The Commonwealth and State Governments today announced a further 2,140 Fee-Free TAFE places will be available in housing and construction in Western Australia.
The additional places are made possible through Commonwealth funding of $9.4 million, as they partner-up with the State to address skills shortages to build the houses that Western Australians need.
From January 2025, 2,140 new Fee-Free TAFE places will be available, including up to 540 pre-apprenticeship places.
The Fee-Free trades pre-apprenticeships will give students an opportunity to learn about a trade such as bricklaying, cabinet-making, carpentry, electrical and plumbing, and prepare them for future employment-based trades apprenticeships.
Western Australians who enrol in the new Fee-Free building and construction courses are set to save up to $1,425 in tuition fees in comparison to 2024 costs, helping to further reduce financial barriers to people engaging in vocational training and joining WA's in-demand construction workforce.
From 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2024, Western Australia has seen 63,489 students enrol in Fee-Free TAFE courses. Over this period, to help areas of high skills need and demand in Western Australia Fee-Free TAFE has supported:
- over 24,900 enrolments in the Care sector
- over 10,500 enrolments in the Early Childhood Education and Care sector
- over 7,100 enrolments in the Technology and Digital sector
- over 3,800 enrolments in the Hospitality and Tourism sector
- over 2,100 enrolments in the Construction sector
There have been over 11,400 regional and remote Fee-Free TAFE students in Western Australia since 1 January 2023.
