Tens of thousands of Victorian TAFE courses to soon be free

Victorians will have access to tens of thousands of free TAFE courses under a $250m deal to tackle crippling skills shortages.

A landmark $250m deal to tackle crippling skills shortages will allow Victorians access to tens of thousands of free TAFE courses.

Victorians will have access to more than 55,000 fee-free TAFE and VET training places next year under a landmark $250m deal to tackle crippling skills shortages.

Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor will announce the 12-month skills agreement between the state and federal governments on Wednesday morning.

“We need to deliver these skills at a time of acute skills shortages, particularly in Victoria,” Mr O’Connor said.

“This agreement with Victoria is about tackling one of our greatest economic challenges in decades, the lack of skilled workers, and pathways to secure, well-paid jobs.”

Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor will announce a 12-month skills agreement between the state and federal governments. Picture: Shae Beplate

Almost 27,000 places will be allocated to the care sector with about 3800 places in early childhood education courses.

The move aims to help Victoria reach its target of 64,700 new workers in the health, education and community services sectors needed by 2025.

A further 6500 places will be allocated to the technology and digital sectors, 6300 to construction, 2000 to agriculture and 1800 in hospitality and tourism.

Sovereign capability including manufacturing will receive 200 places and 11,700 places will be allocated to Victorian priorities including foundation skills.

The Commonwealth will also commit $4.2m to TAFE facility upgrades and almost $1m for changes to VET data infrastructure.

Victorian Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney says free TAFE removes financial barriers for people to continue learning.

Victorian Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney said: “Free TAFE removes financial barriers for people to continue learning and developing their skills and we are proud to partner with the Commonwealth government to deliver even more places in 2023.”

“We’re backing Victorians that want to learn skills to get a start in their career or retrain to get the jobs of their dreams,” she said.

The 12-month agreement is the first stage of delivering on the commitments in the Albanese government’s skills plan.

A new five-year national skills agreement is expected to commence in 2024.