The Albanese Labor Government is strengthening skills and training for Australians - with Free TAFE enrolments surging past 800,000.
Since the Government established Free TAFE in 2023 there have been more than 814,000 course enrolments, with strong growth in enrolment and course completion numbers across the country in qualifications that are building the numbers of skilled workers in priority industries - including nursing, aged care, construction, cyber security and early childhood education.
Another important milestone in the program has been reached with more than a quarter of a million course completions - 258,000 - so far, following the release of data from Quarter 1, 2026.
The milestones demonstrate the strong interest in Free TAFE from Australians, and the difference it is making for those looking to start a new career, retrain, or gain qualifications they would otherwise have faced barriers to accessing.
Free TAFE is creating opportunities for Australians from all walks of life. Young people aged 24 and under make up 35 per cent of Free TAFE enrolments, while 24 per cent of enrolments are from job seekers. Regional and remote communities are benefitting too, with 32 per cent and 2 per cent of enrolments respectively.
The data has also revealed a jump of around 15,000 enrolments in Free TAFE construction courses compared to the previous quarter, with states and territories rolling out additional Free TAFE Construction places funded by the Albanese Government.
When the Government came to office, the former Coalition government had left skills shortages in Australia at a 50-year high, with no plan to turn them around - in fact, they had cut billions from TAFE and training during their time in office.
Free TAFE was introduced by the Albanese Government as a key measure in both turning around these shortages, and removing the cost barriers that have held people back from pursuing new qualifications and careers.
Last year, the Government legislated permanent Free TAFE, delivering 100,000 places every year from 2027 so that Australians can continue to benefit from the opportunities a TAFE qualification offers.
The Liberals, Nationals and One Nation all voted against making Free TAFE permanent, and have failed to offer an alternative to support the hundreds of thousands of Australians who've benefitted from the program.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
"Free TAFE is changing lives - that's why Labor established it, and why we've made it permanent.
"Free TAFE makes sure Australians get the training they need for good, well-paid jobs and the skills that can help build Australia's future."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
"When we came to office the Coalition left us the worst skills shortages that Australia had seen in 50 years. Since then, the percentage of occupations in shortage have kept coming down, from 36 per cent in 2023 to 29 per cent in 2025.
"Free TAFE is at the heart of this - not only building the pipeline of skilled workers, but opening up opportunity for more Australians to lift their income and find secure work for their future.
"The contrast with the three right-wing parties couldn't be starker. All of them - Liberals, Nationals and One Nation - voted no to permanent Free TAFE, meaning they went to the last election promising nothing for Free TAFE and nothing to support Australians' skills."
