By Brendan Rees
Free courses have expanded at Chisholm TAFE in Cranbourne with an additional seven courses being made available from next year.
Premier Daniel Andrews, together with the Minister for Training and Skills, Gayle Tierney MP announced on Thursday 16 August that 10 non-apprenticeship courses and two pre-apprenticeship courses will be free under the Andrews Labor Government’s Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative.
The additional courses at Chisholm TAFE in Cranbourne include: Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Certificate IV in Cyber Security, Certificate IV in Youth Work, Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs, Diploma of Justice, Certificate III in Tourism and Certificate II in Building and Construction (pre-apprenticeship).
From 1 January 2019, Free TAFE for Priority Courses covers tuition fees for priority courses for students who are eligible for government-subsidised training.
The announcement comes as Mr Andrews toured Cranbourne Chisholm on Wednesday 1 August and met with students who are undertaking courses that will be free from term 1, 2019.
The free priority course list at Chisholm Cranbourne includes a total of 20 non-apprenticeship courses and 18 courses that provide pathways to apprenticeships.
Cranbourne’s Chisholm Institute CEO Dr. Rick Ede said the free TAFE initiative was a great opportunity for students in the south east.
“The free TAFE initiative will give the Casey community the required skills and knowledge to assist then to obtain employment in industry throughout Casey and surrounding area. This area has a large number of businesses that require a steady, skilled workforce,” he said.
Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Harriet Shing said: “We know that the cost of training can be a huge barrier to getting the right skills, so we’re investing $172 million to provide free TAFE across 30 priority courses and 20 pre-apprenticeship courses in key areas of industry and jobs growth.”
TAFE institutes, including universities that offer TAFE courses, across Victoria can take enrolments in 2018 for free TAFE courses that begin in 2019.
