Free TAFE Starts At GOTAFE Shepparton

Photo: The Wimmera Mail-Times

This is a 15 per cent increase in the number of students undertaking those courses compared to the same time last year.

Minster for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney today visited GOTAFE in Shepparton to announce a boost of more than $5.6 million for courses in baking, dental assistance, nursing, cabinet making, engineering fabrication and health services.

A new program will also be developed for new and existing workers in the region’s air conditioning and refrigeration industry.

These courses and programs will be delivered under the Labor Government’s Regional and Specialist Training Fund and Workforce Training Innovation Fund, which aims to address skills gaps in regional areas and improve training outcomes.

GOTAFE has more than 420 students enrolled in Free TAFE courses across its five campuses and is offering 47 Free TAFE courses including in nursing, accounting and bookkeeping, education support and community services.

Thousands of Victorians are on the way to getting the skills they need to secure jobs in high demand industries, with 13,500 students enrolled Free TAFE courses, driving a 60 per cent increase in commencements compared to the same TAFE courses at the same time last year.

Underlining the importance of TAFE to regional communities and industries, almost one quarter of Free TAFE commencements were in regional Victoria

Students can save up to $2,500 for some pre-apprenticeship courses and up to $5,000 for Certificate IV courses. For higher level courses such as a Diploma in Nursing or a Diploma in Building and Construction, students will save more than $10,000 through the Free TAFE initiative.