The Victorian training and skills sector will benefit from an injection of $250 million, through a joint venture between the federal and state governments, to be able to provide in excess of 55,000 vocational training and education and fee-free TAFE places next year.
The move is providing an opportunity for the state government to back people who are keen to learn and better their skills or to retrain into their dream jobs, according to Victorian Higher Education, Training and Skills Minister, Gayle Tierney who added:
"Free TAFE removes financial barriers for people to continue learning and developing their skills and we are proud to partner with the Commonwealth government to deliver even more places in 2023.”
She said the initiative will also assist in driving enrolments in areas identified as having shortages, including the care sector, for which it is set to support an estimated 26,900 places. It will also assist Victoria in achieving a new worker target in community services, education and health sectors required by 2025 of 64,700.
Widespread flyer printing campaigns have often been run out to help spread the word about new initiatives such as Fee-Free TAFE.
Training and Skills Federal Minister, Brendan O'Connor said the latest initiative was about dealing with the issue of not enough skilled workers and providing pathways for them to gain well-paid jobs.