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    Free TAFE Courses

    Upskill or start a new career. Free TAFE courses prepare you for jobs that are in-demand by employers. 

     

    Are you ready to start a TAFE course? Enrol in your first Free TAFE course regardless of your prior qualifications. 

     

    Eligibility criteria

    Residential status: Any Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen is eligible for a Free TAFE in Victoria.

    Previous qualification: You can do your first Free TAFE course no matter what qualifications you already hold. This applies to all qualifications - whether they be through TAFE or university. This is because the 'upskilling rule' has been removed.

    Multiple Free TAFE courses: You can do multiple Free TAFE courses in the same occupational pathway listed under 'Free TAFE Priority Pathways' below. 

    This is because the 'once-in-a-lifetime limit' requirement for Free TAFE has now been removed for Priority Pathways.

    Note: Students who choose a Free TAFE course that is not part of a Priority Pathway can only study one Free TAFE course.

    Students whose only Free TAFE fee waiver was under JobTrainer can also do another Free TAFE course, either in a pathway or non-pathway program.

    Free TAFE priority pathways do not include apprenticeship pathway courses.

    See the Priority Pathway Scenarios section below for examples of students eligible for Free TAFE. 

    While Free TAFE covers tuition fees, there may be additional expenses, such as materials fees. Call 13 TAFE (13 8233) or contact us via our online enquiry form if you are unsure.

    Free TAFE Courses at Kangan Institute

    (In alphabetical order)

    • Certificate IV In Engineering
      Code : MEM40119
      Length : ,

      4 years
      Campus : Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Campus
      More Info
    • Certificate III In Commercial Cookery
      Code : SIT30821
      Length : 

      Full Time Standard Student (TAFE based student) - 1 year,  Apprenticeship - 2 to 3 Years

       

      ,

      Part Time Standard Student (TAFE based student) - 2 years
      Campus : Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Off Campus, Broadmeadows Campus
      More Info
    • Certificate III In Commercial Cookery
      Code : SIT30821
      Length : 

      Full Time Standard Student (TAFE based student) - 1 year,  Apprenticeship - 2 to 3 Years

       

      ,

      Part Time Standard Student (TAFE based student) - 2 years
      Campus : Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Off Campus, Broadmeadows Campus
      More Info
    • Certificate IV In Veterinary Nursing
      Code : ACM40418
      Length : 

      2 years, 2 days per week.
      Campus : Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Off Campus, Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Campus, Broadmeadows Campus
      More Info

    Free TAFE Priority Pathways

    Following are Victoria's Free TAFE Priority Pathway courses. The courses with (n/a) are not offered at Kangan Institute.  You can continue to study your Priority Pathway at Kangan Institute even if you have started the Pathway at another institute. 

    Priority Pathway Scenarios

    (Example of students who qualify for Free TAFE Priority Pathways)

    Scenario 1

    John finished Year 12 last year and has found a job at a vet clinic.  He enjoys working with animals and wants to pursue a career in Vet Nursing.  He does his research finds the most suitable course for him would be Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, a Free TAFE course.

    Is John eligible to undertake this course?

    Yes, he is eligible to undertake this course if he meets all the pre-enrolment requirements for the course.  As this is a Free TAFE, John will not have to pay any tuition fees, but he will be required to pay other fees such as materials and consumables.

    Scenario 2

    Rita has completed a bachelor’s degree in arts and wants a career change. She is interested in studying Information Technology and chooses to study Certificate III in Information Technology, which has a pathway into Certificate IV in Cyber Security. Both these courses are on the Free TAFE list.

    Is Rita eligible to undertake these courses?

    Yes, she can undertake these courses provided that she enrols in the Certificate III in Information Technology first and completes the course and gets her certificate.  She can then enrol in the Certificate IV in Cyber Security.  Both are Free TAFE courses, therefore she does not pay tuition fees for both the courses but may be required to pay materials and consumables. Rita needs to ensure that she does not commence more than 2 government subsidised courses in the calendar year.

    Scenario 3

    Sarah is 48 and has 2 Diplomas, 1 Certificate IV and 2 Certificate III qualifications which she has obtained through her work and studies.  In 2023, she found out about Free TAFE and Pathway Programs.  She is interested in becoming a Community Worker. She would like to study Certificate IV in Community Services knowing there are multiple pathways that she can pursue when she finishes the Certificate IV in Community Services.

    Is Sarah eligible to get Free TAFE and enrol in the pathway courses?

    Yes, she is eligible to enrol in a Free TAFE course and move into the Pathways courses once she completes her Certificate IV provided she does not commence more than 2 government subsidised courses in 2023.

    Scenario 1

    Terry enrolled in Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping in 2022 which was a Free TAFE course. In 2023 he wants to upskill and do another Free TAFE.

    Is Terry eligible for a second Free TAFE?

    As Terry has used his entitlement to a Free TAFE in 2022, he is not eligible to receive another Free TAFE but if he enrols in an Accounting Pathway course such as a Diploma of Accounting, he can be eligible for a Free TAFE.

    Scenario 2

    Ali has accessed Free TAFE to complete a Certificate III in Hospitality in 2021. He has also completed a Certificate III in Concreting through fee-for-service training in 2022.

    Is Ali eligible to receive another Free TAFE?

    Ali has used up his entitlement to a Free TAFE in 2021. But as his second qualification is a concreting qualification which is part of the Building and Construction Pathway, he can choose to study subsequent courses in this Pathway, such as the Certificate IV in Building and Construction and Diploma of Building and Construction, provided his completes the Certificate IV level before he enrols for the Diploma level.  

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Free TAFE is a Victorian Government program that will pay your tuition fees to study in selected courses at TAFE for eligible students.

    While Free TAFE covers tuition fees, there may be additional expenses, such as student services fees or materials fees. Call 13 TAFE (13 8233) or contact us via our online enquiry form if you are unsure.

    Residential status: Any Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen is eligible for a Free TAFE in Victoria.

    Previous qualification: You can do your first Free TAFE course no matter what qualifications you already hold. This applies to all qualifications - whether they be through TAFE or university. This is because the 'upskilling rule' has been removed.

    Multiple Free TAFE courses: You can do multiple Free TAFE courses in the same occupational pathway listed under 'Free TAFE Priority Pathways' below. 

    This is because the 'once-in-a-lifetime limit' requirement for Free TAFE has now been removed for Priority Pathways.

    Note: Students who choose a Free TAFE course that is not part of a Priority Pathway can only study one Free TAFE course.

    Students whose only Free TAFE fee waiver was under JobTrainer can also do another Free TAFE course, either in a pathway or non-pathway program.

    Free TAFE priority pathways do not include apprenticeship pathway courses.

    Free TAFE courses are periodically revised to include courses from growth industries, such as Early Childhood Education, Health, Construction and Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Community and Disability Services.

    See the Free TAFE course list above for the updated courses offered at our TAFE.

    You can do tuition free priority courses at Victorian TAFE institutes, including universities that offer TAFE courses.

    To find a course near you, contact the Training and TAFE line on 131 823.

    • If you are eligible, Free TAFE pays the tuition fees for your whole course.
    • TAFEs may charge you other fees, such as student services fees or materials fees that you will have to cover yourself.

    • Only the courses on the Free TAFE course list will be tuition fee-free, but there are around 1,000 courses you can do at TAFEs and other training providers that are Victorian Government-subsidised.
    • While some tuition fees may apply for Victorian Government-subsidised training, you may be eligible for a concession.
    • Check the Victorian Skills Gateway to find Victorian Government-subsidised courses near you (Search the internet for ‘Victorian Skills Gateway’) and your training provider can check if you are eligible for a concession.

    • Victorian Government-subsidised training is when the Government pays a large portion of the cost of your training if you are eligible, and you make a contribution, by paying fees. It's been around for a while and there are around 1,000 subsidised courses you can do at TAFEs and other training providers.
    • The courses on the Free TAFE list are subsidised, but the Government will also pay your tuition fees, if you’re eligible.

    • The tuition-free priority courses are in areas where there are likely to be more jobs in the future.
    • When you finish your course, a Skills and Jobs Centre can help you search for a job and support you to prepare your resume. (Search the internet for ‘Victorian Skills and Job Centres’.)

    Students can only access one Free TAFE course in their lifetime, except in the following circumstances.

    • Students who have completed a pathway course under Free TAFE can do another Free TAFE course in the same pathway
    • Students who have already accessed Free TAFE, including for a non-pathway course, can do another Free TAFE course if they hold a qualification that is part of a Free TAFE pathway and are continuing in the same pathway. It does not matter if their previous qualification was completed by government-subsidised or fee-for-service training.
    • Students whose only Free TAFE fee waiver was under JobTrainer can do another Free TAFE course, either in a pathway program, or in one additional non-pathway program.

    • Courses undertaken as Free TAFE are treated the same way as any other course you have undertaken, for the purpose of determining whether you are eligible for further Victorian Government-subsidised training.
    • Your TAFE will be able to tell you about whether you will have future Victorian Government-subsidised training options.

    Contact the Training and TAFE line on 131 823 or visit www.TAFE.vic.gov.au.