The fee-free TAFE scheme established by the federal Labor government two years ago could be axed if the Labor Party loses the next election, say Local MPs Dr Gordon Reid (Robertson) and Emma McBride (Dobell).
They say that since fee-free TAFE started more than 500,000 people have enrolled in a free course.
Almost half that number are in NSW, with 50,513 enrolments in the aged care and disability sector, 13,103 enrolments in early childhood education, and 10,831 enrolments in construction.
The number of people with TAFE qualifications is far higher on the Central Coast than nationally, with 30.8 per cent of people in the region holding a TAFE qualification compared to 25.5 per cent nationally.
Free courses are offered across the three TAFE campuses in Gosford, Wyong and Ourimbah.
The government recently introduced the Free TAFE Bill 2024 to make fee-free TAFE permanent and offer 100,000 places each year, but the Liberal Opposition has said it will oppose the legislation, Reid and McBride said.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley said it was a tenet of the Liberal Party that “if you don’t pay for something, you don’t value it”.
McBride spoke in support of the Bill during Parliament’s final sitting week of the year.
She and Reid joined fellow regional Labor MPs at a press conference to express concern that Free TAFE was at risk if the Liberals came to government.
“My Dad, Grant, was a TAFE teacher and my brother, Eddi, did his plumbing apprenticeship at Wyong TAFE, so I know the value of having a TAFE qualification and the difference it makes,” McBride said.
“On the Central Coast TAFE has always been a reliable pathway to gaining the skills needed to find a secure job, while also filling local skills gaps and shortages.
“Peter Dutton (Federal Opposition Leader) needs to come to our community and tell the thousands of locals undertaking a fee-free TAFE course why he doesn’t think they deserve that opportunity.”
Reid said TAFE continued to be there for working families across the nation.
“We must never under-estimate the power of TAFE and the role that it plays in supporting young people to achieve their dreams,” he said.
“The Federal Labor Government will continue to fight to maintain TAFE’s position as the leading provider of vocational education and training across Australia, including our Free TAFE positions in critical areas of the economy.”
My 19 year old Grandaughter has just finished a course at Wyong Taffe in aged Care and she loved every minute of it the teachers were beautiful.