The Albanese Government and Barr Government will partner up in a new agreement to deliver 3,600 more Fee-Free TAFE places at CIT over the next three years from 2024.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor and ACT Minister for Skills Chris Steel said the program has been a huge success in the ACT.
As well as helping to ease Australia’s skill shortage, Fee-Free TAFE delivers cost-of-living relief for students who may otherwise not have been able to pursue a vocational qualification.
The new Fee-Free TAFE places come off the back of the historic National Skills Agreement – the first in a decade – and a key promise out of the National Jobs and Skills Summit.
The National Skills Agreement has specific benefits for the ACT including:
- Over $24 million in matched ACT-Commonwealth funding for TAFE Centres of Excellence, with a focus in the ACT on priorities such as the transition to a net zero economy
- $6.5 million in matched funding for Closing the Gap initiatives to support training for First Nations Canberrans
- $14 million in matched funding to improve VET and apprentice completion rates, with a focus on groups such as First Nations students, women and other vulnerable cohorts
- Approximately $13 million in matched funding to foster collaboration between CIT and other public training providers and to enhance quality and capability in the VET workforce and sector
- Close to $1.5 million to improve access to foundation skills and learning
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor
“Fee-Free TAFE enrolments in the ACT and right throughout Australia firmly demonstrates the difference this initiative is making.
“Fee-Free TAFE puts ACT students on a path to rewarding and fulfilling lifelong careers, while also substantially benefitting the communities they live in.
“Fee-Free TAFE and VET has been such a success that we’re committing a further $414.1 million to deliver an additional 300,000 places nationally beginning next year.”
Quotes attributable to ACT Minister for Skills Chris Steel MLA
“Fee-Free TAFE and the National Skills Agreement are a central part of our plan to create 300,000 jobs by 2030 or sooner.
“Cyber security was in the top two courses taken up under tranche 1 of the program, which is a key growth industry in the ACT and shows that these places are going where they’re needed. This was just behind early childhood education and care, which is a sector growing as we roll out universal access to three year old preschool next year.
“With the support of the Albanese Labor Government we can deliver more training places in areas of skills needs by removing the financial barrier for students to taking-up training.
“It’s an exciting time to be a student in the ACT with a variety of courses on offer that will give everyone in our community the opportunities they need to develop skills that are in high demand.”
Expressions of interest for Fee-Free TAFE in 2024 can be accessed through the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) website now, with enrolments opening on 13 November 2023.
Some courses on offer include:
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
- Diploma of Travel and Tourism
- Certificate IV in Cyber Security
- Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
- Certificate III in Business
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)
- Certificate II in Electronics
- Health Starter
- Introduction to Cyber Security Awareness
