The Australian and Northern Territory governments have today announced a further 170 free TAFE places will be available in construction and housing sector courses from January 2025.
The places are made possible through Federal Government funding of around $800,000, as the Commonwealth partners with the Northern Territory Government to get more people trained and into jobs building houses.
The Australian and Northern Territory governments are skilling up more Territorians, removing the costs that stop them from studying and gaining a new career.
In the Northern Territory, from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2024, there were 1,960 total student enrolments in free TAFE courses. This included 210 construction sector course enrolments.
These additional free TAFE places in NT build on the commitment to address housing supply as a national priority under the National Skills Agreement.
Minister for Education and Training, Jo Hersey said: "Students have never had a better time to seize the opportunity to engage in training through the free TAFE funding, which provides accessible pathways to valuable skills and career opportunities."
"The 170 additional free TAFE places in construction and housing sector courses complements our Government's HomeGrown Territory Grant of $50,000 for first home buyers to build or purchase a new home - the most generous home build scheme in the country," she said.
Australian Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said: "We have partnered with the Northern Territory government to provide these free TAFE courses, which will give students the skills they want, in the sectors our growing country need.
"I am confident the people that graduate from these construction courses will join the workforce that will build the future houses Territorians live in; where Territory families will make their memories," he said.
