Community
22 February, 2023
Free Tafe
CHANGES to the State Government’s expanded eligibility for free TAFE is set to give more south west Victorians access to education.
Potential students no longer have to meet specific age, up-skilling or re-skilling requirements, meaning most people are now eligible to study selected courses under Free TAFE.
Under the changes, more people can enrol in their first Free TAFE course regardless of their prior skills and qualifications, and the once-in-a-lifetime limit for free TAFE has been removed for occupations such as nursing, community services, building and construction and early childcare.
Students can now access free priority courses under the Free TAFE Pathways Program, a group of complementing courses allowing students to continue to train for their career.
South West TAFE is offering more than 30 Free TAFE courses in 2023, including community services, mental health, personal services, individual support, disability, nursing, accounting and bookkeeping, agriculture, building and construction, civil construction, information technology, and early c998hildhood education and care.
Free TAFE covers tuition fees for priority courses.
South West TAFE chief executive officer Mark Fidge said Free TAFE reduces the financial barrier for students wanting to train in courses that lead to in-demand jobs.
“These changes make it easier for people to access a Free TAFE course,” he said.
“Being able to complete any other course within the same pathways program tuition fee-free through the Free TAFE Pathways program will be a big advantage for many people.”
Mr Fidge said South West TAFE was closely connected and responsive to the employment and training needs of local industry.
“Expanding eligibility for Free TAFE means there are more opportunities for local people to access high-quality training that will lead to identified job opportunities,” he said.
The new opportunities arise as South West TAFE continues to record strong results in student, staff and employer surveys.
According to government surveys released in late 2022, South West TAFE is number one among Victoria’s 12 TAFEs for student satisfaction with a ranking of 85.6 per cent, employer satisfaction with 87.9 per cent and for the number of students who would recommend SWTAFE as a registered training organisation at 86 per cent.
“The survey results are very pleasing and show that our focus on engagement is working,” Mr Fidge said.