Free TAFE for Priority Courses
Free TAFE for Priority Courses will give more Victorians the chance to study at TAFE.
From 1 January 2019, Free TAFE for Priority Courses covers tuition fees for priority courses for students who are eligible for government-subsidised training.
- Non-apprenticeship and pre-apprentice courses
- About the Free TAFE for Priority Courses scheme
- Eligibility
- Where to find out more information
- Free TAFE for Priority Courses student Q and A
- View the Free TAFE for Priority Courses by subject area
Free TAFE courses
Non-apprenticeship courses
- Certificate II in Salon Assistant (SHB20216) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate III in Allied Health Service (HLT33015) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (SIT30816)
- Certificate III in Community Services (CHC32015)
- Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing (CPC31411) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate III in Dental Assisting (HLT35015)
- Certificate III in Education Support (CHC30213)
- Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30716)
- Certificate III in Hospitality (SIT30616) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015)
- Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping (FNS40217)
- Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015)
- Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs(CHC43215)
- Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) (CPC40110)
- Certificate IV in Cyber Security (22334VIC)
- Certificate IV in Disability (CHC43115)
- Certificate IV in Education Support (CHC40213) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate IV in Engineering (MEM40105)
- Certificate IV in Mental Health (CHC43315)
- Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services (CPC40912)
- Certificate IV in Youth Work (CHC40413)
- Diploma of Accounting (FNS50217)
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) (CPC50210)
- Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015)
- Diploma of Justice (22320VIC)
- Diploma of Nursing (HLT54115)
- Advanced Diploma of Accounting (FNS60217)
Apprenticeship pathway courses
- Certificate II in Automotive Air Conditioning Technology (AUR20216)
- Certificate II in Automotive Body Repair Technology (AUR20916)
- Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology (AUR20516)
- Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation (AUR20716) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-Apprenticeship (22338VIC) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate II in Construction Pathways (CPC20211) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) (UEE22011)
- Certificate II in Engineering Studies (22209VIC)
- Certificate II in Horticulture (AHC20416) - this course will be offered for 2019
- Certificate II in Furniture Making (MSF20313)
- Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship) (22304VIC)
- Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts (General) (ICP20115)
Priority TAFE courses
The free priority course list includes 30 non-apprenticeship courses and 20 courses that provide pathways to apprenticeships (also known as 'pre-apprenticeships').
Free priority courses lead to occupations in industries where there are likely to be more jobs. Some of them lead to work in important areas like preventing family violence, rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme in Victoria and delivering our major infrastructure projects.
Students who are eligible for the Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative can study one of the courses at Chisholm in 2019.
Free TAFE eligibility
Free TAFE for Priority Courses will give more Victorians the chance to study at TAFE. It will reduce the financial barrier for students wanting to train in courses that lead to occupations that are needed most by employers in the Victorian economy.
The investment of $172 million will make 20 priority TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses in these growth industries free.
Any Australian citizen or permanent resident or a New Zealand citizen is eligible to do Free TAFE for Priority Courses in Victoria if they meet the following criteria:
Under 20 or upskilling
- are under 20 (regardless of any other qualifications), or
- are 20 or older and enrolling in a course that is a higher qualification than you've previously attained.
Victorians who need additional support
Victorians who are:
- unemployed and clients of the Jobs Victoria Employment Network
- retrenched workers, or
- automotive supply chain workers.
Looking to change careers
Victorians who want to reskill, change careers, improve their employment prospects and/or meet the needs of local industries, subject to availability of TAFE places, and prioritised based on need.
Find out more
For more information about Free TAFE for Priority Courses, you can contact the TAFE and Training line on 13 18 23.