What is a Free TAFE priority pathway?
Getting ahead in your career just got easier thanks to the revamped Free TAFE priority pathways. Now, more Victorians than ever can continue to build their skills for in-demand careers without the burden of hefty tuition fees.
But what exactly are Free TAFE priority pathways and how can they supercharge your learning experience? Let's break it down.
Free TAFE then and now
Since 2019, the Free TAFE program has been helping thousands of Victorians get the skills they need for the job they want. Through the program, students have the option to complete a qualification without paying tuition fees as long as they enrol in one of the eligible Free TAFE courses.
There are over 80 qualifications and short courses to choose from. Each one has been chosen for the high demand of workers needed in the industry.
Previously, there was a once-in-a-lifetime limit on these Free TAFE courses. This meant students could only complete one free course in the program.
With the introduction of Free TAFE priority pathways, students can now enrol in more than one free TAFE course in their lifetime (provided it’s within the same priority pathway).
The priority pathways
Free TAFE priority pathways are groups of courses selected by the Victorian Government. These groups are in areas that have the highest demand for new workers.
If you complete one course in a Free TAFE priority pathway, you gain access to multiple free courses within the same pathway.
For example, in a personal care pathway, you could complete a free Certificate III in Individual Support and still enrol in the Free TAFE for a Certificate IV in Disability. You could even continue on and do the Diploma of Nursing while still accessing tuition-free training.
The priority pathways span across Certificate III, Certificate IV, and Diploma levels and include courses in the following occupations:
- Community and Family Services
- Accounting
- Agriculture
- Allied health
- Building and Construction
- Information Technology
- Education Support
- Early Childhood Education
- AUSLAN
- Hospitality
If you’ve already got some training, you will be glad to hear the priority pathways are also open to those with previous qualifications like university degrees. To find out if you’re eligible, check out another article we’ve written here.
Whether you're passionate about caring for others, crunching numbers in accounting, or shaping the future of construction, we've got you covered.
With Free TAFE priority pathways, you can continue to grow your skills in an in-demand industry without worrying about tuition fees.
For further information on Free TAFE and priority pathways visit https://www.vic.gov.au/free-tafe