Jul 23, 2026 – 6.21pmOnly a third of people who started a fee-free TAFE course had completed it more than three years after the federal scheme launched, as the prime minister spruiked the $1.5 billion program as one of Labor’s key cost-of-living measures.New national data also reveals declining TAFE enrolments despite significant government investment in the sector aimed at combating skills shortages in areas such as construction and the care sector.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
TAFE enrolments slide despite $1.5b fee-free push
More than 814,000 students have enrolled in fee-free courses since the policy was introduced in 2023, but only 32 per cent have completed them.
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