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Fee Free TAFE

Fee Free TAFE and vocational education is a joint initiative of the Australian and South Australian Governments providing tuition-free training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill. Thousands of South Australians have enrolled and commenced study in Fee Free TAFE courses since the launch of the initiative at the beginning of 2023.

Over 4,000 additional Fee Free TAFE places will be available at TAFE SA each year for the next three years commencing in 2024.

This extension of the initiative represents a significant investment in training delivery in South Australia and will support industries facing skills shortages, growth industries and emerging sectors, creating more opportunities for South Australians to access new and high-level skills in priority areas such as:

  • Care (aged care, childcare, health care, disability care)
  • Clean energy
  • Hospitality
  • Technology and digital
  • Construction and infrastructure
  • Foundation skills
  • Agriculture
  • Sovereign capability (for example manufacturing, and defence), and
  • VET workforce

Fee Free TAFE is intended for new students to the course being offered. Students need to be new to the course, not new to TAFE SA.

The number of Fee Free TAFE places that are funded is limited by the terms of the skills agreement signed by the Australian and South Australian Governments.

People from the following groups are strongly encouraged to apply:

  • First Nations Australians
  • Young people (17-24)
  • People who are out of work or receiving income support payments
  • Unpaid carers
  • Women facing economic insecurity
  • Women undertaking study in non-traditional fields
  • People with disability including autism and neurodivergence
  • Certain categories of visa holders

New Fee Free TAFE Construction Places

In October 2024, a new Fee Free TAFE in Construction (FFTC) program was agreed between the South Australian and Australian governments to provide Fee Free TAFE places in critical construction skills in South Australia which are necessary to help address chronic workforce shortages in this sector.

TAFE SA will offer the majority of FFTC places – approximately 300 places per semester over two years, commencing in Semester 1, 2025.

For Semester 1, 2025 select FFTC courses offered by TAFE SA are available for apprenticeship. However, there are some construction courses available to general students as part of Fee Free TAFE.

All other FFT guidelines apply to FFTC courses.

FFTC courses are listed below as well as the Apprenticeships and Traineeships page.

Course listings on the TAFE SA website indicate if the course has Fee Free places.

Fee Free TAFE courses by region

 

Building and Construction



Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate II in Construction Pathways 2025 Available
Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining 2025 Available
Certificate III in Glass and Glazing 2025 Available
Certificate III in Flooring Technology 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Carpentry 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate IV in Electrical - Instrumentation 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-apprenticeship) 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Signs and Graphics 2025 Available
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Solid Plastering 2025 Available
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling 2025 Available
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying 2025 Available
Certificate III in Concreting 2025 Available
 

Business and Marketing


Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Health Administration 2025 Available
 

Community Services




 

Education and Languages


Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate II in Auslan 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Women's Advocacy 2025 Available
Certificate IV in Women's Advocacy 2025 Available

 

Health and Lifestyle


Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Dental Assisting 2025 Available
Diploma of Dental Technology 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Pathology Collection 2025 Available
 

Hospitality and Tourism


Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
SSDIS01007 – Basic Skills for the Food Industry Skill Set   Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate II in Hospitality 2025 Available
 

Information Technology


Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate IV in Cyber Security 2025 Available
 

Mining, Engineering and Automotive


Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate II in Automotive Servicing Technology 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Diploma of Engineering - Technical 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate II in Electronics 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate II in Engineering Pathways 2025 Available

 

Primary Industries and Science


Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Agriculture 2025 Available

Course Name Year   Fee Free TAFE Availability
Certificate III in Landscape Construction 2025 Available
Certificate III in Horticulture 2025 Available

Tourism courses are not included as part of Fee Free TAFE.

Please note, Fee Free TAFE covers the tuition fee of the course. Where applicable some courses may include additional fees such as a Resource Fee or Incidental Fee.

Contact us

Visit our eligibility criteria and FAQs page for more details. If you need further assistance, please contact the TAFE SA Infoline on 1800 882 661 or email us

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