Thursday, 7 March 2024

Ministers statements: TAFE funding

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:33): Today is a great day: we are celebrating five years since the introduction of free TAFE. Since 2019 more than 157,000 students have had the chance to get the skills they need for the jobs they want, while saving $436 million in fees. At the William Angliss Institute this morning the Premier and I met with students undertaking free TAFE courses in hospitality and tourism. Three of the four new courses added to the free TAFE list for 2024 are delivered at the William Angliss Institute: kitchen management, hospitality management and tourism. William Angliss is providing the graduates for Victoria’s world-class hospitality industry enjoyed by international visitors, including megastar Taylor Swift.

As of 2023, free TAFE has been expanded so all Victorians can upskill for in-demand jobs, regardless of their existing qualification level, and study additional free TAFE courses within the same priority pathway. In 2023 some of the most popular free TAFE courses were the diploma of nursing, the certificate IV in training and assessment for the teacher shortage, the certificate IV in cybersecurity, the certificate IV in accounting and bookkeeping, the diploma of community services and early childhood education, just to name a few. All of these priority industries are facing current workforce shortages. At the William Angliss Institute today we heard that industry is seeking out TAFE graduates and many current students are already earning while they learn, because TAFE training is so desirable. The difference between us and those opposite could not be more stark. No matter how much those opposite try to denigrate TAFE, Victorians understand that only Labor supports TAFE, only Labor supports public provision – (Time expired)