National TAFE Day Celebrating Victoria’s Trainees And Apprentices
More Victorians are giving back to their local community and getting the training they need to begin a rewarding career in community service, made possible by the Andrews Labor Government.
Acting Minister for Training and Skills Steve Dimopoulos today celebrated National TAFE Day and the training opportunities TAFE provides for more Victorians to embark on a great career or re-train into growing industries where they can make a difference.
The Diploma of Community Services is one of more than 80 courses available in Victoria as part of Free TAFE, offering tuition fee-free training across health and community services including nursing, child protection, aged care, mental health, and youth and disability services so more people can get the skills they need to begin a rewarding career in the sector.
Wanda Sheppard is getting the training she wants to begin a new career pathway as a student undertaking the Diploma of Community Services at Kangan Institute. After a career in the international freight industry, she is learning hands-on skills and techniques to support those in need in her community.
The Labor Government is making sure more Victorians have access to the training they need for the job they want. It is investing $186 million to extend the eligibility of Free TAFE through the Victorian Budget 23/24.
Every Victorian is eligible for government-funded training no matter their existing qualification level and there is no longer a one-course limit on Free TAFE participation within the one priority pathway.
Free TAFE has removed the barriers for training for a great new career for more than 143,000 students – saving students almost $365 million since the program began in 2019. More than 80 courses and short courses are available across Victoria as part of Free TAFE.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has invested more than $4 billion to fix the broken TAFE system the former Liberal Government brought to its knees, and backing universities and higher education to give every Victorian access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
There are community services jobs available now, with a Jobs Guarantee program for new graduates in priority areas.