NSW Government announces 147,400 extra Fee-Free TAFE places

Freya Lucas

Nov 24, 2023

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An additional 147,400 Fee-Free TAFE places will be available in New South Wales over the next three years, giving more people the opportunity to study for future jobs in areas where the economy needs them most.

The places are made possible through Commonwealth Government funding of $130 million, as the government's partner-up to address persistent skills shortages.

Fee-Free TAFE has resulted in considerable savings for students in NSW, and enrolments in care based courses, including early childhood education and care (ECEC) have been especially popular.

Students studying a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or a Certificate III in School Based Education Support could save up to $1600 under the scheme.

“This is a $128.9 million Commonwealth investment in skills and training in NSW and comes in addition to the National Skills Agreement which will see $3.8 billion invested into the state VET sector by the Federal Government,” said Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor.

“This is what genuine collaboration and partnership can achieve – real results for everyday Australians.”

The investment also builds on the success of Fee-Free TAFE in 2023, which attracted record enrolments in NSW. As at 30 June 2023, there were:

over 20,700 enrolments in the care sector
over 6400 enrolments in the technology and digital sector
over 5800 enrolments in the construction sector, and
over 5200 enrolments in agriculture.

The investment comes less than a month after the announcement of a landmark five-year National Skills Agreement (NSA) which will take effect from January next year.

The NSA was developed under principles agreed by the National Cabinet and will embed national cooperation and strategic investment in the NSW vocational education and training sector.

Learn more about Fee-Free TAFE in NSW here.

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