Free TAFE courses
Free TAFE is a Victorian Government initiative that covers tuition fees for eligible students to study one of more than 80 qualifications in high priority areas.
Free TAFE courses at Swinburne
Free TAFE is designed to help you develop in-demand skills in high priority areas with strong job prospects. These courses are available as short courses, certificates and diplomas. Eligible students can have their tuition fees covered when they study these courses.
- Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship-Carpentry
- Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship–Bricklaying
- Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building)
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
- Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start)
- Certificate IV in Engineering
- Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship)
- Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
- Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping – on campus or online
- Diploma of Accounting – on campus or online
- Certificate III in Information Technology
- Certificate IV in Cyber Security*
*Completion of Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120) is a requirement to study this course through Free TAFE. If you had been enrolled in Certificate IV in Cyber Security but withdrew prior to 1 January 2025, you can only re-enrol in the course through Free TAFE if you have completed a Certificate III in Information Technology.
- Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
- Graduate Certificate in Client Assessment and Case Management
- Certificate IV in Community Services
- Diploma of Community Services
- Certificate IV in Disability Support
- Diploma of Emergency Health Care
- Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability)
- Certificate IV in Mental Health
- Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work
- Diploma of Nursing – on campus and online
- Certificate IV in Youth Work
- Diploma of Youth Work
Eligibility for Free TAFE
If you are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen, you are eligible to enrol into a Free TAFE course in Victoria (even if you already have a higher qualification). You just need to be physically present in Victoria for the duration of your studies.
If you are eligible, the Free TAFE initiative will cover the tuition fees for the duration of your course (regardless of its length or the time it takes you to complete). You will still need to pay for other fees, such as graduation fees and materials fees.
Asylum seekers may be eligible for the Asylum Seeker VET (ASVET) program offered by the Victorian Government.
Fee waiver limit
Eligible students can only access a Free TAFE fee waiver once, even if you do not complete your course. This is known as the 'one in a lifetime' limit, so you need to choose your course carefully.
There are two exceptions to this rule. You may still be able to access the fee waiver if:
- the only previous Free TAFE fee waiver you received was under the JobTrainer initiative; or
- you previously completed a course – whether government-subsidised (including Free TAFE) or fee for service – that is part of a Free TAFE priority pathway, and you are commencing another course in the same priority pathway
Free TAFE short courses do not count towards the 'one in a lifetime' limit.
Exception relating to Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
From 2024, if you have completed any other Free TAFE course (whether government-subsidised or fee for service), you may receive an additional Free TAFE fee waiver to study Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.
However, you cannot enrol in a Free TAFE priority pathway program and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment at the same time.
Can I access Free TAFE if I have a disability?
We understand that everybody has individual needs that may impact their ability to study, and are committed to supporting students with disabilities.
Our staff members are available to meet with prospective students to help plan their studies and discuss the support services available.
Priority pathways
The Victorian Government has designated several courses into specific study areas to create Free TAFE priority pathways. These pathways allow you to progress from a certificate to a diploma within the same study area without paying tuition fees for each individual course.
This means you can access multiple courses if the courses are in the same priority pathway. You will not be eligible for a fee waiver if you complete one course under one study area and another course from a different study area.
| Study area | Course |
|---|---|
| Accounting | Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping Diploma of Accounting |
| Allied Health and Nursing | Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance** Certificate III in Health Services Assistance Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance Diploma of Nursing |
| Building and Construction | Certificate III in Concreting* Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing* Certificate IV in Building and Construction Certificate IV in Plumbing and Services – not available for new enrolments Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying* |
| Community Services | Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs* Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention* Certificate IV in Community Services Certificate IV in Mental Health Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work Certificate IV in Youth Work Diploma of Community Services Diploma of Youth Work |
| Early Childhood | Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care |
| Education Support | Certificate III in School Based Education Support* Certificate IV in School Based Education Support |
| Information Technology | Certificate III in Information Technology*** Certificate IV in Cyber Security |
| Nursing and Personal Care | Certificate III in Individual Support Certificate IV in Ageing Support* Certificate IV in Disability Support Certificate IV in Leisure and Health*** Diploma of Nursing |
*Course not delivered by Swinburne but may be recognised if a student has completed the course at another registered training organisation.
**Other conditions may apply depending on eligibility. Students who completed the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance in 2024 will be eligible to enrol in the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance through Free TAFE. Students enrolling in the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance in 2025 cannot be offered a Free TAFE fee waiver. Instead, students can enter the Allied Health and Nursing pathways through the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance.
***Other conditions may apply depending on eligibility.
If you complete the Certificate III in Individual Support through Free TAFE, you can keep your Free TAFE entitlement if you enrol into the Certificate IV in Ageing Support and then the Diploma of Nursing. This is because these courses are within the same priority pathway.
If you complete the Certificate III in Individual Support through Free TAFE and enrol into the Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping, you will no longer be eligible for Free TAFE. This is because these courses are in different priority pathways. However, you may be eligible to enrol in a government-subsidised place.
When to apply
You may opt in for Free TAFE when completing the eligibility criteria section of your course application. If you opted ‘no’ to Free TAFE and once you have commenced your course, we will be unable to consider your request to opt in for Free TAFE.
Frequently asked questions
Certificates and diplomas
There is a limit of one course per person for Free TAFE courses outside priority pathways.
However, you can complete multiple Free TAFE courses within the same priority pathway to progress from a certificate to a diploma without paying tuition fees.
You need to choose your course carefully, so talk to us if you are unsure.
Short courses
Free TAFE short courses do not count towards the 'one in a lifetime' limit for other Free TAFE courses, so you can study multiple Free TAFE short courses.
However, these short courses are treated as skill sets for the ‘two at a time’ and ‘two in a year’ volume limits* on Skills First training.
*Exceptions apply to these short courses:
- Identifying and Responding to Family Violence Risk – no limit
- Literacy and Numeracy Support – no limit
- Plumbing Licence skill sets – only 'two at a time' limit applies
No. You must complete a pathway program before commencing another program in a Free TAFE priority pathway.
Free TAFE will cover your tuition fees for one course only unless you continue to study another course within the same pathway.
The Free TAFE initiative only covers fees for courses on the Free TAFE list, but there are other courses at Swinburne where you may be eligible for subsidised fees.
The VET Student Loan program allows eligible students enrolled in relevant diploma-level courses or higher to secure a loan to cover the tuition fees upfront.
You may also consider applying through the Skills First program. If you are eligible, the government can subsidise the cost of your training.
In some instances, you may also be eligible for a concession on the tuition fees.
No – this is considered an existing enrolment (not commencement). As a continuing student, you would not be eligible for a fee waiver for your enrolment into units for the following year.
Once you have enrolled in a Free TAFE course, you can only enrol in another Free TAFE course within the same priority pathway.
Students must complete a program before commencing another program in a priority pathway.
This depends on the status of your existing enrolment, as you can only start one Free TAFE course with a fee waiver.
If your existing course was a Free TAFE course with a fee waiver and you want to continue in the same course, your tuition will remain free. However, if you want to enrol in a different Free TAFE course, you will not be eligible for another fee waiver.
If your existing course was not a Free TAFE course and you want to enrol in a Free TAFE course, you may be eligible for a fee waiver.
Under the Victorian Government-subsidised training, the government pays a large portion of the cost of your training if you are eligible. You make a contribution by paying fees.
If you are eligible for the Free TAFE initiative, the government will pay your tuition fees for your course.
Courses undertaken under Free TAFE are treated the same way as any other course you have undertaken for the purpose of determining whether you are eligible for further subsidised training options by the Victorian Government. Talk to us to check if you have these options.
You may consider the VET Student Loan program or the Skills First program. In some instances, you may also be eligible for a concession on the tuition fees.
Explore more
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Skills First program
Skills First is a Victorian Government program that can help you access vocational education and training. If you’re eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your training.
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VET Student Loan
The VET Student Loan (VSL) program helps eligible students enrolled in approved diploma-level courses or above pay the tuition fees of an approved provider like Swinburne.
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Swinburne Skills and Jobs Centre
Qualified career support could be just a call or email away. Whether you’re just starting out or changing career, take advantage of Swinburne Skills and Job Centre’s free, government-funded career and jobs service.
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Vocational Education and Training at Swinburne
Swinburne’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) will provide you with practical and hands-on TAFE courses to thrive from day one.
Want to speak to us?
We’re here to help. Book a one-on-one consultation with an adviser to help you understand your options.