Australia’s Free TAFE program has changed the lives of TAFE teachers and students across the nation, is addressing skills shortages, and provides significant benefits to our economy. With the federal election weeks away, it is important for voters to understand the positive impact of Free TAFE, and the ramifications of a possible Dutton Government.
Free TAFE has changed lives.
Under the Albanese Government we have seen historic advances in the take up of TAFE after neglect of the public system for more than a decade under the Coalition Government. TAFE has taken its rightful place as the anchor institution of vocational education in Australia.
For TAFE teachers, Free TAFE and the restoration of recurrent, guaranteed funding after long-term neglect, provides confidence in the future of the vocational education sector, and a stronger sense of long-term career security.
Now, all that progress is at risk.
Make no mistake, a Dutton Government will cut Free TAFE.
Last month legislation passed the parliament that means from 2027, there will be a permanent 100,000 Free TAFE places a year. We recognise and thank all parliamentarians including the Albanese government, Australian Greens and members of the Crossbench who supported the Free TAFE legislation.
Making Free TAFE permanent provides certainty to TAFE teachers and students, and ensures that quality vocational education delivered by TAFE the public provider, is available to all Australians.
However, Peter Dutton and the Coalition voted against Free TAFE.
It’s clear that we will see the end of hundreds of thousands of Free TAFE places should Peter Dutton become Prime Minister, and we’ve heard as much from members of his team.
We have had the Shadow Assistant Treasurer stating on Sky “we won’t do Free TAFE” confirming they’d cut $1.5 billion from TAFE. The Shadow Assistant Minister for Education has flagged the idea of cutting Commonwealth funding for Free TAFE in a Senate Committee. And the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has called free TAFE a ‘flop’, adding further that, ‘a key principle and tenet of the Liberal Party is if you don't pay for something, you don't value it’.
To lose Free TAFE would be devastating for students and teachers, but also for Australia’s economy and for the industries in desperate need of skilled workers.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) recently released a report about the Free TAFE program, confirming the significant benefits of the initiative and highlighting the risk that a Dutton Government poses to the Australia economy, TAFE teachers, and students.
Key findings of the report Unlocking the full potential of TAFE show that:
- Free TAFE is providing pathways for individuals, and particularly those for whom vocational education is a barrier to further study
- TAFE is providing access to priority cohorts in greater numbers compared to private RTOs
- TAFE is addressing critical skills shortages in areas of need
- Women make up close to 60% of the Free TAFE student cohort, compared to around 50% in the overall body of VET students
- TAFE program completers are more likely to represent the bottom two quintiles for socio-economic disadvantage when compared to students of private VET providers
- 56% of parents would encourage their child to explore TAFE as a pathway, whereas only 29% said the same about private registered training organisations
- TAFE and universities share similar outcomes for employment, with 78% of TAFE students and 79% of university students finding employment after study
- Among VET graduates who received income support prior to study, 39% are no longer on income support two years after completion
The report highlighted how Free TAFE had been life-changing for students and teachers.
Free TAFE has opened doors for a new generation of students who previously would not have been able to undertake vocational education.
It has been lifechanging for students as it has significantly reduced financial barriers for students pursuing vocational education and provided the opportunity to investigate different career pathways, particularly in areas of extreme skill shortage.
TAFE not only offers the best educational outcomes for students, it is the best value for money investment that governments could make into the VET sector.
All this could be ripped away if Peter Dutton becomes Prime Minister.
Under the previous Coalition Government, we saw TAFE campuses closed, courses cut, TAFE teachers casualised or laid off and students saddled with burdensome debt so we know what is at stake this federal election.
We can’t go backwards.
Please use your vote to keep Free TAFE and ensure that TAFE receives the vital funding needed to Rebuild with TAFE.
TAFE cannot risk a Dutton Government.
By Correna Haythorpe
Federal President, Australian Education Union