Fee Free TAFE here to stay in WA following three year funding announcement

A joint partnership between the Federal and West Australian Governments has secured the future of Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education and training (VET) places in WA for the next three years. 

Under the joint-partnership, a further 22,200 Fee-Free TAFE and VET places will be available for Western Australians from January 2024.

“Education and training can be life changing – and with Fee-Free TAFE set to continue into 2024, there has never been a better time to try one of the free courses on offer,” Western Australian Training Minister Simone McGurk said. 

Demand for previously offered places was strong, soaring to more than 34,000 this year. The Fee-Free places target areas of skills shortage such as early childhood education and care (ECEC), health care, aged and disability care, technology and digital skills, hospitality and tourism, construction, agriculture, VET workforce, and the defence industry.

“Fee-Free TAFE and VET has been such a success, the Albanese Government is committing to a further 300,000 places beginning next year, with 22,200 of those places in Western Australia,” Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor said. 

“This is a $44.5 million investment in skills and training in Western Australia. This is what genuine collaboration and partnership can achieve – real results for everyday Australians.”

In 2023 uptake of the Fee-Free places has been strong, with ECEC, aged care, disability care, nursing, IT and hospitality having the strongest enrolments.

“Our economic strength relies on our skilled workforce, so it’s critical that every Western Australian has access to our TAFE and vocational courses,” WA Premier Roger Cook said. 

“Through our partnership with the Albanese Government, the Fee-Free initiative helps to build our pipeline of skilled workers in in-demand occupations like construction, early childhood education, nursing and hospitality.”