Fee-Free TAFE extended at CIT

Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) has welcomed the continuation of Fee-Free TAFE by the Australian and ACT Governments, enabling CIT to deliver another 3,600 places over three years from 2024 onwards.

Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O'Connor and ACT Skills Minister Chris Steel made the announcement at CIT’s Reid Campus today while meeting with students already benefitting from the Fee-Free TAFE initiative.

The extension means CIT can provide 600 tuition fee-free training places to Canberrans each semester from 2024 through to the end of 2026, with a focus on priority learners and areas of skills demand.

Applications for CIT Fee-Free TAFE places in semester 1, 2024, open Monday 13 November 2023, and prospective students are encouraged to apply early. All are invited to attend CIT Open Day on Friday, 17 November, at the CIT Reid, Bruce and Fyshwick campuses to find out more about course options and eligibility.

CIT has successfully met its targets in the first year of delivering Fee-Free TAFE, reaching its allocated 2,530 enrolments for 2023. More than 1,000 of CIT's Fee-Free TAFE student enrolments have been in the care sector, in skilled areas of demand such as childcare, aged care, disability care and community services. CIT has also seen a strong uptake of education and training in cyber security, with the Certificate IV Cyber Security (22603VIC) the most popular of all Fee-Free courses with 264 enrolments.

CIT Interim CEO Christine Robertson welcomed the continuation of Fee-Free TAFE for Canberrans.

“CIT has shown we can successfully deliver the national Fee-Free TAFE program, making education and training more accessible to Canberrans and continuing to drive the ACT’s workforce forward, especially in industry areas of need and to priority learner cohorts,” Ms Robertson said.

"Vocational education and training can change people's lives, and Fee-Free TAFE is providing opportunity, especially to priority learners. It's encouraging to see big enrolments among our youth and job seekers, while Fee-Free TAFE in the ACT has supported 430 women in financial hardship to access education and training."

"Students have shared how they may not have even considered vocational education and training if not for the opportunity and accessibility that Fee-Free TAFE has provided them."

"We look forward to seeing more students graduate of Fee-Free TAFE and becoming the carers, construction supervisors, hospitality staff and digital experts the ACT needs. We've also had many students graduate short course via Fee-Free TAFE, which has set them on the pathway to further education."

Highlights of CIT's Fee-Free TAFE delivery in 2023 include:

• 268 course completions already, mainly in short courses, which is a great pathway to further study and jobs;
• 1,609 female student enrolments (more than 60 per cent of total). CIT has been enhancing diversity in student cohorts eg. 25 enrolments for women in building, construction and electronics trades;
• 430 women in financial hardship. Fee-Free tuition has made education and training possible;
• 1,027 enrolments in care sector related courses, across areas including childcare, aged care, disability care, and community services;
• 936 enrolments for students aged between 17 and 24;
• 774 enrolments for job seekers;
• 215 enrolments for unpaid carers;
• 163 enrolments for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples;
• 124 enrolments for people that identify with a disability;
• 55 enrolments are for Humanitarian visa holders and 161 for other eligible visa holders;
• 30 enrolments for veterans.

More information on CIT courses eligible for Fee-Free TAFE enrolment in Semester 1, 2024, is available at the CIT Fee-Free TAFE webpage.