Upskill for Free
If you are interested in upskilling or changing directions in your career, there are a number of free courses available at TAFE colleges, and select private training providers across Australia.
The Australian Government has partnered with state governments to offer 180,000 fee-free vocational courses for 12 months starting January 2023, as part of a $1 billion effort to promote skills development. This fee-free training has been extended from 2024-2026 with 120+ training courses 100% free, whilst a range of qualifications being offered at lower fees, and others being capped at $400 for eligible students, and $1,200 for non-concession students. As long as you hold an eligible visa, you are able to take advantage of these free and reduced fee courses!
There is discrimination towards permanent residents when it comes to federal job opportunities and apprenticeship programs. Generally, public service programs and jobs are reserved for Australian citizens. So, if the Australian government offers any nationwide courses for free, one must make the best of that opportunity.
The agreement between the federal and state governments is to prioritize national training areas, specifically construction, agriculture, sovereign capability, the VET workforce, hospitality and tourism, technology, elderly and childcare, and health and disability.
Job seekers, unpaid carers, people with disabilities, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples, young people (usually between 17-24 years of age) and women experiencing hardships and/or interested in taking courses in male-dominated industries, such as in construction, are given priority admission in the fee-free courses – as long as they meet other residency, age and visa eligibility criteria.
The naming convention of the courses broadly falls under the following:
• Introductory courses or short courses focus on a certain skill set to either introduce
you to a new subject matter or to aid in upskilling your existing skillsets
• Certificate courses (Australians often abbreviate to Cert.), ranging from Certificate I-IV
a. Certificate I - Teaches basic vocational skills for moving into a new industry
b. Certificate II - Focuses on industry-specific skills; can be studied as part of an
apprenticeship
c. Certificate III - Moving beyond entry level – focused on job-specific skills & the equivalent
of 6-12 months of degree study
d. Certificate IV - Focused on technical, problem solving and decision-making skills
• Diploma courses are for individuals who would like to get into supervisory roles or plan to
complete a relevant degree later on. The qualification takes 1-2 years to complete, and is
equivalent to 1-2 years of study for a university degree
• Advanced Diplomas concentrate on a specialization in a particular industry or expertise
• Graduate Certificate courses are geared towards managerial roles. These courses usually
require a Cert. IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma prior to enrolment
Every course, program and degree in Australia is categorized under 10 levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) – a national policy that covers qualifications across all sectors. Do note - Secondary Certificates of Education are not located at a particular level in the AQF.
The table below summarizes the 10 qualifications categories. Feel free to read more at aqf.edu.au.
Links to access the fee-free and other job-ready skill set courses, offered by state and territory:
