State Budget 2018: Free TAFE, pre-apprentice courses in $172 million education splash cash

ALMOST 50 TAFE and pre-apprenticeship courses will be available to students for free, with the $172 million centrepiece of the State Budget aiming to fill the state’s skills shortage. LIST OF FREE COURSES

KEY TAFE and pre-apprenticeship courses will be free under the most radical revamp to the higher education sector in almost half a century.

The $172 million centrepiece of the State Budget will enable students to study almost 50 courses for free, with an aim to fill the state’s skills shortage.

While the higher education sector celebrated its Budget win, a fight erupted over non-government school funding.

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There was no new money committed to Catholic and Independent schools capital in the Budget, despite a $3.65 billion education cash splash.

Opposition education spokesman Tim Smith said the government had declared “a class and values war” on the parents who sent their children to the state’s 492 Catholic and 211 Independent schools, which teach almost 350,000 Victorian students.

Catholic Education Commission of Victoria executive director Stephen Elder said he looked forward to the state government “rectifying the shortfall in capital works expenditure” before the November election.

“It’s fine for the state government to talk about booming state school enrolments, but they are denying parents choice by not providing adequate support to allow Catholic schools to meet demand,” he said.

But Minister for Education James Merlino said 92 projects were currently being delivered under a $120 million upgrade and building program for non-government schools.

Meanwhile, the 30 free TAFE and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses will focus on building infrastructure, responding to family violence and caring for the elderly and those with a disability.

They will save students up to $5000 and be accessible from January 1 with a further 10 free courses yet to be announced.

The free courses run for up to two years and include accounting, agriculture, construction, plumbing, engineering and nursing.

They will be reviewed each year to ensure they cater to community demand, with students who are already studying not eligible.

“This is the biggest overhaul of TAFE, skills and training in Victoria’s history,” Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney said.

“It will make sure all Victorians can get the training they need for a good job, building our state.”

Budding tradies will add an extra year to their schooling to graduate with their VCE. File image

In a further victory for higher education, more than 30,000 new TAFE places will be opened, along with new classes under a $304 million plan.

Young tradies will add an extra year to their schooling to graduate fully qualified and with their VCE under a $50 million apprenticeships and traineeships program to be rolled out at 100 public schools.

Two new education centres will be created, including a precinct at Bendigo Kangan Institute McCrae campus ($59.9 million) and a Federation Training campus at Port of Sale in Gippsland ($25 million) while Federation Training’s Morwell campus will be transformed with $35.5 million.

Treasurer Tim Pallas said the boost to TAFE was about equipping young people with practical skills.

“We have to recognise that there are people out there who have skills and aptitudes who should be appropriately rewarded and the government needs to pay a substantial part in skilling those capacities,” he said.

“As we make these investments we would anticipate that we would see more and more people attracted to the technical skills and activities.”

The TAFE announcements capped off a massive $3.65 billion in new education initiatives — bolstered by almost $1 billion from the sale of the Snowy Hydro.

A record $1.25 billion will build and plan 28 schools and upgrade a further 130 across Victoria.

Literacy and numeracy in schools was also a focus.

The Budget also aims to improve literacy and numeracy in schools.

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Every prep student will get a free bag with books to take home under a $22.1 million program that includes teaching tools and workshops.

A total of 200 primary school maths and science teachers will become “specialists” through $32.9 million in funding.

Prospective principals will have to do a course and pass a test to take the top job under a $4.4 million plan.

Education Minister James Merlino said the government needed to invest now to meet the schools demands of the future.

“This is about making sure every child has a chance to succeed,” he said. “That means world-class buildings and classrooms to match world-class teaching.”

Early childcare also got a $135.9 million boost, with buildings, upgrades and specialist language teachers for 120 kinders and $8 million for scholarships to attract new teachers and upskill those in the workforce.

“Building the Education State begins with the early years,” Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos said.

“That’s why it’s so important we continue to invest in our youngest Victorians to ensure they have the best start to life.”

THE FREE COURSES

TAFE

• Certificate IV/Diploma/Advanced Diploma in Accounting

• Certificate IV in Ageing Support

• Certificate II/III/IV in Agriculture

• Certificate III in Agriculture (Dairy Production)

• Certificate III/IV in Allied Health Assistance

• Certificate IV/Diploma in Building and Construction (Building)

• Certificate III in Civil Construction

• Certificate III/IV/Diploma in Community Services

• Certificate III in Concreting

• Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing

• Certificate II/IV in Dental Assisting

• Certificate IV in Disability

• Certificate III/IV in Education Support

• Certificate IV in Engineering

• Certificate III in Horticulture

• Certificate III in Hospitality

• Certificate III in Individual Support

• Certificate IV in Mental Health

• Diploma of Nursing

• Certificate IV in Plumbing Services

PRE-APPRENTICESHIP

• Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology

• Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology

• Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology

• Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation

• Certificate II in Construction Pathways

• Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start)

• Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Pre-vocational)

• Certificate II in Engineering Pathways

• Certificate II in Engineering Studies

• Certificate II in Furniture Making

• Certificate II in Glass and Glazing

• Certificate II in Horticulture

• Certificate II in Meat Processing (Food Services)

• Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship)

• Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts (General)

• Certificate II in Retail Baking Assistance

• Certificate II in Salon Assistant

• Certificate II in Signage and Graphics

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