Free TAFE expanded to priority mental illness, healthcare, construction courses
Free TAFE will be expanded to include more mental illness, healthcare and construction courses to support the community out of the coronavirus under a $163 million package. SEE THE FREE COURSES ON OFFER
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An extra 10,000 Free TAFE places will be offered under a $163m package to focus on mental health training and aide vulnerable Victorians through the coronavirus.
Three new courses and other short programs have been added to the Free TAFE list in a bid to drive the economy out of the pandemic.
The targeted funding will aim to get those hit hardest by the coronavirus into crucial jobs.
The Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work will be offered following increased demand for services, and following recommendations from the Royal Commission for more people with lived experience working in the system.
Mental Health minister Martin Foley said the peer work course would “help more Victorians get back on their feet” during a tough year.
The Certificate III in Health Services will also be offered for free to boost the number of workers in aged and disability care, while the Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations will add to workers in earthmoving to help with the bushfire fight.
Short courses for those seeking work, who have been made redundant or are looking for upskilling, will be available.
They will include introductory training to the NDIS, along with 11,000 places for construction courses and skill sets until June 2021, at a cost of $3.9 million.
Training and Skills minister Gayle Tierney said Victorians hit hard by the pandemic would be able to get new skills and a job through the free courses.
“We’re giving Victorians workers and industry the skills they need to help us rebuild from coronavirus,” she said.
The Herald Sun revealed on Monday that Victoria’s TAFEs collectively lost $116 million in a year to 2019, with nine in 12 institutions running at a deficit.
All 12 institutions have been given financial support guarantees, or letters of comfort, from the Department of Education.
For more information on the free courses go to www.skills.vic.gov.au
FREE COURSES ON OFFER
— Certificate III in Health Services Assistance to lead to a job in aged and disability care and nursing assistance
— Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work for those with lived experience of mental illness to work in service delivery for a more compassionate system.
— Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations, delivered in Gippsland, for earthmoving operators who could help manage and prevent bushfire.
— Introduction to the National Disability Insurance Scheme to work in NDIS disability support.
— 11,000 construction short courses