The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future by investing in training and apprenticeships, with new data released today showing in Victoria there have been close to 110,000 enrolments in Free TAFE since the program began in January 2023.

We are continuing to deliver cost of living relief while encouraging more Australians into trades.

That’s why we’re making Free TAFE permanent.

It’s also why we’ve announced a $10,000 incentive payment for Australians in construction apprenticeships.

Labor’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: we want Australian workers to make more things here and that includes building more homes.

From July 1 2025, eligible apprentices will receive $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages, over the life of their apprenticeship to work in housing construction.

As part of the Albanese Government’s Free TAFE program in Victoria, between January 2023 and September 2024, there have been:

• more than 13,300 enrolments in the construction sector.
• more than 34,300 in the care sector.
• more than 5,900 in the agriculture sector.
• more than 9,900 in the technology and digital sector.
• more than 5,500 in the early childhood education and care sector.

This new data also shows popular Free TAFE courses in Victoria were:

• Diploma of Nursing with students saving up to $17,150.
• Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) with students saving up to $9,257.
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment with students saving up to $5,368.
• Certificate IV in Cyber Security with students saving up to $4,108.
• Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping with students saving up to $3,597.

Students from regional areas comprised more than a third of all enrolments.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“Building Australia’s Future is about so much more than bricks and mortar. It is about creating a better life for Australians, building better education and creating new employment opportunities.

“That’s why my Government is backing training and apprenticeships, to set up the next generation for the future.

“Only a Labor Government is building Australia’s future.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:

“Free TAFE is providing an accessible pathway to secure work and cost-of-living relief to more than 108,000 enrolments in Victoria.

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to building the future of our country which is we introduced our Free TAFE Bill in Parliament, to make Free TAFE enduring.

“As I travel around Victoria, at every TAFE I visit, I meet students who tell me how much Free TAFE has changed their life.

“Now – with our additional $10,000 incentive payments and increased support for apprentices – there is no better time to pick up the tools, build homes for Australians and earn while you learn.

“The Liberal party believes that if you don’t pay for something, you don’t value it. Well I believe the tens of thousands of Victorians who’ve enrolled in Free TAFE value their TAFE education and the doors it opens.

“It’s great to see Victorians embracing the opportunity to lay the foundations for their future careers through Free TAFE. I’m proud that they can make this decision without having to consider the burden of financial pressure of training costs.

“Peter Dutton and the Liberals are blocking Free TAFE, but with Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party, Free TAFE is here to stay.”

Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney:

“Victoria is the birthplace of Free TAFE. Since 2019, almost 190,000 Victorian Students have accessed Free TAFE, saving over $550 million in tuition fees.

“The Allan Labor Government is leading the Nation when it comes to Vocational Education and Training, apprenticeships and addressing skills shortages.

"Implementing our response to the Victorian-led Apprenticeship Taskforce is making apprenticeships safer and fairer.”