TAFE Courses in Melbourne

Looking to upskill, change careers, or get your first qualification? There’s never been a better time to take a TAFE course in Melbourne. TAFE has long been an excellent choice for building your future and diving head-first into your dream industry — but now it’s better than ever.

That’s because:

TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education, combining practical skills with industry-relevant knowledge.

Unlike higher education (university), vocational education is usually shorter and includes work placements and industry partnerships. A wide range of subjects and qualifications is available across various campus locations, so it’s easy to find a course that fits your goals and schedule. 

Some of the most popular TAFE courses you can take in Melbourne are:

There are currently two funding schemes running for free or low-fee TAFE and vocational courses: Free TAFE and JobTrainer.

What is Free TAFE, and am I eligible?

Are you upskilling or changing careers into an in-demand area? Free TAFE is just what it sounds like: paying nothing for your TAFE course. The Victorian State Government’s funding scheme aims to get people into work and fill skills gaps, meaning that you’ll come out of study ready to work in an area with huge demand and with no study debt.

There are a couple of conditions to this. You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent resident, plus either:

• Going up a qualification level,
• Aged under 20, or
• A Victorian in need of extra support.

‘Victorians in need of extra support’ means:

• Unemployed (and a client of the Jobs Victoria Employment Network)
• A retrenched worker
• An automotive supply chain worker
• Looking to change careers

Free TAFE course list

Government funding may be available for the following courses. This can differ between individual courses and providers, however, so make sure to check your eligibility with the provider beforehand.

As of December 2021, over 100,000 people have enrolled in Free TAFE, getting the skills they needed in education support, carpentry, hairdressing, cookery, teaching and more.

Premier @DanielAndrewsMP unveiling a $108 million funding boost for TAFE. 100,000 people have enrolled for free TAFE. @10NewsFirstMelb #springst pic.twitter.com/Z4eIVycicJ

— Simon Love (@SimoLove) December 9, 2021

What is JobTrainer, and what are the eligibility criteria?

JobTrainer is a funding scheme to help people whose livelihoods were affected by the coronavirus get into a new, in-demand career. The investment is a joint initiative of the Victorian Government and the Federal Government.

To be eligible for JobTrainer, you must be:

• Either an Australian citizen, permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or asylum seeker
• 17-24 years of age when the course begins OR
• A jobseeker, which means you’re unemployed AND hold either a (valid and current) Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran’s Gold Card.

Study areas covered by JobTrainer courses include:

• Health
• Construction
• Agriculture
• Community services
• Food processing
• Financial services
• Logistics
• Beauty services

See all JobTrainer courses.

If you’ve been itching to start your construction career, but you need to complete a construction pre-apprenticeship with a training provider, this is the perfect time to get started. 

Take advantage of one of these pre-apprenticeship priority courses with government funding available:

Melbourne boasts a range of high-quality education providers, both publicly-funded TAFEs and private, specialist RTOs. 

Besides the excellent education options, Melbourne is also a fantastic place to live. Closer to the city are leafy suburbs with a vibrant art and music culture, excellent public transport and a bustling food scene.

Feel like some fresh air? Breathtaking beaches and lush forest walks are just a couple of hours drive out from the centre. On the way home, you can stop for a pie and a cup of tea in a historical country town rich with character. No wonder Melbourne won ‘The World’s Most Liveable City’ seven years straight.

Not living in Melbourne? No worries. Online courses are available, better-developed, and more widespread than ever before. TAFEs offer short online courses all over Australia, so you can get qualified from across state lines or just complete a course on your terms.

When choosing where to study, you must do your research. If you’re looking to study for a certificate or diploma, you may choose between a TAFE or an RTO. Both provide nationally-recognised qualifications and are regulated by the same body. 

The main difference is that RTOs are often smaller, independent and specialise in a particular niche. RTOs are often experts in their subject, offer more flexible learning options, have higher completion rates, and, because they are smaller, can respond to trends and changes more quickly — offering you relevant, up-to-date course content.

TAFEs and RTOs offer more than just accredited courses. Are you looking to expand your knowledge or skillset? A short course can be the perfect way to get a feel for an area, level up a specific skill, or move forward in your career.

The best thing about short courses is that you can complete them in a few days. Increasingly, short courses are available online so that you can study from your home. Almost all training providers offer online courses in Melbourne.

If you’re interested in more specialised short courses at TAFE or a vocational institute, they’re available in subjects including:

Interested in a course, but need to know more about it? Not sure which one is for you? Click ‘enquire’ on a course and fill out the form, and a course expert will contact you.

Fitting study around all your commitments can be tricky. Luckily, studying TAFE courses online has become widely available so that you can take back control of your schedule and study at your own pace. Getting qualified and making your dreams happen has never been easier.

There are plenty of online TAFE courses in Melbourne to choose from, including:

Studying TAFE in Melbourne is an excellent way to further your skills and level up your career. And thanks to online learning, you can live anywhere in Australia and still benefit from the quality education provided by TAFEs and RTOs.

Considering a course, but not sure which one is right for you? Click the enquire button on a course and get help from a course expert.