130 fee-free qualifications and skill sets are available in 2024 and the Commonwealth and State Governments have extended the agreement to deliver fee-free training until the end of 2026.

Enrolments for 2024 are still being finalised, however there have been a record number of applications to study fee-free courses in 2024 - a 29 per cent increase on applications compared to this time last year. There has also been a 25 per cent increase in applications for TAFE courses overall.

Health and care sector qualifications made up seven out of the top ten fee-free full qualifications, with the strongest enrolment growth in 2023, compared to the previous year.
​
Other courses in the top ten for enrolment growth last year include:
• Certificate IV in Information Technology/Certificate IV in Information Technology Networking (up by 473 enrolments); and
• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (up 239 enrolments)

Access the TAFE website

​The State Government has launched the TAFE: Be More campaign to showcase the vocational education and training (VET) courses and pathways available at TAFE colleges around the state.
Prospective students can explore over 1,000 courses on the new TAFE website that are specifically designed to cater to their career and study objectives. The website hosts short films that offer a glimpse into the lives of TAFE students.
The brand campaign positions TAFE as leader in achieving life changing outcomes for individuals and features more than 30 WA TAFE students who are completing VET qualifications, giving them skills to get ahead and excel in their chosen career.
The campaign was filmed on location at each of the five TAFE colleges throughout WA, and showcases the diverse range of study areas as well as the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities available.
Music tracks for the campaigns were also created by TAFE students. ‘TAFE: Be More’ specifically aims to inspire Western Australians to enrol at TAFE to progress their training and career opportunities – regardless of where they live or the barriers they may face.

The National Skills Agreement is a 5-year joint agreement between the Commonwealth, states and territories to strengthen the vocational education and training (VET) sector and will commence 1 January 2024.
The Agreement will:

• deliver a national VET system that provides high quality, responsive and accessible education and training to boost productivity
• support Australians to obtain the skills and capabilities they need to obtain well-paid, secure jobs
• ensure Australia has the skilled workforce it needs now and into the future, with TAFE at the heart of the VET sector.

National priorities are areas where governments have agreed require focused effort to address critical skills and workforce shortages. The agreed inaugural national priorities are:

• gender equality
• Closing the Gap
• supporting the Net Zero transformation
• sustaining essential care services
• developing Australia’s sovereign capability and food security
• ensuring Australia’s digital and technology capability
• delivering reforms to improve the regulation of VET qualifications and quality.

More information about the National Skills Agreement

Thirteen of Western Australia's brightest training sector talents are celebrating a stellar win at this year's WA Training Awards, with eight individuals and five organisations named winners from 45 finalists at a ceremony at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Now in its 29th year, the WA Training Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees, employers and training organisations. Individual winners receive $3,000, which can be used to further their training or kick-start their career.
Selected from a record number of applicants, winners included Kai Baharthah-King, who completed the Advanced Diploma in Cybersecurity at North Metropolitan TAFE. First enrolling in TAFE at the age of 15 to complete his Certificate III, he progressed through to the Advanced Diploma and secured a part time job as a security analyst at Woodside, following a recommendation from his lecturer at only 16.
Meanwhile WA School-based Apprentice of the Year for 2023, Robert Nicolosi, completed the Certificate III in Sport and Recreation​ at North Metropolitan TAFE. While working at BlueFit – Belmont Leisure Centre, Robert has gained a range of new skills while completing a Certificate III in Sport and Recreation. 

Explore the 2023 WA Training Awards and read Minister McGurk's full media statement

The state Government has launched a review of senior secondary school pathways aimed at ensuring 'all Western Australian students can reach their full potential through their post-school study, training, or employment pursuits.'
Pathways to Post-School Success is being led by the Department of Education in partnership with Catholic Education Western Australia and the Association of Independent Schools Western Australia, and will be spearheaded by a panel of education specialists, including principals and tertiary education leaders. A larger advisory committee, representing key stakeholder groups, will work with the advisory panel and provide direction for the review.
The review will explore whether current pathway options are effectively preparing students for the full range of further study, training, and work options available to them.

​Read Minister Buti's full media statement

The training sector's brightest stars have been recognised, with Training Minister Simone McGurk announcing 45 finalists in the WA Training Awards 2023. The annual awards celebrate the outstanding achievements in the vocational education and training (VET) sector, recognising the State's best apprentices, trainees, employers and training organisations. This year, the awards acknowledge the State's elite achievers across 13 categories. There are 31 finalists vying for eight individual awards and 14 finalists up for five organisation categories.
FutureNow support the WA Training Awards by participating in judging panels and coaching applicants in the creative, technology, and leisure industries.
Explore the stories of the WA Training Awards finalists for 2023

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) latest report shows that apprentice and trainee commencements increased to 85,470 in the March quarter 2022, the highest number for a quarter since 2012.  
The industry sectors with the largest absolute increases in commencements were Accommodation (51.0%), Manufacturing (37.7%), and Administrative and Support Services (21.7%) compared to March quarter 2021. 
Unfortunately cancellations and withdrawals increased during the quarter (up 28.2% from March quarter 2021).
Western Australia has 45 940 apprentice and trainees in training (up 25.4% from 31 March 2021). Read the full report here.

The state government has announced a $3.9 million package to fund tourism and hospitality workforce initiatives over the next two years.

The funding will support a series of job-ready skills training courses with StudyPerth for international students and initiatives targeting working holiday makers to leverage the returning pool of workers in these markets.

Tourism and hospitality will be promoted as a rewarding career through activity such as the Chef Ambassador in-school hospitality demonstration program delivered by Hospitality Group Training, and an annual program of in-school tourism career information sessions will also support longer-term initiatives aimed at encouraging young people to consider careers in tourism and hospitality and creating a sustainable pipeline of local skilled workers.
Read the media release here

In addition, a new hospitality and tourism recruitment campaign, called Discover the Other Side, will launch in coming weeks. The campaign will aim to help attract hospitality and tourism workers from interstate and New Zealand to work and live in WA.
More information about: Discover the Other Side

The formal ‘Industry Summary’ document has been guided by the sector’s Industry Reference Committee, comprising stakeholders from various industry organisations such as Restaurant Catering Australia, the Caravan Industry Association, AHA, training bodies, tourism groups and the Australian Travel Careers Council.

The draft summary gives an overview of the interconnected nature of travel, tourism and hospitality, as well as the crippling effect of COVID-19 and the expected industry recovery supported by the Government’s THRIVE 2030 strategy targeting $230 billion in visitor spending.

All the relevant qualifications have been reviewed and the only new proposed qualification is a Certificate IV in Travel qualification to be reviewed 2023-24 .

​To download a copy of the draft Tourism, Travel and Hospitality IRC Industry Summary, please Click Here

To provide feedback on the document: Click Here  (closes 5.00pm, Friday 29 July 2022)