAFE supports training in areas of high demand, provides access to priority cohorts – including the most vulnerable – and helps students by removing financial barriers to study.
In Victoria, 143 unique occupations are in shortage, with construction, health services and early childhood care experiencing the highest number of occupations in shortage.
The free training push of 2024 will target sectors facing workforce challenges, with Fee-Free TAFE having already attracted a record 33,600 Victorian enrolments since the start of 2023.
So far Free TAFE enrolments in Victoria have supported more than 13,600 enrolments in Care sector courses, more than 4,200 enrolments in Construction sector courses, more than 2,800 enrolments in Technology and Digital sector courses and more than 7,700 enrolments in other areas of national and state priority.
Victoria’s most enrolled Free TAFE courses include Diploma of Nursing with 4,833 enrolments, Certificate IV in Training and Assessment with 2,426 enrolments, Diploma of Community Services with 2,300 enrolments, Certificate IV in Cyber Security with 2,220 enrolments and Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping with 2,104 enrolments.
According to the government, free TAFE has been a game-changer across Victoria, with more than 152,000 students saving more than $384 million in tuition fees since the program began in 2019.
Students in a Diploma of Nursing could save around $15,400, students studying a Diploma of Community Services could save around $7,800, and those looking to build a career pathway through a Certificate IV in Cyber Security could save around $3,800.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the government has saved TAFE in Victoria.
“We have rebuilt a crumbling vocational education sector and then strengthened it with Free TAFE – now we’re giving even more Victorians the chance to get great skills for a great job.
“Thousands of Victorians have already taken up the chance to go to TAFE for free, and we’ll deliver even more spots to make TAFE a reality for an extra 62,800 Victorians.”
