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[NSW] Fee-Free TAFE Courses - Certificate II to Advanced Diploma @ TAFE NSW

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Hi all,

TAFE NSW is offering a wide range of courses across a bunch of industries. A much better range than the round of free courses offered a couple of years ago.

Note that the "free" aspect is based on eligibility. You can check by answering some questions while attempting to calculate the course costs.

To be eligible for Fee-free* TAFE, people must at the time of enrolment:

  • Live or work in New South Wales.
  • Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent Australian resident or a humanitarian visa holder.
  • Be aged 15 years or over, and not enrolled at any school.

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closed Comments

  • +3

    I have started the process just to check the course fees few days ago. Without actually clicking the enrol button on the last payment page, they have calculated the courses and enrolled me into them last night. I shall be starting on it soon…

    • +2

      There is a "calculate my fee" button at the bottom, you didnt have to start a new applocation.

      • +3

        the estimate of $0 sounded too good to be true ^^" it also mentions it's subjected to some further conditions/proofs so I started to find out. i was only considering but now it gives me the motivation to study :)

  • +2

    Some of the diploma courses say 4 months. How’s that possible when it has for example 8 core and 4 electives.

    • +5

      Most of them require prior education like cert 3 or 4. So it's basically upskilling short term with RPL.

      • +1

        Where did you find that out? and also how do you know if upskilling is short-term? what if they require extensive amount of prior knowledge?

        • Click on any course and see if there is this: "SUITABILITY
          IS THIS COURSE RIGHT FOR YOU?
          Entry requirements
          This course requires evidence of previous experience or study before you can enrol"

  • Anyone know what you need to provide to prove you live or work in NSW?

    • By being present in the class? Most these courses are offline, so you can't fake being a NSW resident.

      • All I have looked at are fully online.

        • +2

          Sorry I based my comment on QLD Tafe courses. They were mostly on campus.

        • +2

          Which ones are online? All the ones I looked at were on campus.

          • @UndeclaredFreak: Can you filter to TAFE Digital (née OTEN)? Some are online but through the individual campuses but mostly the online offerings are exclusively TAFE Digital.

            • @blerk: I can't see the option. I can only click on the individual courses one at a time and look at the options.

    • +5

      Only someone who doesn’t live or work in NSW would ask such a stupid question.

        • +4

          Stealing a quote from the QLD Premier and modifying it , "NSW is for NSWers"

        • +8

          To obtain a financial gain by deception is fraud. Lying on a TAFE application and obtaining a free course that should cost circa $5000 should be enough to get the Police involved. Do you understand the magnitude of what you’re doing? Think before you act - and this applies to everyone attempting to do the same.

          • @JeBs: I say let ‘‘em reap the consequences. If an adult doesn’t understand something as basic as the above, they deserve to enjoy their punishment.

          • +3

            @JeBs: Says all the OzBargainers signing up to subscription services using a VPN in Argentina.

    • +3

      Just sign up with your real address don't think anyone would ask you anything.

    • -1

      Probably a bill from one of your utility providers showing your details and address, or an employment contract.

      • +1

        Nope. However they will send you your certificate by mail so use the address of a friend/relative in NSW.

    • From memory - when you obtain your USI you use your drivers licence

    • No - other than NSW address where they will send your certificate. No ID needed (other than unique student identifier). Also - you can just change your address post enrolment as the condition is to be a NSW resident when you apply/enrol not when you complete.

  • Does anyone know if Vic will be offering sth similar any time soon?

    • +2

      Certain courses in regional areas have been free fur years

      More free courses here https://www.vic.gov.au/free-tafe

      • Online or face to face?

        • +1

          Check the individual ones to see if they are or not.

  • +1

    Interested in the permaculture course but it's only available in Thurgoona. Thanks anyway OP!

  • +3

    Looks like the website is having issues? Having issues loading course pages within any browser.

    • +1

      yeah me too. I was thinking it was my internet, but I guess not

      • Seems to eventually load if doesn't send a HTTP error. However if the course loads, the location search fails with " Search is currently unavailable, we are working to restore the service.".

  • +5

    Will chatgpt help me cruise through this?

    • +2

      I don’t see any issue with people using artificial prostheses to augment their limited natural attributes. If your brain doesn’t have enough natural intelligence to pass a TAFE course, go with the artificial version! It’s more or less the same, as long as you don’t look too closely.

    • +2

      I can confirm chatgpt answers many TAFE course questions better and faster than the majority of students.

  • All the states and territories are providing many fee free tafe course with the contribution of Commonwealth, state and territory govt so just google it in your state and star learning.

  • Can I still do these courses if I am currently studying at uni?

    • I don't think they will be free given

      Be aged 15 years or over, and not enrolled at any school.

      Source: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/fee-free-short-courses#courses

      • +1

        “School” is Primary or Secondary. Uni is fine.

        • +1

          Yeah just spoke with a support and said uni is fine :)

  • Can study two course? One online one offline.

    • +2

      From the FAQ:
      Can I enrol in more than one course at a time?
      Yes, you can enrol in a maximum of 2 courses at the same time. However, to give you the best chance of success, please check that the days your courses run do not overlap, and you can commit the time required to manage an increased study load.

      • Wow that's impressive !!!

        Could you give me the link for that FAQ? Thanks

  • +4

    This is a genuine bargain depending on what you’re applying for. For example, the Cert IV in Training and Assessment was never free for me (when I checked over a year ago anyway) but now a saving of $4999. That price is not exaggerated. Even if you were to find a private provider, cost would be at least $1000+ and their course quality objectionable.

    However, I advise all applicants to avoid wasting tax payer funds. Unless you have a genuine need, please look elsewhere.

    • +1

      Personally i just know it'll be hard to juggle this with work but I'd love to do it

      • +1

        One of the assessments in the Cert IV T&A online requires you to find 8 people that don’t have anything better to do to and train them in something (that you are skilled at) whilst being video taped, and whilst an appropriate venue is open (i.e. friends who are 9-5 workers are likely ruled out). If only 7 folks turn up, it won’t count. If you can do it face to face, that’s probably one course that’s better delivered that way.

    • Without doing any proper reading, it doesn't actually take 12 months at the places that say 12 months, right? Like those 6 month courses where you get 12 months to complete it?

      • I believe they are 12 months long - though perhaps if you have RPL it would be shorter.

        • I noticed they have 6 month full time options at limited places (which is really about 5 months due to the February start date). For some reason I thought a Cert IV T&A was a shorter course, but maybe I was looking at third-party offered "accelerated" programs back in the day.

  • This site has been slow for weeks

  • Google says TAFE students can enjoy Apple education discount. Just wish to know if anyone has experience? Do I need to wait until my course started that I can proceed to any purchase? Thanks!

    • +1

      Just need your TAFE email address set up.

      • THX!

    • +1

      You can also sign up for Spotify cheaply and Unidays. Anyone else know of any perks to having an edu.au email?

      • +1

        Student Beans and Students Edge (both similar to Unidays) and I'm pretty sure I get a student discount on my YouTube Premium, so that too.

  • +1

    Hi there just to ask if free means totally free or ot will go to HELP or HECKS like debt to pay later. I am really interested for trainer and assessment course.

    • Totally free for certain. If HECS were payable, they’d need to provide an agreement to you first outlining the terms and conditions for it.

      Plus based on my understanding, the majority of TAFE courses (if not all) aren’t eligible for HECS.

      • +1

        Only the Diploma courses are eligible but definitely "free" (i.e. your taxes pay for it to be fully subsidised by the NSW government)

      • I believe you can access VET loans for TAFE, as it's vocational training, whereas HECS is a loan for Higher Education (uni) courses.

  • This is an amazing initiative. Thanks for sharing, OP!

  • Can anyone see any online only courses?
    Everything seems to be in person

    • try the virtual classroom option?

    • The Cert IV in Training and Assessment is available online. Was $4999. Stunning bargain. I applied, noting that prior to this deal, I was seriously considering paying the $4999.

      • Thats a lot for Cert IV TAE. I paid $2500 and that was a lot. FYI - cost before at TAFE was around $200 (due to being government su subsidised)

      • do you mean "online" option, or the "virtual classroom"? I was only able to see it as the latter (not sure if "online" offering can be filled and only the in-person/scheduled attendance spots available)

      • What job can you get after graduating?

        • Become a teacher?

          • @Dealor: Don't you need bachelor of teaching for that?

            • @Homr: Due to recent protests for pay raise, no bachelor required to cut costs. Real reason is no one wants to study bachelor to be a teacher so…

          • @Dealor: Becoming a casual TAFE NSW teacher @ $100/hr sure beats many other professions - and you’re giving back to the community too.

    • Diploma of Project Management is delivered digitally and self paced.

  • It's always showing fee for me :( Not sure why I'm not eligible.

    • Are you a permanent resident?

      • I'm citizen.

  • Great courses on offer!

  • TAFE QLD are also offering similar deals, thanks for alerting me to this!
    https://tafeqld.edu.au/courses/apply-and-enrol/subsidised-tr…

  • TAFE Qld are offering similar free courses.
    Serious question (please, no partisan answers, just facts/knowledge), how do you think the quality of courses in NSW and Qld compare?

  • +2

    This is quite amazing.
    Thanks OP, I would never have known about this..
    Another reason it’s great to be an Ozbargainer!

  • I was able to successfully enrol in one course but for my second, it sent me to a dead page with "The page you are accessing is not available. Error 37".
    Anyone else getting this error or know how to fix it?

  • Enrolled and completing one atm! Definitely get at it

  • Which courses under IT is the closest to Data science?

    and do you get free edu email?

  • +1

    Do you get a student ID eligible for say concession Opal transport if you enrol in one of these courses?

    • +1

      Probably only if you're studying full time

      • +1

        And on campus

    • +1

      I applied for a course and inquired about this. Not sure about part time or full time but they said i need at least 16 hours of study to be eligible for opal transport. The hours don't have to all come from the same course. I am studying digitally and self paced. I still need to wait for the actual confirmation email to come before i can apply since my second course hours won't show on opal

  • Is a Diploma in Project Management worth much to employers (early career, non-construction industries)? Or are PMP / CAPM the only certifications they care about?

    • It is worth doing if early in career, they may even do training for the certs.

  • Hi guys, are there any dedicated courses for improving tool-handling skills (potentially becoming a field service engineer)? Pls advise

  • Hi guys, for the virtual classroom do we need to attend online or we can access the resources and study later at our own time?

    • Generally self-paced for most of their online offerings but ones like the Diploma of Community Services requires you being available on Teams at a set time (but one offering is scheduled for Saturdays).

      • Thanks, cos I received email from TAFE stating that the scheduled time for the Virtual classroom is 9AM-3PM Mon-Thu so not sure what that means

  • has anyone done the brewing course?

  • Has anyone's application been approved yet? What was the turn-around time?

  • I just applied now and am awaiting the decision.
    Also, how will they know that I'm applying to go Fee Free?

  • Do you get a Tafe email address which enables you to free Microsoft 365?

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