Thousands of Victorians are on the way to getting the skills they need for the most in-demand jobs, with 13,500 students now enrolled in training under the Andrews Labor Government’s Free TAFE initiative.
Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney announced that February saw a 60 per cent increase in Free TAFE course enrolments compared to these TAFE courses at the same time last year.
Underlining the importance of TAFE to regional communities and industries, almost one quarter of Free TAFE commencements were in regional Victoria.
Around 1,600 students are enrolled in pre-apprenticeships pathway courses, and around 11,900 are enrolled in Certificate III to Diploma level courses.
To date, the most five most popular Free TAFE courses are:
- Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
- Diploma of Nursing
- Diploma of Community Services
- Certificate IV in Education Support
- Certificate IV in Cyber Security.
The Labor Government’s $172 million Free TAFE program is making 30 priority TAFE courses and 20 pre-apprenticeship courses tuition fee free from this year.
Free TAFE for Priority Courses reduces the financial barrier for eligible students wanting to train in the courses that lead to the jobs that are most in demand from Victorian employers.
Students can save up to $2,500 for some pre-apprenticeship courses and up to $5,000 for Certificate IV courses. For high cost courses such as a Diploma in Nursing or a Diploma in Building and Construction, students will save more than $10,000 through the Free TAFE initiative.
As noted by Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney
“Enrolments in Free TAFE continue to grow, with thousands of Victorians jumping at the opportunity to develop skills for the jobs that keep Victoria moving.”
“Not only are we investing in the projects our state needs, we’re investing in the people we need to deliver them.”
