❓ Mr Pastorelli asks how free and low-fee TAFE courses are contributing to WA's strong economy. The Minister responds by highlighting investment in TAFE, increased applications, and specific free courses in key sectors like construction and healthcare.
AnsweredQoN 592Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Fee-free and low-fee TAFE courses
592. Mr Daniel Pastorelli to the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to developing a skilled and productive workforce.
Can the minister advise how free and low-fee TAFE is delivering the skills
required so that the Western Australian economy remains the strongest in the
nation?
592. Mr Daniel Pastorelli to the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to developing a skilled and productive workforce.
Can the minister advise how free and low-fee TAFE is delivering the skills
required so that the Western Australian economy remains the strongest in the
nation?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question. As he has rightly outlined, WA has the strongest economy in
the nation, and this government intends to keep it that way. We are ensuring
that that trajectory continues through our record investment in TAFE and
training. In 2026, $100 million will be invested in TAFE's free and low-fee
courses in building, construction, health care and the broader care economy. We
know that TAFE and a skilled workforce is key to delivering our priorities on
construction, health and housing and supporting those jobs that are going to back in those industries. It will strengthen our
health system and provide a skilled workforce for our technical trades.
Over the last four
weeks we have seen our TAFE campaign highlight how jobs in health and housing are
made possible through free TAFE. The "You can make it here" campaign
has encouraged thousands of Western Australians to skill, upskill and reskill
to support Western Australia's growing and diversifying economy. Since the
campaign launch, website traffic to TAFE has reached over 40,000 views and more
Western Australians have been inspired to pursue TAFE and build a successful
career. Over 19,000 applications have already been submitted for semester 1 in 2026
and applications from year 12 students this year have jumped by 17%. That is a
massive increase of more than 3,000 applications after our four-week campaign.
This record investment in TAFE means that people can get the skills they need
without being saddled with debt for future years. It means that for building
and construction, certificates III in plumbing, wall and ceiling lining,
bricklaying and block laying, solid plastering and civil construction are all
free. We know that in health care we have made the cert III in individual
support free, and the cert III in early childhood education and care is free. Importantly,
the diploma of nursing, which was previously $10,000, is now free.
This government is
committed to building more homes and boosting capacity in our health system, and
free TAFE is making it happen. It means more tradies to build our
infrastructure. We need more nurses for our hospitals. The deadline for
competitive courses closes on Friday, so I encourage everyone who is interested
in a career in the trades or in reskilling to consider one of the more than 300
free and low-fee TAFE courses that this government is backing in.
for the question. As he has rightly outlined, WA has the strongest economy in
the nation, and this government intends to keep it that way. We are ensuring
that that trajectory continues through our record investment in TAFE and
training. In 2026, $100 million will be invested in TAFE's free and low-fee
courses in building, construction, health care and the broader care economy. We
know that TAFE and a skilled workforce is key to delivering our priorities on
construction, health and housing and supporting those jobs that are going to back in those industries. It will strengthen our
health system and provide a skilled workforce for our technical trades.
Over the last four
weeks we have seen our TAFE campaign highlight how jobs in health and housing are
made possible through free TAFE. The "You can make it here" campaign
has encouraged thousands of Western Australians to skill, upskill and reskill
to support Western Australia's growing and diversifying economy. Since the
campaign launch, website traffic to TAFE has reached over 40,000 views and more
Western Australians have been inspired to pursue TAFE and build a successful
career. Over 19,000 applications have already been submitted for semester 1 in 2026
and applications from year 12 students this year have jumped by 17%. That is a
massive increase of more than 3,000 applications after our four-week campaign.
This record investment in TAFE means that people can get the skills they need
without being saddled with debt for future years. It means that for building
and construction, certificates III in plumbing, wall and ceiling lining,
bricklaying and block laying, solid plastering and civil construction are all
free. We know that in health care we have made the cert III in individual
support free, and the cert III in early childhood education and care is free. Importantly,
the diploma of nursing, which was previously $10,000, is now free.
This government is
committed to building more homes and boosting capacity in our health system, and
free TAFE is making it happen. It means more tradies to build our
infrastructure. We need more nurses for our hospitals. The deadline for
competitive courses closes on Friday, so I encourage everyone who is interested
in a career in the trades or in reskilling to consider one of the more than 300
free and low-fee TAFE courses that this government is backing in.
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