Coinciding with national TAFE Day, Member for Dobell Emma McBride welcomed the news that more than 500,000 people have enrolled in a fee-free TAFE course across Australia.
Fee-free TAFE removes financial barriers for people to gain skills in areas of demand that are experiencing skills shortages.
Across the Central Coast, people have been able to undertake a fee-free TAFE course to upskill or reskill, opening new pathways into the workforce.
Blue Haven resident Tanisha is one of more than 290,000 women who have enrolled in a fee-free TAFE course.
“As a mum of four, I want to get back to work but I couldn’t afford to pay for courses to upskill,” she said.
“Fee-free TAFE has made it possible for me to study a Certificate IV in Project Management and better myself to return to work.”
Fee-free TAFE is delivered in partnership between the federal, state and territory governments.
So far this year there have been more than 120,800 enrolments in the care sector, 45,800 enrolments in the technology and digital sector, 32,100 enrolments in the construction sector and 31,900 enrolments in the early childhood education and care sector.
Also, this year there has been 108,300 enrolments by job seekers, 158,100 enrolments by people aged 24 and under and 296,200 enrolments by women.
Students from regional and remote areas made up a third of total enrolments.
The Federal Government plans to invest $502.9M for an additional 320,000 fee-free TAFE and VET places nationwide over the next three years.
“I am extremely proud of our Fee-Free TAFE initiative, which is changing lives,” McBride said.