Training and Skills Minister Gayle Tierney last week visited Victoria University’s simulated ambulance lab to announce the Diploma of Emergency Health Care as one of four new priority Free TAFE courses and six new short courses the state government will deliver from next year.
These new TAFE courses build on work to deliver a world-class health system by making studying nursing free and hiring 2200 paramedics as part of a 22,000-strong boost to the state’s health workforce.
The diploma course is currently delivered at Victoria University and Swinburne University, and qualifies students to work in non-emergency patient transport as Ambulance Transport Attendants, Patient Transport Officers and Ambulance Community Officers — as well as providing a pathway into university paramedicine courses.
Other new courses to be added to the Free TAFE list for 2023 include Certificate III in Production Horticulture, Graduate Certificate in Client Assessment and Case Management, which upskills health and community services workers in the family violence field, and the Diploma of Interpreting (Auslan).
Six short courses will also be made available next year under Free TAFE, including courses in mental health, agricultural chemical handling and electric and hybrid automotive maintenance — delivering the skills Victorians need for growing and in-demand industries across the state.
Free TAFE has saved students more than $297 million in fees since the state government introduced it in 2019 — removing the barriers to training for a great new career for more than 122,200 Victorians.
The program has seen enrolments grow in most in-demand industries — with 2021 commencements growing by 56 per cent in the Diploma of Nursing, 80 per cent in the Certificate IV in Disability and more than 113 per cent in early childhood courses to support the government’s Best Start, Best Life reforms.
For the full list of more than 70 free TAFE courses, visit freetafe.vic.gov.au
