The Albanese Government's Fee-Free TAFE program addresses Australia's critical skills shortages while creating opportunities for Australians facing financial barriers to education. Launched in January 2023, the program has far exceeded expectations with over 568,400 enrolments by September 2024.

The initiative focuses on national priority areas including care sectors, construction, technology, early childhood education, and agriculture. The government has committed to making Fee-Free TAFE permanent through legislation that will fund 100,000 fee-free TAFE places annually from 2027 onwards.

Fee-Free TAFE has been particularly successful in increasing participation among priority groups. Of the total enrolments, 354,000 were women, 197,700 were from regional and remote areas, 191,900 were young people aged 24 and under, 139,900 were job seekers, and 34,100 were First Nations people. The program delivers significant financial relief to students—saving up to $15,900 for a Queensland nursing student or $4,704 for a South Australian IT certificate—while addressing workforce shortages in critical sectors.

Zooming out, this is a key part of Labor's attempts to bring industry and manufacturing to Australia, whilst building our productivity and education levels.

Key points:

• $1.5 billion investment delivering 500,000 fee-free places from 2023-2026

• Exceeded targets with 568,400 enrolments by September 2024

• 110,400 course completions already achieved despite most qualifications taking 1-3 years

• Prioritises in-demand sectors with almost 151,000 enrolments in care sectors

• Six in ten places taken by women; one in three in regional and remote Australia

Tafe success stories: https://tda.edu.au/power-of-tafe/fee-free-tafe-story-collection/

[1] https://www.dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/fee-free-tafe

[2] https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd2425/25bd032

[3] https://www.pm.gov.au/media/fee-free-tafe-here-stay-labor