22 March 2022

More Victorians will have access to the skills they need for the job they want, with funding for an extra 10,000 places across the TAFE and training system for people looking to reskill after the pandemic and move into healthcare and other in-demand jobs. Member for Essendon Danny Pearson MP today announced the $61.6 million investment – which will give more Essendon locals the opportunity to get new skills for a secure job in their local community and right across Victoria.

The pandemic has seen people all over the world thinking more about what really matters to each of us – family, where we want to live, and what we want to do for work. For many, it’s been a time to consider a different career path and these new subsidised places will help people get started. Jobseekers can choose to study any VET course, including from the Andrews Labor Government’s signature Free TAFE list, at any TAFE including Kangan TAFE. Even Victorians who already have another qualification – including a degree – can still access these training places at any TAFE across the state if they’re looking to reskill or change careers after the pandemic. Importantly, this investment will help boost our local pipeline of highly skilled workers for jobs now and into the future – particularly in high-demand industries such as healthcare, hospitality, early childhood education, construction and trades.

In 2020, the most popular courses across the TAFE system included mental health, nursing and allied health assistance – as the pandemic highlighted the importance of a strong health and care workforce. More than 100,000 Victorians have already signed up to our Free TAFE program since it was introduced in 2019 – making rewarding career pathways accessible to more people and saving them more than $220 million in cumulative course fees.

The Labor Government has kept our promise to save and rebuild TAFE with a record $1.7 billion investment to ensure Victorians have access to high quality skills and training to and rewarding career pathways.

Quote attributable to the Member for Essendon Danny Pearson MP

“TAFE is the engine room of Victoria – giving Victorians great opportunities, boosting local industries and strengthening our economy – and now we’re making it even easier to get the training you need for in-demand jobs.”

“These extra subsidised places will create more opportunities for jobseekers in Essendon who might have been retrenched during the pandemic, are looking to change careers or have already got a qualification.”