Free TAFE boosting ranks of Australia's early childhood educators
Tens of thousands more Australians are gaining the skills needed to work in early childhood education and care (ECEC) under the Albanese Government’s Free TAFE program.
Free TAFE’s national rollout started in 2023, offering places for courses that get Australians qualified to work in priority sectors with skills shortages.
Since that time there have been 65,290 enrolments in ECEC courses across the country.
The Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the most popular Free TAFE course in the sector with 51,110 enrolments, and ranks as Australia’s second most favourite Free TAFE course, representing six per cent of all Free TAFE enrolments.
The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, which supports educators towards leadership roles in their workplace, has seen 12,835 Free TAFE enrolments during the same period.
Free TAFE is already delivering qualified workers into the sector, with states and territories reporting 11,848 Certificate III completions and 3,176 Diploma completions so far.
The program is also reducing the financial barriers that can prevent people from pursuing training and careers, with Free TAFE helping Australians save thousands on course fees across the country, including up to $4,500 on the Certificate III in South Australia and up to $8,000 on the Diploma in Victoria.
Free TAFE is part of the Government’s broader strategy to attract, train and retain more educators in the ECEC sector.
In June 2026 the Government announced an additional $3.6 billion investment to extend the Worker Retention Payment (WRP), supporting a wage increase for ECEC workers through to 30 June 2028. The WRP was introduced in 2024 to attract and retain high-quality ECEC educators and has had a positive impact on the workforce.
There has also been a decline in ECEC internet job vacancies since the announcement of the program, while staff surveys show an increase in the number of workers who intend to stay in the sector and improved educator wellbeing.
Together, this work is helping to strengthen and grow the ECEC workforce, supporting providers to recruit and retain the skilled workforce Australian families rely on, while also making ECEC more affordable for families.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
“We introduced Free TAFE to grow the pipeline of skilled workers in the jobs we need – and back Australians to get the skills they want without facing the cost barriers to a qualification.
“Free TAFE is delivering in droves, including in early childhood education and care, which is one of Australia’s most in-demand sectors.
“Only Labor has backed Free TAFE. And only Labor will continue to back Free TAFE – we’ve made it permanent, with 100,000 places on offer every year.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education, Senator Jess Walsh:
“Free TAFE has been a game-changer for growing the ECEC sector – backing more Australians to play a part in educating and caring for our kids.
“The numbers tell us that Australians are responding to the opportunities, and the evidence shows its effectiveness in developing critical skills for the workforce of the future.
“By making training more accessible and affordable, while also improving pay and working conditions, the Albanese Government is helping address workforce shortages and ensure more children can access quality early childhood education and care.”