Over 220,000 NSW residents have benefitted from Fee-Free TAFE

Freya Lucas

Sep 23, 2024

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Fee-Free TAFE targets in New South Wales are being ‘smashed’ with over 40,000 residents taking up Fee-Free TAFE options in the first three months of 2024 alone - the equivalent of almost one SCG or Allianz Stadium worth of skilled future workers for the state.

The figures were released in line with National Skills Week 2024, showing that 11,000 people have elected to upskill or re skill in the area of early childhood education and care (ECEC), with care based courses across the board proving a popular option.

Along with easing cost of living pressures, the Fee Free TAFE initiative is supporting people from a variety of backgrounds across NSW to access early learning, including:

Over 146,000 enrolments by women
Over 62,000 by young Australians (under 24) and people who speak a language other than English at home
Just under 10,000 by people with a disability
Over 15,000 by First Nations Australians.

The Federal Government has committed to a continuation of Fee-Free TAFE for the next three years, with an investment of over $500 million for an additional 300,000 places across the term.

“It’s great to see so many NSW residents taking up the opportunity to gain the skills that will drive the future success of our businesses and economy. It’s particularly encouraging to see Fee-Free TAFE providing those facing disadvantage an opportunity to upskill, that they might not have had before,” NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, the Hon Steve Whan MP said.

Learn more about ECEC opportunities through the Fee-Free TAFE initiative here.

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