During our recent annual Noosa MP Community Survey, some residents raised the need for increased affordability and accessibility to TAFE and other training programs. Following our enquiries, the Queensland Minister for Employment and Training provided the below information in italics on Fee-Free Tafe and other free or subsidised training programs.

Free TAFE

Free TAFE allows eligible Queenslanders to study priority skill sets and qualifications, providing opportunities to upskill, reskill or start a career in high-demand industries. As industry priorities change and new qualifications and skill sets are developed, the qualification list may change.

Free TAFE provides 14,500 fee-free training places each year delivered by TAFE Queensland and Central Queensland University.

Queensland also offers the following free initiatives:

    • Free Nursing
    • Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s
    • Free Construction Apprenticeships for Over 25s.
    • Student numbers may be capped for some qualifications so funding can be made available each year, especially for popular qualifications.
    • ‘Fee free’ means the Queensland Government will cover the cost of training, so eligible students do not pay tuition fees. However, students may need to pay related costs, such as uniforms and resources.

To be eligible, an individual must:

    • permanently live in Queensland
    • be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen
    • be aged 15 years or older, and no longer in school (school students are not eligible)
    • not currently be enrolled in a qualification (not including foundation skills training)
    • not have completed a qualification previously under Free TAFE or Free Nursing (see below about early childhood education exception).

More information regarding Free TAFE is available online at https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/feefree.

VET investment

Through the Department of Trade, Employment and Training, the Queensland Government provides accessible and affordable vocational education and training (VET) programs to support individuals to participate in training and develop skills that lead to sustainable employment.

VET investment targets key industry areas and priority cohorts to build the collective capacity to meet workforce needs. This includes new entrants, existing workers, young people, school students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mature‑aged, and people with barriers to participation.

There are a range of pathway options suited to the different needs of individuals at various stages of their career journey. Key programs include Free TAFE, User Choice (apprenticeships and traineeships, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships); Certificate 3 Guarantee; Higher level Skills; VET in Schools; and Skilling Queenslanders for Work.

More information regarding VET investment suite of programs is available online at https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/training-careers/incentives.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW)

SQW targets unemployed and underemployed people and a broad range of equity groups that generally face barriers to their participation in training and the labour market.

Mature age job seekers (aged 45 years and over with no upper age limit) and young people (aged 15–24 years) are key target groups under SQW and can access a supported learning pathway in a non-challenging environment through participation in programs delivered under SQW. The focus is on developing an individual’s skills, supporting them to begin a learning pathway to a certificate III level qualification, and providing specialist assistance to Queenslanders that need extra support to enter and stay in the workforce.

Nationally recognised training is delivered across a range of priority industry sectors and can be skill sets, qualifications or stand-alone foundation skills. It is recognised that non‑accredited training, mentoring and support can also be highly effective in developing enabling level foundation and employability skills, particularly for those marginalised from the more formal education system.

SQW projects are delivered at no cost to eligible participants and having a prior or existing qualification does not impact on eligibility, as SQW provides a second chance.

As of 31 January 2025, 96,958 people have been assisted overall under SQW since 2015, with 63,739 people successfully securing employment.

The current participation rate for mature age job seekers under SQW is 15% and for young people it’s 57%.

68% of mature age participants under SQW are gaining jobs or entering further training (includes 64% employment) and 65% of young people are gaining jobs or entering further training (includes 55% employment).

Noosa

Specifically for the Noosa Electorate, since 2015, $12.53 million has been invested under SQW to provide nationally recognised training, skills development and job opportunities to 1390 disadvantaged Queenslanders. This includes:

  • 46 community driven projects worth $11.14 million to assist 1330 job seekers,
  • $1.03 million allocated to the Noosa Shire Council and one community-based organisation under the First Start program to employ 60 additional trainees; and
  • $360,000 paid to private sector employers under Work Start incentives.
  • As of 31 January 2025, 1074 jobseekers from the Noosa electorate have been assisted with 666 people securing a job as a result of SQW.

This also included 687 young people aged 15–24 years assisted with 408 gaining employment and 202 mature aged persons aged 45 years assisted with 127 gaining employment.

Job seekers and other interested parties can search online for local projects. Details of current SQW projects with organisation contact details can be found by using the interactive map at https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/training-careers/incentives/sqw/job-seekers.

We thank the Minister for their response and for providing the investment figures for training in the Noosa Electorate. We would appreciate any resident feedback on the above information to further inform our advocacy in this space. Please email our office via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au.

Further information

For direct advocacy regarding matters related to employment and training in Queensland, contact the Queensland Minister for Employment and Training via ftet@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ our office in via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward any response you receive to us.

For the full results of the recent Noosa MP Community Survey, please visit www.sandybolton.com/noosa-mp-community-survey-results-2024-2025/.

Updates on many local matters are available on Noosa 360 at www.sandybolton.com/noosa360. To receive information straight to your email inbox, please subscribe to our monthly newsletter via www.sandybolton.com/newsletters. This also ensures you receive any future Noosa related surveys or polls.