Free TAFE eligibility

Check your eligibility for Free TAFE

Not sure if you are eligible for Free TAFE? Answer a few quick questions to check.

This tool is a guide only. Your TAFE provider will confirm your eligibility.

Free TAFE eligibility criteria

The following eligibility criteria applies to Free TAFE courses.

Residential status

Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens training in Victoria are eligible for Free TAFE or government-subsidised training.

Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers might be eligible for Free TAFE under the Asylum Seeker VET Program.

Previous qualifications

You can do your first eligible Free TAFE course no matter what qualifications you already have.

Previous Free TAFE course

Usually, you can only do one Free TAFE course, but in the following cases, you can undertake more than one.

Priority pathways

Priority pathways allow you to complete more than one Free TAFE course within the same priority area. For example, you can progress from a certificate to a diploma in the same priority area. Free TAFE will cover your tuition fees for both courses. You’ll need to finish one course before starting the next course.

Free TAFE priority pathways are in priority areas that need skilled workers:

Free TAFE priority pathways do not include apprenticeship pathway (pre-apprenticeship) courses.

JobTrainer

If you have completed a Free TAFE course under the JobTrainer program, you can also do another Free TAFE course. The second course can be in a pathway or non-pathway program.

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

If you have already completed a Free TAFE course, you can also do the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment under Free TAFE.

You can do this even if you have already:

• completed another course under Free TAFE, Skills First or fee-for-service
• received fee waivers under Free TAFE, JobTrainer or Free TAFE priority pathways.

Short courses

You can do more than one Free TAFE short course. You can also complete a Free TAFE short course and it won’t affect your eligibility for a Free TAFE certificate, diploma, priority pathway or pre-apprenticeship.

Free TAFE short courses will count as skill sets. There are limits on the number of subsidised Skills First training skill sets that you can enrol in:

• 2 at a time: You can enrol in a maximum of two Skills First-subsidised programs at the same time. This includes skill sets and qualifications
• 2 in a year: You can start a maximum of two Skills First-subsidised skill sets or two qualifications in a calendar year.

Exceptions to the limits apply to:

• Course in Identifying and Responding to Family Violence Risk – no limit
• Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Support program – no limit
• Plumbing Licence skill sets – no limit

Each TAFE delivers different short courses, so choose a short course on the Free TAFE courses page then find the nearest TAFE to you.

Changing courses

In a small number of circumstances, you may be able to change Free TAFE courses.

• Contact the TAFE where you are enrolled to discuss their enrolment and withdrawal policies.
• Let the TAFE know you want to take up a new Free TAFE course with them or at another TAFE.

More about Free TAFE