The Allan Labor Government is making it easier for Victorians to train for jobs in sought-after industries with Free TAFE.
Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney today announced that Free TAFE and subsidised training places will again be allocated based on the state's critical workforce needs, including housing and renewable energy.
TAFE will be at the heart of Victoria's training system - in 2025 a greater proportion of the Victorian Training Guarantee will go to TAFEs, in particular regional TAFEs.
More homes mean more opportunity - the 2025 prioritised training will include residential housing construction courses, creating a pipeline of skilled tradespeople to build more homes for Victorians.
Some certificates will be swapped for 'Skill Sets' in priority areas like plumbing, so that people can do only the specific units needed to meet regulatory requirements and get started on the job.
Courses that teach foundational skills like literacy and numeracy will also be prioritised to get more unemployed Victorians into work.
The Government is funding more than 530 courses and 85 accredited short courses to support industry and labour market needs now and into the future. Our investment will focus on regional training and training delivered by community organisations such as Learn Locals and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
Eligibility for Free TAFE was expanded in January 2023 to allow Victorians to do more than one course. The expanded eligibility will remain in place, and private RTOs will continue to be eligible to deliver Free TAFE courses in priority areas.
Women are the biggest winners from the Government's expanded Free TAFE eligibility - 60 per cent of Victorians applying for these courses are women.
Funding for remote TAFE campuses will also increase - to support access in regional communities.
The $1 billion Victorian Training Guarantee will continue to support Victorians to study critical vocational training courses across the state. More than 140,000 new students across the state are expected to benefit from Victorian Government subsidised training in 2025.
To learn more about subsidised training that will lead to real jobs, visit www.vic.gov.au/skills-first.
As stated by Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney
"Free TAFE and our world-class training system is giving Victorians the skills they need to get a job for life."
"More homes mean more opportunity - that's why we're helping Victorians train in construction, giving more Victorians the chance to build rewarding careers while helping build homes for our future."
