Interest booms in free TAFE

INTEREST is booming in the state government’s free TAFE program, with more than 80,000 Victorians inquiring by phone or submitting an expression of interest form to their local provider.

The enquiries have been made across each of the state’s 12 TAFEs and four dual-sector universities to seek more information and help to enrol in one of 30 free priority TAFE and 20 pre-apprenticeship courses on offer this year.

More than 15,000 enquiries have been made into enrolling in the Diploma of Nursing, with courses in community services, accounting and book-keeping, cyber security, education support and mental health also attracting thousands of enquiries.

The state government says the 50 courses on the free TAFE list were selected because they give Victorians the skills they need for the jobs most in demand across Victoria.

Labor invested an extra $644 million in last year’s budget to strengthen TAFE, including creating more than 30,000 new training places, and upgrading and rebuilding TAFE campuses.

TAFE institutes, including universities that offer TAFE courses, across Victoria are still taking enrolments for Free TAFE courses that begin in 2019.

“The high level of interest in free TAFE shows just how important it is to reduce barriers to training, and support as many Victorians as possible to get access to the skills they need to get a job,” Acting Minister for Training and Skills Jaala Pulford said.

“That every course and every TAFE has received interest shows how far we have come in rebuilding TAFE and training in Victoria.”

“More than ever the jobs in demand across Victoria are taught at TAFE – that’s why we’re reducing the barrier to quality training by making over 50 courses free.”

For the full list of free TAFE courses, head to freetafe.vic.gov.au.