Upskill, reskill, or get a start on your career with the Fee-Free TAFE initiative.

The Fee-Free TAFE initiative is making vocational education and training more accessible and affordable for Queenslanders and providing opportunities for individuals to upskill or reskill in high-demand industries.

The initiative is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Queensland Government, with training places made available through Queensland training providers.

Fee-Free TAFE 2024 is coming soon

The Australian Government has committed to delivering a further 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE places across Australia, over 3 years, from January 2024.

In 2024, there will be 3,500 training places available in the Diploma of Nursing. Contact one of the training providers listed below for more information.

Further details about the number of places and qualifications available to Queenslanders under the initiative will be published soon.

Register your interest for a place in the Fee-Free TAFE initiative for 2024.

Fee-Free TAFE 2023

In 2023, the Australian Government and the Queensland Government will provide around 37,000 places for the program.

Queenslanders can access a range of qualifications through the initiative from TAFE Queensland, CQUniversity and Mater Education, with places still available for those interested in enrolling in 2023.

Note: Fee-Free TAFE replaced the Free TAFE for under 25s program from 1 January 2023 to simplify training options for Queenslanders.

Qualifications

Qualifications funded through Fee-Free TAFE are aligned to Australia's and Queensland's skills priorities, in-demand areas, and emerging industries to enable Queenslanders to be job-ready and meet current and future skills needs.

View the qualifications list (XLSX, 24KB)

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Restricted qualifications

Some restrictions and/or exemptions may apply for some qualifications. Additional eligibility requirements will be based on industry advice or requirements under the relevant national training package. These restrictions/exemptions are published against the specific qualification on the Priority Skills List.

Check with your preferred training provider for any applicable restrictions or exemptions.

Eligibility

Fee-Free TAFE enables Queenslanders to gain new skills or enhance existing skills.

To be eligible, you must:

  • permanently live in Queensland
  • be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen
  • be aged 15 years or older, and no longer in school
  • not currently be enrolled in a qualification (not including foundation skills training).

Visa holders

If you hold a visa, you must ensure your visa subclass is eligible for subsidised training.

Employment status and prior qualifications

You can enrol in a Fee-Free TAFE qualification regardless of your current employment status or the number of qualifications you have previously completed.

You can only complete 1 qualification under the Fee-Free TAFE initiative.

The exception to this is for individuals who have completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. If you completed your Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care under Fee-Free TAFE, you may also access Fee-Free TAFE funding for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (while meeting all other Fee-Free TAFE eligibility).

Frequently asked questions

We will publish further details about what places or qualifications may be available in Queensland under Fee-Free TAFE in 2024 once they're finalised.

Register your interest for a place in the Fee-Free TAFE initiative for 2024.

Enrolments in Fee-Free TAFE are available from 1 January – 31 December 2023 and are only available at TAFE Queensland, CQUniversity and Mater Education. Visit their websites or phone:

  • TAFE Queensland on 1300 308 233
  • CQUniversity on 13 27 86
  • Mater Education (for the Diploma of Nursing) on 1300 070 350.

Free means the Queensland Government will cover the full cost of training in a high priority qualification that is included on the list, so eligible students don't contribute to training fees.

However, students may incur related costs such as uniforms and resources costs.

If you've completed a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care under Fee-Free TAFE you may also be eligible to access a Fee-Free TAFE place for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (while meeting all other Fee-Free TAFE eligibility). Discuss your eligibility with your preferred training provider.

You should speak with your preferred training provider to see if there are other options to help reduce the cost of training.

If you're under 25 you may be eligible for the Free apprenticeships for under 25s program. The Queensland Government will cover the cost of your training with a training provider in a high priority apprenticeship or traineeship.

The Free apprenticeships for under 25s program is separate to the Fee-Free TAFE initiative.

The Queensland Government's Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 aims to connect, educate, and attract the people needed to meet the state's unprecedented workforce demand in existing and new industry sectors to support continued economic growth.

The Fee-Free TAFE program will support Queenslanders to skill up to meet the state's current and future workforce needs.

Last updated 16 November 2023

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