LABOR SMASHES FEE-FREE TAFE TARGETS EARLY
The Albanese Labor Government’s Fee-Free TAFE initiative has been an enormous success, with the newest federal data showing the enrolment target has been significantly exceeded, with the program remaining within budget.
The figures show that Fee-Free TAFE has attracted far more than 180,000 enrolments in its first 6 months, meaning the program has hit its targets 6 months ahead of schedule. The federal member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said that enrolment figures for Fee-Free TAFE continued to climb and showed that Australians were hungry to re-train and plug vital skill shortages.
“Labor’s Fee-Free TAFE is helping Australians to acquire new skills, and to access well-paid jobs,” said Ms Templeman.
“More than 214,000 Australians have now enrolled in a course, and will get the skills they need, and our economy needs, for the future.”
“Some of most popular courses are in areas we really need well trained, skilled workers. Cert III in Early Childhood Education and Care and a Diploma of Nursing are particularly popular. “At almost every child care centre I visit across the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains I hear of staff at all stages of their careers making the most of the opportunity to increase their skills and qualifications”
“Over 35 per cent of total enrolments are in the care sector, this will help ease skill shortages the care sector currently faces.”
Minister for Skills and Training, Brendan O’Connor MP, said that Fee-Free TAFE offered a huge cost of living relief for students, and was good news for employers. “Fee-Free TAFE grows the recruitment pool for employers and eases the skills shortages that hold our economy back,” said Minister O’Connor.
“Fee-Free TAFE is the spark that is igniting a renewed sense of optimism and potential in our vocational education and training sector and I’m looking forward to building on our success.” Women make up over 60 percent of enrolments, with more than 35 percent of total enrolments being in critical parts of our care sector. Over 15,000 people with disability have enrolment and almost 7,000 First Nations Australians.
