SA to receive 12,500 fee-free TAFE courses in 2023
About 12,500 fee-free TAFE courses will be up for grabs in SA next year to address a crippling skills crisis. See the areas targeted here.
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About 12,500 South Australians will be able to study at TAFE and other vocational education providers for free under a new $65m deal with the federal government to address a crippling skills crisis.
The 12 month “Skills Agreement” with SA is part of the federal government’s $1.1bn deal with state and territories to deliver 180,000 fee-free TAFE positions across the country in 2023.
The South Australian deal, which Labor says will inject more than $65m into the state’s skills and training sector, is the first to be unveiled in Australia.
It will include approximately 4000 fee-free positions for courses in the care sector, 3000 in hospitality and tourism, 2500 in construction and 1000 places each in fields of technology and agriculture.
Courses in industries important to sovereign capability, like defence and advanced manufacturing, will receive 500 free positions.
The remaining 500 places will be allocated to other areas such as education, foundation skills and creative industries courses.
TAFE SA will deliver 10,500 of the fee-free training places, while non-TAFE providers will deliver the rest.
Federal Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor will unveil the deal alongside SA Education Minister Blair Boyer in Adelaide on Friday.
“Skill shortages are gripping the nation, but the footprint for each state and territory does have unique patterns,” Mr O’Connor said.
“As the home of shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing, (SA) sits at the frontline of our national security and defence effort requiring particular skills sets.”
Mr O’Connor said “one of the biggest challenges” facing SA businesses was the struggle to find skilled workers.
“To secure the future prosperity of SA, our government’s are investing in our greatest resource – our people – because we understand that access to education and training gives people control over their own destiny,” he said.
Mr Boyer said free TAFE would help address skills shortages and “open doors for South Australians who otherwise would be unable to afford training”.
“Fee-free TAFE will be a gamechanger for South Australians seeking to get the skills they need for a rewarding career,” Mr Boyer said.
Other states and territories are yet to finalise their own fee-free TAFE deals with the federal government, with funding to be decided on a per capita basis.
Deputy Opposition leader Sussan Ley on Thursday criticised Labor for “delaying” the process.
“As a result of delaying … talented students are still in the dark about what courses will be funded … just weeks before training is scheduled to begin,” she said.
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