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Free TAFE boost for early childhood training

Changes from 1 January 2023 open new opportunities for priority training pathways.

Woman conducting training

Training to become an early childhood educator is now accessible to more people under changes to Free TAFE and vocational education and training from Sunday 1 January 2023.

Under a range of eligibility criteria changes, Victorians can access a Free TAFE course for the first time regardless of previous qualifications.

This means, for example, that a degree graduate can re-train to become an early childhood educator without having to pay tuition fees.

The changes remove the upskilling requirement and once-in-a-lifetime limit on 70 Free TAFE courses for specified or priority training pathways such as early childhood, nursing, community services and building and construction.

While the changes make Free TAFE courses available to people with higher-level qualifications, they also allow people to access Free TAFE for multiple courses within the same pathway.

For example, a person who completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care as part of Free TAFE can also complete the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care as part of Free TAFE.

Find out more

For more information, refer to Free TAFE for lots of jobs.

For further enquiries, contact the TAFE and Training line:

  • phone: 131 823

Updated