The Australian Education Union Victorian Branch has again condemned the Coalition’s pledge to abolish fee-free TAFE, warning the move would increase the cost of living, hitting young people, women and regional communities the most.
Recent analysis shows students enrolled in the 10 most popular TAFE courses would face average fees of $4,395 amid a cost-of-living crisis.
“Mr Dutton’s cuts would make it harder for young people, women and regional Victorians to get the skills and qualifications they need and afford the essentials,” AEU Victorian Branch president Justin Mullaly said.
“This will only exacerbate workforce shortages in essential skills like construction, aged care and early childhood education.
“In early childhood education and care for example, fee-free TAFE has helped ensure we have more of the early childhood educators we need. Peter Dutton’s plan will make accesses to early childhood education and care even more difficult especially in regional Victoria and Melbourne’s outer-suburbs.
“Fee-free TAFE has improved the lives of thousands of Victorians. It has unlocked employment opportunities for marginalised groups, bolstered the strength of our regions and provided significant opportunities for Victorians to contribute to the economy and address our ongoing skill shortages,” Mr Mullaly said.
Since 2019, fee-free TAFE has supported more than 200,000 students across Victoria. Data from the Victorian government shows that women make up 60 per cent of enrolments and nearly one-third come from regional or rural communities.
Media contact: Chris Arnott – 0452 616 737
30 April 2025