The coming weeks are vital to the future of fee-free TAFE, Federation Acting Senior Vice President Sharryn Usher said today.
“Passing of the Fee-Free TAFE legislation in next week’s sitting of the Senate is a crucial step to the survival of the program,” she said.
The bill enshrines in legislation policy relating to the Albanese Government’s Fee-Free TAFE program, which has delivered fee-free TAFE places since the beginning of 2023.
Under the scheme, federal and state governments fund training places related to areas of local and national priority, with preference given to groups who experience social and economic exclusion.
Fee-Free TAFE is a solution to Australia’s skill shortages
On 20 March, the Australian Education Union released Unlocking the full potential of TAFE.
“Free TAFE is a solution to Australia’s skill shortages, and a tool for social equity, uplifting Australians into rewarding and important work,” the report states.
“It guarantees high-quality vocational education as a social good that anybody can access, regardless of background or means, and must be embedded into Australia’s legislation permanently.”
The report revealed that from January 2023 to September 2024, there were nearly 600,000 enrolments in Free TAFE across the nation, including:
- more than 150,000 enrolments in the care sector
- more than 54,000 enrolments in the technology and digital sectors
- more than 40,000 enrolments in the early childhood education and care sector
- more than 39,000 enrolments in the construction sector
- more than 22,000 enrolments in the agriculture sector.
Federation’s March Council noted the legislation would “support a prosperous and equitable Australia, by removing financial barriers to education”.
The Australian Education Union’s report states that if governments fail to continue to support TAFE, there will be fewer nurses, care workers, early childhood workers, construction workers, technology workers and manufacturing workers.
TAFE can’t risk a Dutton government
We can’t risk the Coalition being elected at the upcoming federal election and ripping up agreements like they did last time they were in government.
The Coalition doesn’t support fee-free TAFE and the program will be cut short if Peter Dutton becomes prime minister.
Help with letterboxing on 5-6 April
March Council called on all members to do their bit to ensure friends, families and wider communities think of TAFE and schools when they vote in the upcoming federal election.
In the lead up to election day, we will be out in the community delivering flyers to our neighbours.
Join your colleagues who care about the future of TAFE by delivering 200 flyers in your neighbourhood on the weekend of 5-6 April.
Sign up here, by 25 March, for a batch of flyers.