Free TAFE courses
Free TAFE courses are free courses for skills in demand by Victorian employers.
Recent changes to eligibility criteria for Free TAFE means that more access and study opportunities for Victorians are now on offer at Melbourne Polytechnic.
- Browse Free TAFE courses to start your TAFE journey
- Browse new Free TAFE pathways
- Check your eligibility
- Check the Frequently Asked Questions
Free TAFE courses
Students who are eligible for Free TAFE can study in one of the following Free TAFE courses at Melbourne Polytechnic.
Accounting and Business
- Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping FNS40217
- Diploma of Accounting FNS50217
- Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety BSB41419
Study more with the Accounting pathway.
Agriculture
Study more with the Agriculture pathway.
Animal Studies
Auslan
Building and Construction
- Certificate IV in Building and Construction (Building) CPC40120
- Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) CPC50220
- Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying CPC60121
Study more with the Building and Construction pathway.
Construction Trades and Engineering Trades
- Certificate II in Building and Construction - Bricklaying Pre-apprenticeship 22338VIC
- Certificate II in Building and Construction - Painting and Decorating 22338VIC
- Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Pre-Vocational) 22499VIC
Education and Childcare
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30121
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50121 Non-traineeship
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50121 Traineeship
- Certificate III in School Based Education Support CHC30221
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40116
Study more with the Early Education pathway.
Health Services and Community Services
- Certificate III in Individual Support CHC33015 Aged Care
- Certificate IV in Disability CHC43115
- Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs CHC43215
- Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance HLT43015
- Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention CHC40313
- Certificate IV in Community Services CHC42015
- Certificate IV in Mental Health CHC43315
- Diploma of Community Services CHC52015
Study more with a Community Services pathway.
Horticulture
Hospitality, Bakery and Cookery
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery SIT30816 Non-apprenticeship
- Certificate III in Hospitality SIT30616
Information Technology
Free TAFE pathways
Recent changes to eligibility criteria for Free TAFE means that more access and study opportunities for Victorians are now on offer at Melbourne Polytechnic.
What are Free TAFE pathways?
Free TAFE pathways are groups of two or more courses in study areas that the Victorian Government have prioritised. When you study a complete a course in a Free TAFE pathway you can access Free TAFE for all following courses in the same pathway.
Read about the Free TAFE pathways at Victoria Government's Free TAFE web page.
Community and Family Services pathways
When you complete an eligible community services Free TAFE course, you'll be able to enrol in the Diploma of Community Services CHC52015.
(You'll still need to meet the diploma entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Certificate IV in Community Services
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Outreach Worker
- Welfare Support Worker
- Case Worker
- Community Support Worker
Diploma of Community Services
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Community Services Case Manager
- Community Worker
- Case Support Worker
- Child Welfare Officer
Mental Health and AOD pathways
When you complete an eligible community services Free TAFE course, you'll be able to enrol in the Diploma of Community Services CHC52015.
(You'll still need to meet the diploma entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Family Support Worker
- Case Worker
- Drug and Alcohol Worker
- Community Support Worker
Diploma of Community Services
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Community Services Case Manager
- Community Worker
- Case Support Worker
- Child Welfare Officer
Accounting pathway
When you complete the Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping FNS40217 Free TAFE course, you'll be able to access Free TAFE for the Diploma of Community Services CHC52015.
(You'll still need to meet the diploma entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Diploma of Accounting
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Bookkeeper
- Account Manager
- Financial Analyst
- Auditor
- Payroll Officer
- Tax Specialist
- Accounting Clerk
Building and surveying pathway
When you complete a building certificate, you'll still be able to access Free TAFE funding for the other courses in the Free TAFE pathway, including diplomas.
(You'll still need to meet the course entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Construction Site Tradesperson
- Domestic Waterproofing Specialist
- Subcontractor
- Industrial Waterproofing Specialist
- Labourer
- Commercial Waterproofing Specialist
Certificate IV in Building and Construction
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Contracts Administrator
- Building / Construction Estimator
- Construction Manager
- Site Supervisor
- Registered Builder
- Construction Project Supervisor
- Site Manager
- Project Manager
Advanced Diploma of Building Surveying
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Building Certifier
- Building Inspector
- Building Surveyor
Agriculture pathway
When you complete an agriculture certificate, you'll still be able to access Free TAFE funding for the other courses in the Free TAFE pathway, including the diploma.
(You'll still need to meet the course entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Certificate III in Agriculture
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Farm Operator
- Farm Hand
- Station Hand
- Livestock Transport Driver
Certificate IV in Agriculture
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Team Leader
- Farm Manager
- Agricultural Industry Supervisor
- Farm Operator
Diploma of Agriculture
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Farm Operator
- Stock Manager
- Farm Manager
Early Childhood Education
When you complete your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30121, you'll still be able to access Free TAFE funding for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50121.
(You'll still need to meet the course entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Nanny
- Early Childhood Worker
- Early Childhood Educator
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care - Non-Traineeship
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Occasional Carer
- Long Day Care
- Out of School Hours Carer
- Nanny
Nursing and Personal Care
When you complete your Certificate III in Individual Support CHC33015, you'll still be able to access Free TAFE funding for the Certificate IV in Disability CHC43115 and other courses in the Nursing and Personal Care priority pathway.
(You'll still need to meet the course entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Certificate III in Individual Support - Aged Care Non-Traineeship
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Aged Carer
- Home and community care worker
Certificate IV in Disability - Non-Traineeship
CAREER OUTCOMES:
- Senior Personal Care Assistant
- Senior Disability Worker
- Lifestyle Support Officer
- Day Support Disability Officer
- Behavioural Support Officer
- Disability Team Leader
- Disability Support Worker
Allied health and nursing
When you complete your Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance HLT33015, you'll still be able to access Free TAFE funding for the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance HLT43015 and other courses in the Allied Health and Nursing priority pathway.
(You'll still need to meet the course entry requirements - check the course pages for more info.)
Eligibility for Free TAFE
Residential status: Any Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen living in Victoria can now enrol in a Free TAFE course or government-subsidised training regardless of their prior skills and qualifications.
Previous qualification: You can do your first Free TAFE course no matter what qualifications you already hold. This applies to all qualifications - whether they be through TAFE or university. This is because the 'upskilling rule' has been removed.
For example, if you did a Bachelor of Arts and you want to change career you can go back and study a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance or a Diploma of Community Services as your first Free TAFE course.
Multiple Free TAFE courses: You can do multiple Free TAFE courses in the same occupational pathway listed under 'Free TAFE priority pathways'.
This is because the 'once-in-a-lifetime limit' for Free TAFE has now been removed for priority pathways.
For example, in caring occupations if you have completed a Certificate III in Individual Support you can enrol in the Certificate IV in Disability and still access tuition fee-free training.
Students whose only Free TAFE fee waiver was under JobTrainer can also do another Free TAFE course, either in a pathway or non-pathway program.
A list of ‘Free TAFE priority pathways’ is provided above.
Please note, Free TAFE priority pathways do not include apprenticeship pathway courses.
Call us to check your eligibility on 1300 635 276.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check the FAQs for answers to your questions, and call us on 1300 635 276 to discuss your Free TAFE study options.
Free TAFE is a Victorian Government program offering tuition-free study in non-apprenticeship courses, pre-apprenticeship courses and traineeships.
Residential status: Any Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident or New Zealand citizen living in Victoria can now enrol in a Free TAFE course or government-subsidised training regardless of their prior skills and qualifications.
Previous qualification: You can do your first Free TAFE course no matter what qualifications you already hold. This applies to all qualifications - whether they be through TAFE or university. This is because the 'upskilling rule' has been removed.
For example, if you did a Bachelor of Arts and you want to change career you can go back and study a Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance or a Diploma of Community Services as your first Free TAFE course.
Multiple Free TAFE courses: You can do multiple Free TAFE courses in the same occupational pathway listed under 'Free TAFE priority pathways'.
This is because the 'once-in-a-lifetime limit' for Free TAFE has now been removed for priority pathways.
For example, in caring occupations if you have completed a Certificate III in Individual Support you can enrol in the Certificate IV in Disability and still access tuition fee-free training.
Students whose only Free TAFE fee waiver was under JobTrainer can also do another Free TAFE course, either in a pathway or non-pathway program.
A list of ‘Free TAFE priority pathways’ is provided above.
Please note, Free TAFE priority pathways do not include apprenticeship pathway courses.
Call us to check your eligibility on 1300 635 276.
If you’re eligible under the Free TAFE program, the Victorian government will pay the tuition fees for your whole course. You’ll still need to pay all other fees, such as materials and student services fees.
Some of Melbourne Polytechnic’s courses are already government-subsidised. This means the government funds a large portion of tuition fees and you may be paying the smaller remaining amount.
If you’re eligible under the Free TAFE for Priority Courses program, the Victorian government will pay all of your tuition fees for the duration of your priority course.
If you’re enrolled in high school, you won’t be able to access Free TAFE for Priority Courses (unless you’re doing a school-based traineeship.) , noting that Apprenticeships are not covered under Free TAFE for Priority Courses.