Through the Fee-Free TAFE Skills Agreement, the Australian Government has partnered with state and territory governments to deliver $1.5 billion for over 500,000 Free TAFE and vocational education and training (VET) places across Australia from 2023 to 2026.
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The Fee-Free TAFE Skills Agreement includes the following areas of national priority:
- care (including aged care, childcare, health care and disability care)
- technology and digital
- hospitality and tourism
- construction
- agriculture
- sovereign capability (for example manufacturing and Defence)
- VET Workforce.
Access to Free TAFE places will be prioritised for target cohorts including First Nations Australians, young people (aged 17 to 24), people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, women facing economic insecurity, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, people with disability and certain categories of visa holders.
Ongoing Free TAFE
The Australian Government has made Free TAFE a permanent feature of the national VET system, committing to invest over $1.6 billion to 2034-35 to support at least 100,000 Free TAFE and VET places per year from 2027, underpinned by the Free TAFE Act 2025.
Free TAFE will be delivered in partnership with states and territories. Places will be prioritised to cohorts who typically face barriers to education and training and will be offered in fields of study in high demand and of national and state priority.
Fee-Free TAFE Program Snapshot – Quarter 3, 2025
The Fee-Free TAFE Program Snapshot provides a breakdown of enrolment and completion data from January 2023 to 30 September 2025. It includes visualisations and sector-level insights, highlighting the top five courses by enrolments and completions.
More information
- For Free TAFE course eligibility, and to search industries and occupations to find a career that's right for you, visit Free TAFE | Your Career
- Free TAFE Act 2025
- Minister for Skills and Training Media Centre
- Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council communiques