The most common myths about TAFE busted

In the quest to determine whether university or TAFE is right for you, you’ll encounter plenty of contradicting information. Here are a few of the most common myths about studying at TAFE, busted.

TAFE-trained students are likely to earn just much, if not more, than their university counterparts.

Navigating the world of education after high school is confusing, full of rumours and myths. In the quest to determine whether university or TAFE is right for you, you’ll encounter plenty of contradicting information. Here are a few of the most common myths about studying at TAFE, busted.

Going to university means you’ll earn more money

While you’ll need a university degree under your belt to be a neurosurgeon or a high-flying lawyer, most Australians will find themselves just as well off, or even better off, financially if they take up TAFE.

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A 2017 report by the Skilling Australian Foundation found that the median full-time income for a VET graduate is $56,000, compared to $54,000 for a university graduate.

This doesn’t mean you should drop the university dream if following your passion means going to uni, but it affirms that passing up on an interest that TAFE caters to simply in hopes of earning more money might be a misstep and it’s worth looking closer at the options on offer.

Sick of the classroom? Don’t worry, there’s a lot more than just book work at TAFE. Picture: istock

Going to TAFE just means more schoolwork

After well over a decade of being inside stuffy classrooms through primary and secondary school, it’s not surprising many young people dread the idea of signing up for more book work. Fortunately, TAFE offers a lot more hands-on and practical work in the fields you love.

Whether it’s hairdressers-in-training getting the chance to chop the locks of someone seeking a trim, hospitality workers making meals that go out to paying customers in restaurants or IT students that are tasked with troubleshooting actual computer problems, TAFE is rich with hands-on opportunities for those looking to go beyond textbooks and whiteboards.

You have to go to university to get a degree

Of the state’s 12 TAFE institutions, five offer programs that can help you get a degree: Box Hill, William Angliss, Chisholm, Melbourne Polytechnic and Holmesglen all offer the opportunity to get a Bachelor degree in a wide breadth of subjects.

Not only that, but TAFE institutions can offer a pathway to get to university if you don’t make the ATAR requirement after high school or if you’re returning to study after time away. Universities will often take applicants with exceptional results stemming from TAFE study, and some institutions even have formal partnerships: Chisholm, for instance, allows excelling students in the areas of community service, early learning, information technology, nursing and sports coaching/development to seamlessly transition into a La Trobe University degree if they wish.

TAFE gives students the opportunity to get practical work in their desired career, including hairdressing. Picture: istock

It’s harder to get employed out of TAFE

It used to be the case that getting a university degree all but guaranteed you a job when you walked out with the piece of a paper, but it’s a bit murkier these days.

A 2017 Skilling Australia report found 78% of VET graduates are employed after training, compared to just the 71.8 per cent of Australian university graduates in full-time employment, according to GradStats’ 2017 report.

So if your passion lies in a course offered at a TAFE, don’t pass it up on accounts of worrying about your employment prospects — there’s plenty of demand for those trained in the VET.

TAFE is too expensive to pursue

The cost of higher education can be a consideration when deciding whether to pursue more study. The number of HECS debts above $50,000 has been trending upwards; with the last available figures from 2016-17 showing more than 159,475 students meet or exceed that mark.

However, not only is TAFE a cheaper alternative that is often more flexible, but many courses ware now free thanks to an Andrew Government election promise. Courses including accounting, agriculture, construction, pluming, engineering, nursing and disability are all set to be subsided by the state government. So if you’ve got a passion for any of the above, don’t feel like cost will be a barrier to chasing the dream and starting a new chapter in your career.