What is TAFE (Technical and Further Education)

TAFE is a government-run system in Australia that provides education after high school in vocational areas like beauty, design, childcare, accounting, business, recruitment, IT, and many more. 

While university teaches a broad range of theories, TAFE focuses on specific skills for a particular workplace. For example, a Certificate IV in Aged Care teaches all the skills needed to work in aged care – either at a client’s home or an aged care facility.

TAFE is usually taught at TAFE Institutes around Australia, although an increasing number of courses are available online. There are also blended learning options, combining both online and face-to-face learning.

VET stands for vocational education and training. TAFE is just one part of VET, which covers all vocational training in Australia. While TAFEs are run by the government, there are also similar institutions run by private businesses. These are known as colleges, training providers or course providers.

There’s not that much difference between TAFEs and private providers. Both offer courses online and on-campus, and they’re both quality-controlled by the government’s Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).

In 2020, 3.9 million students enrolled in VET courses with an Australian training provider. Of those, 1.2 million students were taking government funded courses.

Recently, the government has begun to offer funding to private providers as well as TAFEs. That means that no matter whether you go for a private or a TAFE provider, you may be eligible to study a government-subsidised course. You can check if you’re eligible by asking your course provider, or by checking your state government’s website.

Studying at TAFE is a rewarding experience that has many benefits. TAFE has a practical approach to learning, so you will be getting hands-on experience and practice. Some of the benefits of studying at TAFE include:

• Industry insights and relationships
• Learning practical skills
• Course diversity
• Flexible learning options
• Work placement
• Lower entry requirements
• Pathway to university
• Shorter course lengths
• Free TAFE or government subsidised course options

There are plenty of qualifications to choose from in Australia, depending on the duration and job outcomes you’re after. Some courses offer a basic overview of a subject, while others are more specialised and can sometimes require work placement. These are the most common qualification types in Australia:

Each state has different laws, structures and statistics for their vocational education and training. Most states have a priority list of courses in areas where Australia currently needs skilled workers. These priority lists attract a bigger subsidy, meaning you’ll pay less for your education.

The following picture shows the percentage of students in government-funded courses in TAFE (black) and non-TAFE providers (white/grey) by state.

To check the eligibility requirements to study a government-subsidised course, click here.

To make sure you’re getting the best quality training, you need to choose the right course provider. Some have been in trouble in the past for fast-tracking education, offering low-quality courses, or enticing future students with free products like iPads.

To make sure you’re choosing a quality provider, watch out for the following warning signs:

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TAFE is a great way to participate in further study and it has many benefits. WIth the vast range of courses and levels of study available, you’re bound to find a course that works for you.

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