Free TAFE Courses Victoria
As part of the 2018 Victorian State Budget, the government has pledged $172 million to the TAFE system. This means, that from 2019, there will be 50 Free TAFE courses and apprenticeship qualifications available to students.
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.
Free TAFE in Victoria – What You Need to Know
Are you ready to say goodbye to your TAFE courses fees Victoria? Well thanks to the State Government, now 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 these are available to.
The fees aren’t being wiped to every TAFE course in the state, but instead are only for 50 courses in what the Government consider TAFE ‘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?
There is one important consideration if you want to take part in a free TAFE course: it only applies for Australian residents. Unfortunately, international students looking to study in Victoria will still need to pay the full fees. Apart form that, there’s virtually no other catches. The Victorian Government have tried to make this as easy for Australians to have access to quality education, and in such a bold move; its definitely one that thousands are going to try and make the most of.
How Do I Apply?
The changes to the TAFE system in Victoria aren’t set to take place until the start of 2019, so for now, enrolments will still have fees as normal. Some TAFE providers in Victoria may start taking enrolments for 2019, but this will be 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’s plenty of in Victoria. If you want to see the full list of Victorian TAFE Institutes, view them here.
How Many Courses Can I Do For Free?
While you may want to take part in more than one free TAFE courses, there is a limit. A student in Victoria can only undertake one subsidised course.
They must also fulfil the following criteria:
Must be aged under 20 or looking to upskill (despite any other completed qualifications held)
Must be aged 20 or older and looking to enrol in a course that is of a higher qualification than one that is already held by the student
Victorians who are in need of additional support
Why Have the Vic Government Made These Courses Free?
It’s long been discussed that there’s serious financial difficulties for students looking to study at TAFE, with most courses needing to be paid up-front and only a selected amount available for Student Loans. The ‘Free TAFE for Priority Courses’ will help lessen the financial barriers for students looking to study in areas that government have deemed as ‘High Priority’ for future growth. One of the main factors behind this, was the findings in the Victorian Skills Commissioner’s Apprenticeship and Traineeship Report, which highlighted how important these programs are for the future. Other high growth industries, including community services, aged care assistance and allied health.
Victoria 2050
The recent changes to the TAFE system proposed by the State Government reflect the changes that need to be made to the workplace for the future. The population of Victoria is expected to be as high as 10 million people by 2050; 8 million just in Greater Melbourne alone. Such a massive growth rate means that we need to have the infrastructure to house and provide care for the extra population. This is why so many of the soon-to-be free TAFE courses in Victoria are in areas of importance, including:
Aged Care & Disability
Agriculture
Building & Construction
Education
Engineering
Nursing & Mental Health
Not only is the population of Victoria expected to grow bigger, but it’s also expected to become older. Professionals in health care, allied health and aged care assistance will be in more demand than ever; and to accommodate, there’s plenty of free TAFE courses made 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.
Free TAFE Courses By Subject
The courses offered by TAFE that will be free in 2019 come in a wide variety of subjects. If you know what area you’re passionate about, browse the free courses by subject.
Agriculture &
Horticulture
Certificate II in Agriculture
Certificate III in Agriculture
Certificate IV in Agriculture
Certificate III in Agriculture (Dairy Production)
Certificate III Horticulture
Accounting &
Business
Certificate IV in Accounting & Bookkeeping
Diploma of Accounting
Diploma of Justice
Advanced Diploma of Accounting
Building &
Construction
Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
Diploma in Building and Construction (Building)
Certificate III in Civil Construction
Certificate III in Civil Construction Supervision
Community Services & Education
Certificate III in Community Services
Certificate IV in Community Services
Diploma in Community Services
Certificate IV in Mental Health
Education &
Training
Certificate III in Education Support
Certificate IV in Education Support
Engineering &
IT
Certificate IV in Engineering
Certificate IV in Cyber Security
Hospitality &
Culinary Arts
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
Certificate III in Hospitality
Certificate III in Tourism
Nursing &
Allied Health
Certificate IV in Ageing Support
Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance
Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
Certificate III in Dental Assisting
Free Apprenticeships & Pre-Apprenticeships
The courses offered by TAFE that will be free in 2019 come in a wide variety of subjects. If you know what area you’re passionate about, browse the free courses by subject.
Agriculture & Horticulture
Certificate II in Horticulture
Certificate II in Production Nursery
Art & Design
Certificate II in Signage and Graphics
Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts
Automotive Trades
Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology
Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology
Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology
Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation
Building & Construction
Certificate II in Building and Construction (Pre-Apprenticeship)
Certificate II in Construction Pathways
Certificate II in Glass and Glazing
Carpentry & Plumbing
Certificate II in Furniture Making
Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship)
Community Services
Certificate II in Salon Assistant
Engineering & Electrical
Certificate II in Electrotechnology
(Career Start)
Certificate II in Electrotechnology
(Pre-vocational)
Certificate II in Engineering Pathways
Certificate II in Engineering Studies