The Popularity of TAFE Courses in Australia
Is there a more honest indication of intent than TAFE? You get exactly what it says on the jar. Training and Further Education. TAFE courses in Australia are very popular as they provide a highly accessible route into higher education.
TAFE courses are available through online and classroom based lessons, giving students more flexibility. Entry requirements for TAFE courses are also not as high as undergraduate courses, but because they provide pathways to undergraduate degrees they can be a great starting point.
Another reason for the popularity of TAFE courses is the huge variety of courses available – from Floristry to Biotechnology, and virtually everything in between. Every TAFE course you complete can have a positive bearing on your career as well. Each qualification is an indication of your commitment to improving yourself and your abilities in your field.
The way that TAFE courses are structured means that there is an entry point for every student regardless of your previous education levels, and the option to build course upon course right up to a university degree.
As an example, you could start at TAFE with a Certificate I in Engineering (no admission requirements) and build up to an Advanced Diploma and even go all the way to a Engineering Postgraduate Degree. This is a great opportunity for anyone who may have missed out on the opportunity so far.
Popular TAFE courses
- Diploma of Nursing
- Diploma of Counselling
- Certificate III in Aged Care
- MYOB Introduction – Expert
- Microsoft Office Specialist 2013 Package – Excel – Word – PowerPoint – Outlook
Other Benefits of TAFE in Australia
- TAFE courses can be completed part-time or full-time, giving students the opportunity to study while still working. This is ideal for people who are upgrading their skills to get the next promotion, as well as those who are planning a career change but still need an income in the meantime.
- TAFE courses can be delivered online, giving students the flexibility to set their own study times, which is a great way to fit study around other unchangeable obligations, like family or sport (or even both!).
Online study is also a great option for people in remote areas or those without the ability to easily get into the classroom. - TAFE courses are available all over Australia. There are nationally recognised TAFE institutes all over the country, and most institutes have several campuses to provide accessibility to students from as many locations as possible.
As an example, Chisholm TAFE has 7 campuses covering a broad segment of Melbourne’s South-East, including Wonthaggi and the Mornington Peninsula. - TAFE institutes provide short courses to meet all sorts of needs; introductory courses to help you decide if you want to study further, refresher courses to help get you back up to speed, professional development courses for continuous development, and courses for personal or recreational interests. The short courses available will be different at each TAFE institute, so you’ll find some different options at TAFE NSW than you will at Box Hill TAFE in Victoria.
- TAFE courses are often built from industry input, meaning they include highly relevant skills and theory which can help prepare students for working in that field.
- Entry-level TAFE certificates like Certificate I and II can often be included in apprenticeship and traineeship positions, giving students a chance to have qualifications on their CV at the start of their career.
- TAFE courses can be the bridge to university degrees. As TAFE courses are nationally recognised universities can use them to measure a student’s level of training. Many TAFE institutes and universities have partnerships with Recognition of Prior Learning provided for Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications. These TAFE qualifications can even reduce the length of the degree.
Getting The Most from TAFE
While TAFE courses may be simpler to find (remember that they are nationally recognised so you can really on a course from TAFE in Vic, a TAFE in QLD, or Tasmania), and can provide that easy entry point for study, this doesn’t mean they are going to be easy to complete. TAFE courses are real courses designed to meet real education demands, so students still need to apply themselves to do well.
Want to find out more about TAFE institutes and courses in Australia? Check the links below:
