Best free TAFE courses to study while under lockdown due to coronavirus

It’s tempting to sit around binge-watching Netflix during isolation – but these free online courses could help you upskill during the COVID-19 crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyday life, forcing countless Aussies to work from home while many others are now out of work or facing an uncertain future.

Stage three restrictions designed to help slow the virus’ spread also means we’re holed up at home like never before, with a brief jog or trip to the supermarket the only outing most of us can look forward to for now.

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But while it’s tempting to spend the unprecedented isolation period snacking or binge-watching Tiger King, a range of free online courses have also sprung up as a result of the coronavirus outbreak that could help you upskill and boost your career goals.

Here’s a roundup of some of the best.

TAFE NSW

The NSW Government and TAFE NSW have teamed up in response to the pandemic to offer a range of fee-free short courses to increase your skills.

The courses can be completed in just days or weeks, have been designed to complement a range of sectors and are limited to two per person.

There a range of 21 courses available under the Develop Administration Skills, Enhance Your Digital Impact, Grow Health and Medical Knowledge, Improve Leadership Performance and Practical Business Skills categories.

Click here for more information.

PLURALSIGHT

For the month of April, online professional learning site Pluralsight is offering more than 7000 free, expert-led online video courses for those who don’t already have subscriptions.

Courses are tech-focused and cover a huge range of areas including the software development, information and cyber security, IT ops and data professional categories.

Click here for more information.

Looking for things to pass the time? The best shows to watch, the funniest videos, the best hacks and home workouts? Find it all at our Life (goes on) in Lockdown section

You can brush up on your skills for free while you’re stuck at home.

COURSERA

The platform has added extra courses to its offering which will be free until the end of May.

“While many courses on Coursera are already available for free without a certificate, this promotion enables you to not only access lectures and quizzes, but also to earn a free certificate for courses that offer them,” the website states.

Available subjects include public health, science and more.

Click here for more information.

UDEMY

The online learning firm has created a Free Resource Centre in light of COVID-19, with more than 250 free courses available.

“We understand things feel uncertain right now, and we’re all looking for ways we can help. At Udemy, our mission is to improve lives through learning. Sometimes that means new skills for a new career, and sometimes it’s as simple as realising a lifelong passion,” the website says.

Courses range from photography to coding, time management and even astronomy.

Click here for more information.

UNI COURSES SLASHED

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced it will drastically cut the cost of shorter university courses and diplomas in a bid to retrain Aussies who find themselves out of work due to the outbreak.

The Higher Education Relief Package was announced by Education Minister Dan Tehan over the weekend, with the maximum student fees for the first six months as low as $1250 for some courses.

There will be 20,000 places available in short-term nursing, teaching, health, IT and science courses which will be delivered via “short, online courses from our world-class universities and private providers” from the beginning of May.

The Government will also guarantee funding for universities at current levels, even if there is a fall in domestic student numbers.

“This plan will help Australians who have lost their job or are looking to retrain to use their time studying nursing, teaching, counselling, allied health or other areas considered national priorities,” Mr Tehan said.

“It will also provide a revenue stream for universities and private providers to assist their financial stability.

“Like the rest of the Australian community, the higher education sector has taken a financial hit because of the coronavirus.

“These reforms will help universities pivot towards a closer alignment of domestic industry and student demands through innovative micro-credentials delivered flexibly online.”

Click here for more information.

FIAFITNATION

The fitness industry’s leading education provider, FIAFitnation, has launched five short online health courses on topics such as gut health, nutrition and an Australian-first online course dedicated to food and the environment.

They’re all under $400 and take less than 30 hours, with a special discount for people in the fitness industry keen to upskill during this downtime.

Click here for more information.