MS TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (15:07): Free TAFE has been an incredible success since its commencement in 2019. So many Victorians have accessed free TAFE since it began—over 93 000 Victorians, in fact. Free TAFE is building the pipeline of skilled workers that we need for our hospitals, for our Big Build projects and for our social services sector. Free TAFE has made Victoria a fairer place, a place where more Victorians can get a good-quality job in key areas.
As we turbocharge the economy moving into 2022, the Andrews Labor government has expanded free TAFE. There are seven new courses on the free TAFE list for next year. They include certificate IV in work health and safety, because every Victorian deserves a safe workplace; certificate IV in leisure and health, training up the workforce needed to support improved health outcomes for Victorians; certificate III in information technology, because this government’s investments in the digital economy mean that we need more workers skilled up; certificate IV in veterinary nursing, because everybody deserves to have the best possible care for their pets at their time of need; certificate IV in outdoor leadership, building a larger local workforce for the recreation and tourism industries; certificate IV in training and assessment, because when you have a government that invests in TAFE you need additional skilled workforce for industry experts; and certificate III in supply chain operations, because the logistics and warehousing industry needs additional skilled workers trained up.
More courses for more Victorians to skill up and get jobs is what free TAFE is all about. That is what this government stands for, and that is what this government will continue to stand for.
