Free TAFE move ‘a win’
The State Government is confident that people across western Victoria will be among major beneficiaries of changes in Technical And Further Education and skills training announced in the state budget.
Labor Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said free-ofcharge TAFE courses in priority areas, set for introduction in 2019, would help regional students.
She said the government’s record investment in road and rail projects, new schools and hospitals and support for Victorians living with disability had created a massive demand for skilled workers.
“This is the biggest overhaul of TAFE, skills and training in Victoria’s history and it will make sure all Victorians can get the training they need for a good job, building our state,” she said.
“This record investment will ensure western Victoria has the right skills in the right industries.
“We all know the Liberals slashed TAFE and closed campuses, but this budget continues Labor’s work to restore TAFE and make it stronger than ever.”
Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has been critical of the scheme because it overlooks tertiary institutions offering the same courses listed as ‘priority’ but fail to qualify because they are outside the TAFE umbrella.
The state budget included a $172-million commitment to make 30 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses in growth industries free of charge.
From January 1, 2019, the Free TAFE for Priority Courses program pays tuition fees for priority courses for students eligible for government-subsidised training.
Ms Pulford said Free TAFE for Priority Courses would initially be available for 20 priority non-apprenticeship courses, statewide, with a further 10 priority courses to be confirmed following consultation with industry, in time for students to enrol for the 2019 training year.
She said a further 18 State Government-subsidised apprenticeship pathway courses, also known as pre-apprenticeships, would also be free under the program.
A full list of free courses to be available and more information about the scheme is available online at www.education.vic.gov. au/about/educationstate/pages/free tafe.aspx.