Legislation to enshrine a Free TAFE Guarantee in Victorian law has been introduced, with changes proposed to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney announced the Bill, which would formally include the Free TAFE Guarantee in legislation and require that 70 per cent of all government Vocational Education and Training (VET) funding be allocated to TAFE.
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“Future generations of Victorians can benefit” Minister Tierney said the Bill was intended to protect access to Free TAFE into the future,” Ms Tierney said.
“Only Labor Governments fully support TAFE, and Free TAFE started in Victoria – and we will always protect it.”
“This Bill will ensure that future generations of Victorians can benefit from cost-of-living relief while preparing to join the pipeline of skilled workers we need to meet Victoria’s goals.”
Impact of Free TAFE
Since its introduction in 2019, more than 225,300 students have accessed Free TAFE in Victoria.
The program has delivered total tuition fee savings of more than $727 million, equating to an average saving of just over $3,000 per student.
The program targets courses linked to workforce demand, including construction, education, care services and clean energy.
Participation data shows more than 67,200 students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have enrolled in Free TAFE courses, along with more than 57,000 learners in regional Victoria.
Women account for 59 per cent of all Free TAFE students.
Funding framework and legislative changes
The proposed legislation follows an election commitment to guarantee TAFE funding levels in law.
If passed, the Bill would lock in a requirement that at least 70 per cent of government VET funding be directed to TAFE providers.
The government says it has invested $16 billion in new and base funding for Skills and TAFE since 2014. The Bill also aims to protect the Free TAFE program from future funding reductions.
The legislation is now before Parliament and subject to the parliamentary process before it can be enacted.