Free TAFE now available to people with prior qualifications

The Victorian Government have increased eligibility for the Free TAFE program, removing the upskilling rule within specific occupations.
Monday 6 February 2023

The Victorian Government have made increased the eligibility for the Free TAFE for Priority Courses program, removing the upskilling rule for access and changing the once-in-a-lifetime limit within specific occupations.

With these changes, now if you have an existing uni degree you can also complete a Free TAFE course, and if you’ve already completed Free TAFE you can do additional courses in selected industries – without paying tuition fees.

The Free TAFE initiative aligns certain courses with the skills and jobs most in demand by Victorian employers, providing a tuition fee-free study experience for students who enrol.

Changing the upskilling rule means that you can now enrol in a Free TAFE course to retrain into another career path, regardless of existing qualifications you might have, such as a uni degree. And, the removal of the once-in-a-lifetime limit for Free TAFE within selected areas (such as nursing, community services, building and construction and early childcare) will allow you to add further to your skills, opening more career doors by enrolling in subsequent courses in the same occupational pathway.

For example, if you have already completed Certificate III in Individual Support CHC33015 you can now also enrol in the Certificate IV in Disability CHC43115 - or even the Diploma of Nursing HLT54121 – and still study your TAFE course tuition fee-free.

These changes in Free TAFE eligibility changes support Government’s aim to improve access to subsidised training to meet the skills needs of the economy and Victorians, and will give more people a chance to upskill, reskill, or take a leap into something new.

Victoria University (VU) is a provider of many Free TAFE courses, giving students the opportunity to learn in a hands-on, industry-supported environment – and to graduate ready to work without the financial pressure. Read more about Free TAFE and the explore the courses we offer.

Apply for VU Polytechnic courses.