Free TAFE for priority courses

Free TAFE for priority courses

Free TAFE courses give more Victorians the chance to get the skills they need to land a job that’s in demand. There’s never been a better time to train for what’s next.

Free TAFE for priority courses

Free TAFE courses give more Victorians the chance to get the skills they need to land a job that’s in demand. There’s never been a better time to train for what’s next.

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What is Free TAFE?

Free TAFE gives more Victorians the chance to gain the skills they need at TAFE. Eligible students do not pay tuition fees for a range of vocational qualifications associated with in-demand jobs.  

There has never been a better time to train for a new career or reskill into an industry with lots of exciting opportunities.

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If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident; or a New Zealand citizen, you may be eligible to study Free TAFE for Priority courses in Victoria. Students must first meet the Victorian State Government eligibility criteria which include location, citizenship and education history.

In addition, asylum seekers who hold one of the eligible current valid visa types with study rights may be eligible under the Asylum Seeker VET Program. Find out more about Study opportunities for People Seeking Asylum.

Free TAFE pathways is another option you may be eligible for which allows you access to more than one Free TAFE course, as long as the courses are all within the same pathway. See the FAQs below for more information on these pathways.

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Considering Free TAFE? Hear how these graduates are shaping what's next.

We caught up with three Free TAFE graduates to find out what their experience was like at RMIT, and how they’re course has opened the door to rewarding new opportunities and jobs.

Read more

Browse Free TAFE courses by study area

Accounting

Program

Postgraduate

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Research

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Online

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Building

Program

Postgraduate

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Research

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Online

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Community services

Program

Postgraduate

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Research

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Online

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Education

Program

Postgraduate

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Research

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Online

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Health

Program

Postgraduate

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Research

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Online

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Information Technology

Program

Postgraduate

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Research

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Online

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Trades

Program

Postgraduate

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Research

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Online

Eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo.

Check your eligibility for government-subsidised short courses
RMIT is offering free accredited training designed to meet priority workforce needs in a number of specialty areas and introductory courses for translating.
Learn more
New to the disability sector?
Take this one-day Introduction to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) course to create pathways into further qualifications.
Learn more

Frequently asked questions

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The tuition-free priority course list includes non-apprenticeship courses and courses that provide pathways to apprenticeships (also known as ‘pre-apprenticeships’).

The tuition-free priority courses lead to occupations in industries where there are likely to be more jobs. Some of them lead to work in important areas like preventing family violence, rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme in Victoria and delivering major government infrastructure projects.

  • Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
  • Diploma of Accounting
  • Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs
  • Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
  • Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
  • Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
  • Certificate IV in Community Services
  • Diploma of Community Services (Case Management)
  • Certificate IV in Cyber Security
  • Certificate III in Dental Assisting
  • Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
  • Certificate IV in Disability
  • Certificate IV in Education Support
  • Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
  • Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community)
  • Certificate IV in Mental Health
  • Diploma of Nursing
  • Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship
  • Certificate II in Electrotechnology Studies (Pre-vocational)
  • Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship)

If you are eligible, Free TAFE for priority courses pays the tuition fees for your whole course. If you have any additional fees for student services or materials, you’ll need to cover those.

Only the courses on the tuition-free priority course list are tuition fee-free, but RMIT offers lots of other hands-on certificates and diplomas that you can complete to get job-ready sooner.

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.  

In contrast, Free TAFE covers all the tuition fees for your whole course. You do not have to pay any tuition fees and you’ll only need to cover additional costs (such as materials). 

Free TAFE Short Courses is an initiative offered by the Victorian Government to waive the course fees for select skill sets for eligible students. Participation in a Free TAFE Short Course will not impact your entitlement to study a Free TAFE course in the future. You may enrol in a Free TAFE skill set in addition to a Free TAFE qualification.

You can access one Free TAFE course, unless you are completing a Free TAFE pathway. If you complete a Free TAFE course within one of the State Government nominated Free TAFE pathways you can access further Free TAFE courses tuiton-free if they are in the same Free TAFE pathway as the first course you completed.

Free TAFE covers your tuition fees for all courses within a Free TAFE pathway.

See the section below for more information on RMIT’s Free TAFE pathways and course options.

If you aren’t sure if you are eligible to complete a specific Free TAFE course based on these criteria, contact Study@RMIT.

The list of Free TAFE pathway courses offered at RMIT can be found below.

Accounting

  • Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping
  • Diploma of Accounting

Allied health and nursing

  • Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
  • Diploma of Nursing

Auslan

  • Diploma of Interpreting (Auslan)

Building and construction

  • Certificate IV in Building and Construction
  • Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

Community services

  • Certificate IV in Community Services
  • Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs
  • Certificate IV in Youth Work
  • Diploma of Community Services

Dental

  • Certificate III in Dental Assisting
  • Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

Education support

  • Certificate IV in School Based Education Support

Information technology

  • Certificate IV in Cyber Security

Nursing and personal care

  • Certificate III in Individual Support
  • Diploma of Nursing

To learn more about Free TAFE courses offered at RMIT, contact Study@RMIT.

Free TAFE for priority courses is a Victorian Government program that will pay your tuition fees so that you can study in selected courses at TAFE.

If you are planning to continue the same course but transfer to RMIT from another TAFE, the course would continue to be free.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information