February 4th, 2026Free TAFE

The state government is protecting free TAFE to make it easier and more affordable for future generations of Victorians to build the skills they need for the rewarding careers they want.

Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney has announced she is introducing a Bill that will change the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 to ensure a Free TAFE Guarantee is included in the Act.

More than 225,300 students have benefitted from Free TAFE in Victoria since it began in 2019, saving them more than $727 million in tuition fees – that’s more than $3,000 per student on average.

Free TAFE is key to Victoria’s economic success and addresses workforce shortages in areas that are important to Victorians, like construction, education, caring and clean energy. 

The Free TAFE program has played a critical role in making the skills and training sector more inclusive. More than 67,200 Victorians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have benefitted from free TAFE since it was introduced in 2019, alongside more than 57,000 learners in regional areas and 59 per cent of all students are women.