Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles and Member for Corangamite Libby Coker have met with Free TAFE students at The Gordon, to celebrate the Albanese Labor Government policy.
Across the Geelong region, there have been more than 5,775 enrolments in Free TAFE and that number is growing, meeting the needs of the local labour market and responding to the needs of people in this dynamic and growing region.
The average Free TAFE student saves around $4,395.
During the federal election campaign, the Liberals vowed to scrap Free TAFE.
At an event in Geelong, then shadow minister Sarah Henderson said “it just isn’t working” and now Opposition Leader Sussan Ley believes “if you don’t pay for something, you don’t value it.”
More than six in ten Free TAFE places have been taken up by women and one in three by students in regional and remote Australia.
At The Gordon’s City Campus, the most popular Free TAFE courses include:
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Diploma of Nursing
- Diploma of Community Services
- Certificate III in Individual Support
- Certificate III in Education Support
To meet demand, Australia needs 21,000 more early childcare workers and 70,000 nurses in the next ten years.
Additionally, the Albanese Government will pay new housing construction apprentices $10,000 in incentives from 1 July.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:
“Labor’s Free TAFE policy has opened doors for hundreds of thousands of Australians, including thousands here in Geelong.
“Free TAFE is here to stay, thanks to Anthony Albanese and Labor and it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“It’s a strong foundation but we know there’s always more to do, if we want every Australian to get the skills they want, for the jobs we need.”
Quotes attributable to Corangamite MP Libby Coker:
“We know Free TAFE is working for thousands of locals across our region, it’s opening the door of opportunity for people to lead fulfilling lives.
“Throughout the campaign, I spoke with hundreds of Free TAFE students and their families who said this program is a game-changer.
“More than six in ten Free TAFE places have been taken up by women and one in three by students in regional and remote Australia – this uptake of free TAFE reflects how much-needed this program is for people across the regions.
“It’s fantastic to have the Minister in Geelong to celebrate the success of Free TAFE, and to look ahead at what further progress can be made as we train our region’s future workforce.”
