Victorian students have two great opportunities to reduce the cost of their study; JobTrainer and the Free TAFE initiative. So which one is right for you?
Fees
FREE TAFE - If you’re an eligible Victorian student, and you choose to use your one Free TAFE course, you will not incur tuition fees. Material and resources fees still apply.
JOBTRAINER - Eligible Victorian students will only be charged 20% of the standard course tuition fee. If you are eligible to access a Free TAFE course under the JobTrainer iniaitive, you will not incur any tuition fees. Material and resources fees still apply.
JOBTRAINER – Skill Set - Eligible Victorian students who are offered a place in a Jobtrainer – Skill Set will not incur tuition fees. Material and resources fees still apply.
Timing
FREE TAFE - Currently available and is expected to continue until December 2022.
JOBTRAINER - Currently available and is expected to continue until December 2022. A limited number of places are available.
JOBTRAINER – Skill Set - Currently available and is expected to continue until December 2023. A limited number of places are available.
Eligibility
To access the Victorian Government Subsidised Fees you must reside in Victoria.
FREE TAFE - The standard Skills First eligibility criteria apply to Free TAFE. Eligible Victorian students can access this initiative only once. Check the eligibility criteria here.
JOBTRAINER - The standard Skills First eligibility criteria apply to JobTrainer. A person can participate under JobTrainer if they are 17 to 24 years old when the course starts, a job seeker of any age (defined for JobTrainer, as someone who holds a concession card or is unemployed) or enrolling in a JobTrainer priority program as identified on the JobTrainer Funded Programs Report. Students must not have commenced a full qualification under JobTrainer before.
JOBTRAINER Priority Courses - The age and unemployment requirements are different for JobTrainer Priority Courses. These JobTrainer Priority Courses are available to all students who meet the Skills First eligibility criteria. View the JobTrainer priority course list here.
JOBTRAINER – Skill Set - The standard Skills First eligibility criteria apply to JobTrainer Skill Sets. However, because skill sets are not aligned to an AQF level, the ‘up-skilling’ requirement and ‘two commencements level in a lifetime’ limitation will not apply. Eligible Victorian students can access this initiative only once.
Apprentices and trainees
FREE TAFE - Apprentices and school-based apprentices are not eligible for Free TAFE. Trainees completing a Free TAFE traineeship are eligible if they meet the Skills First eligibility criteria, and the course is approved for delivery to trainees.
JOBTRAINER - Apprentices and school-based apprentices are not eligible for JobTrainer. Trainees completing a JobTrainer traineeship are eligible if they meet the Skills First eligibility criteria and the course is approved for delivery to trainees.
Eligibility exemptions
FREE TAFE - The standard Skills First eligibility criteria apply to Free TAFE but the following exceptions are available for some courses; no upskilling requirement and no ‘two at level in a lifetime’ limit. Students can only enrol in one Free TAFE course. However, students who have used their JobTrainer entitlement can still enrol in one more Free TAFE course in the future.
JOBTRAINER - The standard Skills First eligibility criteria apply to JobTrainer but with two exceptions; no upskilling requirement and no ‘two at level in a lifetime’ limit. Students can only enrol in one course under JobTrainer. However, students who have previously used their Free TAFE entitlement can enrol in a second Free TAFE course under JobTrainer.
It is important to consider the timing of your course and whether you should use JobTrainer while it is available (expected to continue until mid 2022) or Free TAFE (expected to finish Dec 2022). Our Customer Service team can help establish the best option for you.
Availability
The Gordon has been allocated a set number of JobTrainer funded spots per course. Once these fill, we will not be able to offer the JobTrainer concession to students enrolling in these courses.
Applications
View the course list below and apply via the usual e-application form on the course page.
Contact us for more information
