Skilling up Australia: Free TAFE legislation introduced to the parliament
Today the Albanese Government has introduced legislation to establish Free TAFE as an enduring feature of the national vocational education and training (VET) system, funding at least 100,000 Fee-Free TAFE places a year from 2027.
This builds on the Albanese Government partnership with states and territories to deliver 180,000 Fee-Free TAFE places in 2023; 300,000 places over three years from 2024; with agreements being finalised for a further 20,000 construction and housing Fee-Free places.
Over the next decade, 9 out of 10 new jobs will require post-secondary qualifications and almost half will come through VET pathways.
The introduction of the legislation coincides with the launch of a new national campaign, commencing this weekend to encourage Australians – particularly young people – to enrol in TAFE and VET courses available in key industries to address the nation’s most pressing skills shortages.
The campaign, promoting the Fee-Free TAFE initiative, will focus on highlighting the benefits of upskilling or reskilling through vocational education and training pathways, and equipping Australians with qualifications aligned with in-demand sectors.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:
“We’ve put public TAFE back at centre of training. Under our government half a million Australians have enrolled in Fee-Free TAFE”.
“Fee-Free TAFE has been a huge success – helping Australians to get ahead while easing cost-of-living pressures. That’s why we’re locking it in and introducing legislation to make it permanent.”
“More than half a million Australians are gaining the skills they want and which we need to build Australia’s future. We want more Australians to take advantage of the opportunities on offer which is why we’re launching this advertising campaign.”
“The Liberals say Fee-Free TAFE is ‘wasteful spending’ but how can it be when it is opening the door to a better life for thousands of Australians?”