To reach this goal there will be new free courses available in emergency healthcare, mental health, family violence and agriculture in 2023.
State member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said there had never been a better time for anyone across northern Victoria to start studying at TAFE, with four new priority Free TAFE courses and six new short courses the government would deliver from next year.
“Free TAFE has helped more than 122,000 Victorians embark on a rewarding new career — we’re adding courses in in-demand industries to make sure students can get a great job straight out of their training,” Ms Symes said.
Victorian Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney said what our healthcare system needed right now was more staff to get patients the care they needed.
“It’s only a Labor Government that will deliver the health infrastructure our state needs and a world-class workforce — adding critical health courses to Free TAFE will boost our workforce to get every Victorian the care they deserve,” Ms Tierney said.
The new TAFE courses build on the government’s work to deliver a world-class health system by making studying nursing free and hiring 2200 paramedics as part of a 22,000-strong boost to the health workforce.
Which is why the government is adding the Diploma of Emergency Health Care course, currently delivered at Victoria University and Swinburne University, and qualifies students to work in non-emergency patient transport as ambulance transport attendants, patient transport officers and ambulance community officers — as well as providing a pathway into university paramedicine courses.
Other new courses to be added to the Free TAFE list for 2023 include Certificate III in Production Horticulture, Graduate Certificate in Client Assessment and Case Management — which upskills health and community services workers in the family violence field, and the Diploma of Interpreting (Auslan).
Six short courses will also be made available next year under Free TAFE, including courses in mental health, agricultural chemical handling and electric and hybrid automotive maintenance — delivering the skills Victorians need for growing and in-demand industries across the state.
Free TAFE has saved students more than $297 million in fees since the government introduced it in 2019.
The program has seen enrolments grow in the most in-demand industries — with 2021 commencements growing by 56 per cent in the Diploma of Nursing, 80 per cent in the Certificate IV in Disability and more than 113 per cent in early childhood courses to support the state government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms.
For the full list of more than 70 Free TAFE courses, visit freetafe.vic.gov.au
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