The Fee-Free TAFE initiative makes vocational education and training more accessible and affordable for Queenslanders, providing opportunities for individuals to upskill, reskill or start their career in high-demand industries.
Fee-Free TAFE 2024 is here
In 2024, the Australian and Queensland governments will provide around 14,500 fee-free places to Queenslanders, with a similar number of places planned for 2025 and 2026.
These places form part of the Australian Government's commitment to deliver a further 300,000 Fee-Free TAFE places across Australia over 3 years from January 2024.
You can access a range of qualifications through the initiative from TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity.
Diploma of Nursing
The Queensland Government is fully funding fee-free Diploma of Nursing places in 2024. Up to 3,500 fee-free places will be available through TAFE Queensland, CQUniversity and Mater Education.
Study Areas
Over 70 fee-free courses are available across a range of industries:
Business and IT
Education and community
Environment and animal services
Health and science
Infrastructure and transport
Service industries
TradesEligibility
Fee-Free TAFE enables Queenslanders to gain new skills or enhance existing skills.
To be eligible, you 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 Fee-Free TAFE (see below about child care exception).
Some courses may require students to hold a relevant qualification as a pre-requisite or be working in the relevant industry. For example, to complete the Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing skill set, you must already hold a trade qualification in the automotive industry.
Get started
Explore fee-free courses with:
- TAFE Queensland – phone 1300 308 233
- CQUniversity – phone 13 27 86
- Mater Education (for Diploma of Nursing only) – phone 1300 070 350.
