MORE than 137,000 students have enrolled in Free TAFE courses since 2019, but the Opposition has argued that the Victorian Government has not been upfront about costs imposed on students.
Western Victoria MP, Joe McCracken said that the more than 80 Free TAFE courses on offer were far from cheap when taking into consideration travel, accommodation relating to a course (e.g. nursing), books, course material, course specific clothing, police checks and working with children checks all adding to students’ expenses.
“It’s extremely deceptive,” Mr McCracken said.
“TAFE isn’t ‘free’ if there are additional expenses.
“When prospective students sign up to ‘Free TAFE’, you’d expect the experience to be entirely free – but that’s not the case.
Mr McCracken said the government should communicate that there are additional costs, given they claim TAFE is “free”.
He said it was unfair to prospective students who might think they are enrolling in a Free TAFE course.
Premier Daniel Andrews stated earlier this month that Free TAFE had already saved students almost $340 million and allocated a further $545 million in the recent Victorian Budget 2023/24.
The government has focussed on Free Early childhood education TAFE courses offering tuition fee-free training that so far has saved students more than $68 million in fees combined.
Training and Skills minister and Western Victoria MP Gayle Tierney said great early childhood education starts with highly skilled early childhood professionals.
“With Free TAFE, we’re making it easier for people across the state to take up a career in this rewarding sector.”
But Mr McCracken argued the government should be telling prospective students that there were additional on-costs.
“At a minimum,” he said.
“The Minister knows that TAFE isn’t free because she has cited individual TAFEs provide ‘statement of fees’ on their website, which outlines all student costs.”
He said, minister Tierney had deliberately dodged responding to his question in the Legislative Chamber in March 2023 when asked “How free, is Free TAFE?”
“Ms Tierney may need to go to TAFE herself and study ‘how to give a straight answer,” Mr McCracken said.
“Why is she continuing to label TAFE as ‘free’ when she knows it clearly is not?
Minister Tierney responded to the adjournment matter in May and said the government was committed to rebuilding the TAFE system after it was decimated by the previous coalition government.
“They ripped over $1 billion out of the TAFE system,” she said.
“They shut 22 TAFE campuses and sacked over 2000 teachers.
“I’d put the Andrews Labor Government’s record of investment in the TAFE system against the coalition any day of the week.”
“Free TAFE offers pathways to vocation education for students who previously found it out of reach.
“This is particularly the case for regional students who will be able to remain at home, training and fill the industry needs of their local communities.
“But more than that, Free TAFE has increased access for women, unemployed people, students with a disability, Free TAFE has broken down so many barriers.”
Minister Tierney said individual TAFEs provided information on their websites for potential students to review including a Statement of Fees on the total cost to students and any applicable fees, such as student services, amenities, goods or materials.
But Mr McCracken said when people were making significant decisions about their future and committing to study, it was “just plain decency to give them all the information.”
“When I checked the State Government’s Free TAFE website I did not find any information about any additional on-costs or even a disclaimer clearly saying that only course fees are subsidised, not additional costs.”
