Publish on May 7, 2018

Free TAFE Courses in Victoria

Guy Clennett

With the Victorian Government’s Free TAFE program, you can access more than 80 Free TAFE qualifications and short courses.

Free TAFE courses in Victoria are available from Certificate- Advanced Diploma courses as well as pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs. Subjects include aged care, disability, nursing and trades.

Browse courses by subject below or location.

Free TAFE in Victoria – What You Need to Know

Are you ready to say goodbye to your TAFE course fees in Victoria? Well, thanks to the State Government, you can. But if you want to make the most of this opportunity, here’s what you need to know first. The courses available for free at TAFE include Certificate II- Diploma qualifications, pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships. While you can save a lot of money through taking part in these free courses in Victoria, it’s important you know who exactly they are available to.

The fees aren’t being waived for every TAFE course in the state, but instead are only for 50 courses in what the Government consider TAFE’s high priority areas’. The full list of courses can be seen below.

Are the TAFE courses completely free?

While this proposal can save you thousands of dollars on courses that can be priced as high as $10,000, there will still be some minor costs involved. Students will still need to pay for any additional course materials or resources, including textbooks and required equipment. These costs, however, are very minor in comparison to the savings that thousands of Victorians will make under this proposal. Usually, students need to pay up front for courses they wish to complete at TAFE, unless the course is eligible for the Student Loans funding.

Who’s eligible for Free TAFE courses?

All Australian citizens are eligible for Free TAFE regardless of their education level. You can also access multiple Free TAFE courses if they Free TAFE courses are in the same priority pathway. Unfortunately, international students looking to study in Victoria will still need to pay the full fees.

How do I apply?

Enrolment in Free TAFE courses is based on the individual provider. For those looking to make the most of the free courses, the application process is no different from normal. The course has to be on the approved free TAFE list, and from a TAFE Registered Training Organisation, which there are plenty of in Victoria.

How many courses can I do for free?

Now, you’ve got the opportunity to enrol in multiple Free TAFE courses if they fall under the same priority pathway. This means you can go for a Certificate III, move on to a Certificate IV, and even complete a Diploma, all without having to worry about tuition fees. This is because the one Free TAFE course per person has now been removed for priority pathways. There is a limit, however, of one Free TAFE course per person for Free TAFE courses that do not fall under a priority pathway.

Why has the government made these courses free?

It has long been discussed that there are serious financial difficulties for students looking to study at TAFE, with most courses needing to be paid up-front and only a select amount available for Student Loans. Free TAFE softens the financial burden and at the same time supports key industries that experience skills shortages in Victoria and Australia-wide.

---

300,000 Free TAFE Spots Available From 2024

The Australian Government recently announced 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education spots available nationally from 2024 onwards. This is in addition to the Free TAFE place the Victorian Government have been offering since 2019. This initiative is to help close the national skills gap with some of the biggest priority areas, including:

• Aged Care & Disability
• Agriculture
• Building & Construction
• Education
• Engineering
• Nursing & Mental Health

With the population of Victoria expected to grow bigger, and also become older, professionals in health care, allied health and aged care assistance will be in more demand than ever. To facilitate skills development for these areas, there are plenty of free TAFE courses available.

---

TAFE in Victoria

If you’re interested in the free TAFE courses available in Victoria, you might also want to know more about your study options. Whether you’re looking for online courses or in-class courses, there’s a huge variety to choose from. There are over 76 campuses in the state offering TAFE courses, making it easy for you to access the training you need to start your career.

• Ballarat
• Bendigo
•  Box Hill
•  Broken Hill
•  Dandenong
•  Frankston
•  Geelong
•  Melbourne
•  Melton
•  Mildura
•  Monash
•  Mornington Peninsula
•  Shepparton
•  Traralgon
•  Warrnambool
•  Warragul
•  Wodonga

---

Free TAFE Courses By Subject

Here is a list of courses offered by Free TAFE. If you know what area you’re passionate about, browse the free courses by subject.

Free Apprenticeships & Pre-Apprenticeships

Here are the apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships offered by Free TAFE. If you know what area you’re passionate about, browse the free courses by subject.