Release type: Joint Media Release

Date:

4,100 more Fee-Free TAFE construction and housing courses for Queenslanders

Ministers:

The Hon Andrew Giles MP
Minister for Skills and Training
The Hon Lance McCallum MP
Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Development

The Albanese Labor Government, in partnership with the Miles Labor Government, is delivering an extra 4,100 Fee-Free TAFE places in housing and construction in Queensland.

From January 2025, 4,100 new Fee-Free TAFE places, including up to 1,000 pre-apprenticeship places, will make it easier for Queenslanders to train to get a great job in industries essential to the housing and construction sectors.

The Albanese Government is working with the Miles Government to build the homes Queensland needs and to bridge the skills gap.

In Queensland, from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2024, there were over 93,000 student enrolments in Fee-Free TAFE courses, including:

  • 7,532 construction sector course enrolments.
  • 17,600 enrolments in the care sector.
  • 5,270 early childhood education and care course enrolments.

Women comprised more than half of all Fee-Free TAFE enrolments in Queensland, with 51,100 starting a course since January 2023. Students from regional and remote areas made up over 38% of total enrolments.

The announcement builds on the commitment of the Albanese and Miles governments to address housing supply as a national priority under the National Skills Agreement.

The places are made possible through additional funding from the Albanese Government of $17.7 million.

While the Liberals call Fee-Free TAFE “wasteful spending”, their neglect of the sector led to the worst skills shortage in 50 years, the Albanese Government is giving Australians cost-of-living relief that helps them get a better job.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

“As I travel around Queensland and the country, at every TAFE I visit, I meet students that tell me what a life changer Fee-Free TAFE has been for them. After a decade of neglect under the Liberals the Albanese Government is committed to rebuilding the vocational education and training sector.

“We’re working together with the Miles Government to help locals skill up and get secure, well-paid jobs in essential sectors like construction. These new Fee-Free TAFE places will help Queenslanders gain valuable skills and help build the homes Queensland needs.”

“The extra $17.7 million funds fee-free places to train more construction and housing sector workers and directly contributes to building the homes needed for the Queensland community.

“Fee-Free TAFE has helped more than 93,000 Queensland students get a free tertiary education since January last year, building solid skills and a path to a secure, well-paid job.”

Quotes attributable to the Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Development, Lance McCallum:

"Thanks to Labor, record numbers of Queenslanders are getting skilled up, and they're doing it for free.

"Programs like Labor’s Fee-Free TAFE are transforming lives, removing financial barriers, and setting Queenslanders on the path to success.

"We simply cannot risk the LNP – they cut TAFE funding, sacked 2,100 TAFE workers, and closed or sold over 30 campuses, with plans for more."