Free TAFE is a Victorian Government initiative providing access to more than 80 Free TAFE qualifications and short courses in high priority areas without the cost of tuition fees, even if you already hold a VET (vocational education and training) qualification or degree.
For a full list of the available courses, visit the Free TAFE page.
Yes! Both Free TAFE and Fee-Free TAFE simply mean access to TAFE qualifications and short courses without the cost of tuition fees.
For a full list of the available courses, visit the Free TAFE page.
You can access Free TAFE, regardless of your existing qualification and qualification level.
You can also access multiple Free TAFE courses if the Free TAFE courses are in the same priority pathway.
To find out more about your eligibility, visit the Free TAFE page.
You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen to be eligible to enrol in a Free TAFE course and meet the general eligibility criteria for a government-subsidised place.
To find out more about your eligibility, visit the Free TAFE page.
Asylum seekers may be eligible for the Asylum Seeker VET (ASVET) program. To find out more visit Asylum Seeker VET Program.
Free TAFE offers a range of courses in industry sectors with skill shortages or growth areas.
For a full list of the available courses, visit the Free TAFE page.
If you are eligible for Free TAFE, all your tuition fees will be covered by the Australian and Victorian governments.
There may be additional fees associated with the specific course you choose to undertake. These costs could include anything from amenity fees, student services and any books or materials required for study. Please ask your preferred TAFE for specific information about additional fees.
Free TAFE short courses are high priority skill sets. They don’t count towards the one in a lifetime limit for Free TAFE priority courses. Students can do multiple Free TAFE short courses under Free TAFE.
But they are treated as skill sets for the ‘2 at a time’ and ‘2 in a year’ volume limits on Skills First training. Exceptions to the limits apply to:
• Course in Identifying and Responding to Family Violence Risk – no limit
• the Literacy and Numeracy Support program – no limit
• Plumbing Licence skill sets– no limit
For a full list of the available courses and priority pathways, visit the Free TAFE page.
Once you have enrolled in a Free TAFE course, you can only enrol in another Free TAFE course within the same priority pathway. Students must complete a program before commencing another program in a priority pathway.
The tuition fee waiver is only available for Free TAFE courses offered at Victoria's TAFE institutes.
Delivery modes may vary between institutes and the particular course you are interested in. Please check directly with your TAFE Institute for details.
For a full list of course providers, visit the Free TAFE page.
For a full list of course providers, visit the Free TAFE page.
Free TAFE provides opportunities for Australians to access tuition fee-free training in areas of skill needs, and build skills and upskill by studying short courses, certificates or diplomas.
Free TAFE courses will provide you with the opportunity to develop in-demand skills in high-priority areas including IT (information technology) and digital, agriculture, hospitality and tourism, aged and disability care, childcare, construction, the VET workforce and defence or manufacturing industries. Completing training in these high-priority areas means you graduate with in-demand skills and strong job prospects.Australia’s workforce is changing, and we need to change with it. Free TAFE is a jointly funded initiative of the Australian and Victorian governments to address and support key industries in Australia experiencing skills shortages.
Free TAFE courses are specifically chosen to meet areas of national skills priorities.
Free TAFE aims to provide all Australians with access to the education, training and support needed to obtain well-paid, secure jobs by removing barriers for specific priority cohorts including women, First Nations Australians, people living with disability, young people and people looking for work.
TAFE providers understand that everybody has individual needs that may impact their ability to study and are committed to supporting students who have a disability. Disability staff are available to meet with prospective students to help plan their studies and discuss available supports.
For more information on the disability support services available at different TAFEs, contact your local course provider.
For a full list of the course providers, visit the Free TAFE page.
Enrolments are currently open.
From January 2025, the Australian Government has also extended its partnership with the Victorian Government, delivering 5,200 new Fee-Free TAFE places to Victorians, including up to 1,300 pre-apprenticeship places.
For a full list of the available courses, visit the Free TAFE page.
For a full list of the available courses, visit the Free TAFE page.
Find your course or local provider to register interest or enrol.
No. Students must complete a pathway program before commencing another program in a Free TAFE priority pathway. Free TAFE will cover your tuition fees for one course only unless you continue to study another course within the same pathway as part of the ‘Pathways’ initiative.
Students who have completed a Free TAFE course that is part of a Free TAFE priority pathway can access a tuition fee waiver for other Free TAFE courses in that same pathway (a full list of pathways is available on the Free TAFE page).
For example:
A student completes a Certificate III in Individual Support using their Free TAFE entitlement.
They can then enrol in Certificate IV in Ageing Support through Free TAFE as both courses are within the same priority pathway (community services).
Later, the student wishes to undertake the Diploma of Nursing. As this is also within the same priority pathway they can also enrol in this course through Free TAFE.
If the student above wanted to enrol in the Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping they would not be eligible through Free TAFE as it is in a different priority pathway. However, they could enrol in a government-subsidised place.
In most cases a Priority Pathway has no prerequisites within the pathway and a student may enrol at any point in the pathway.
A prerequisite applies in the Information Technology Pathway. To undertake the Certificate IV in Cyber Security under Free TAFE, students need to have completed the Certificate III in Information Technology first.
Some courses begin at different times throughout the year and will remain tuition fee-free for the duration of the course. Contact your local TAFE for details on course enrolment and start dates.
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