Free TAFE Victoria is getting a major boost. The federal and Victorian Labor governments have signed a $470 million agreement that will fund 133,000 Free TAFE places across the state over five years, starting in January 2027. (The deal is badged “Albanese and Carroll” because Ben Carroll replaced Jacinta Allan as Victorian Premier in July.)
Key details of the Free TAFE Victoria deal
- The agreement was signed by Andrew Giles, the federal Minister for Skills and Training, and his Victorian counterpart, Gabrielle Williams.
- It is the second agreement signed since the Commonwealth’s Free TAFE Act passed in March 2025. That law locked in the Albanese Government’s commitment to make Free TAFE an enduring feature of the nation’s skills system.
- For the first time, people living in regional and rural communities and those who speak a language other than English at home are named as target groups.
- The agreement also focuses on upskilling people who have faced barriers to education, training and employment. Free TAFE removes fees from qualifications in areas such as housing construction, clean energy and essential care services.
What Free TAFE Victoria means for students
Victoria led the way when it introduced Free TAFE in 2019, and the new agreement builds on the state’s existing fee-free training commitments. The governments say it will give the system more certainty and stability, which makes long-term planning easier. Over the next five years, Free TAFE Victoria should keep courses within reach for anyone weighing up training or a career change.
Minister Giles put it simply: ‘Free TAFE is life-changing.’ Seven years after Victoria led the way, he said, the deal is about ‘opening up doors and breaking down barriers to careers in critical industries like nursing, construction and early childhood education and care.’
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Licence: CC BY 4.0.
