The Albanese Labor Government is reinforcing its commitment to training and apprenticeships, with new data revealing that nearly 110,000 Victorians have enrolled in Free TAFE since its launch in January 2023.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the initiative is about more than just skills training—it’s about shaping Australia’s future.
“Building Australia’s future is about so much more than bricks and mortar. It is about creating a better life for Australians, building better education and creating new employment opportunities,” he said.
In a major policy move, the government has announced that Free TAFE will become a permanent program. Additionally, a $10,000 incentive payment will be introduced from 1 July 2025 for eligible apprentices in housing construction. The incentive, paid over the course of their apprenticeship, is designed to bolster the workforce and help address the country’s housing needs.
Labor’s plan for a “Future Made in Australia” is centred on strengthening local industries, including construction, care, agriculture, technology, and early childhood education. Since January 2023, Free TAFE in Victoria has seen:
- Over 13,300 enrolments in the construction sector
- More than 34,300 in the care sector
- Nearly 5,900 in agriculture
- Over 9,900 in technology and digital industries
- More than 5,500 in early childhood education and care
Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said Free TAFE is making training more accessible while easing cost-of-living pressures.
“As I travel around Victoria, at every TAFE I visit, I meet students who tell me how much Free TAFE has changed their life,” Giles said.
“Now – with our additional $10,000 incentive payments and increased support for apprentices – there is no better time to pick up the tools, build homes for Australians, and earn while you learn.”
Popular Free TAFE courses in Victoria include the Diploma of Nursing, where students save up to $17,150 in tuition, and the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building), which offers savings of up to $9,257. More than a third of all Free TAFE enrolments have come from regional areas, ensuring that training opportunities reach communities across the state.
Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney highlighted the state’s leadership in vocational education, saying,
“Victoria is the birthplace of Free TAFE. Since 2019, almost 190,000 Victorian students have accessed Free TAFE, saving over $550 million in tuition fees.”
She also pointed to ongoing efforts to improve apprenticeship conditions: “Implementing our response to the Victorian-led Apprenticeship Taskforce is making apprenticeships safer and fairer.”
The government has framed the policy as a clear distinction from the Opposition’s stance. “Peter Dutton and the Liberals are blocking Free TAFE,” Giles said, “but with Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party, Free TAFE is here to stay.”
With Free TAFE now a permanent fixture and new incentives set to encourage more Australians into trades, Labor is betting on a skilled workforce as the key to a stronger, more self-sufficient future.
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