- Cook Labor Government invests $331 million to secure WA's nation-leading economy
- Fee-free TAFE courses targeting the building and construction industry
- $100 million allocated to keep fee settings for 2026
- New investment in modern equipment, more programs and employer support with $33.9 million to continue the TAFE Modern Equipment Program
- Successful skilled migrant initiatives extended with $25.2 million for the Group Training Organisation Wage Subsidy Program
- $12.3 million to extend the successful Construction Visa Subsidy Program and Build a Life in WA incentive
The Cook Labor Government is continuing its record investment in TAFE and training to provide students with the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow while strengthening the workforce of today, with $331 million allocated in the 2025-26 State Budget across a range of programs.
The Budget commitments build on the government's record of restoring Western Australia's TAFEs and boosting course enrolments to record highs with affordable and fee-free TAFE to help meet the workforce needs of the State's booming economy.
To keep fee settings for 2026 the same as 2025, across fee-free and low fee courses, $100 million has been allocated in this year's Budget, with $7.3 million funded through the Albanese Government's National Skills Agreement.
To further boost the skilled workforce for the building and construction industry, the government has committed $12.3 million to extend its successful Construction Visa Subsidy Program and its Build a Life in WA incentive.
The funding provides for an additional 1,100 places from July 2025.
The Construction Training Fund will increase its expected grant and subsidy payments by $75 million to support employers, apprentices and trainees in the building and construction sector.
Under the Budget, the TAFE Modern Equipment Program will be expanded, a new heavy vehicle driver training facility established, and initial work started on the expansion of the Munster Campus of South Metropolitan TAFE.
New expenditure includes:
- $33.9 million to continue the TAFE Modern Equipment Program;
- $25.2 million to fund an additional 225 places in the Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program comprised of 150 places at 75 per cent subsidy and 75 places at 100 per cent subsidy for priority cohorts lifting the total subsidised places to 1,000;
- $21.9 million for additional fee-free TAFE building and construction courses in 2026;
- $17.4 million to establish a new heavy vehicle driver training facility in Neerabup, facilitated by North Metropolitan TAFE;
- $11.5 million to train apprentices as part of the AUKUS Defence Industry Incentive Scheme;
- $429,000 to undertake planning for the $17.1 million expansion of the Munster Campus of South Metropolitan TAFE; and
- $8.5 million to reintroduce the Adult Apprentice Incentive program with 100 places a year for four years starting in 2025-26.
The expansion of South Metropolitan TAFE's Munster Campus will provide state-of-the-art facilities to deliver future workforce skills for the renewables industry, including wind energy, battery technology, green hydrogen, electrification, automation and robotics.
The project is expected to include instrumentation and battery laboratories, an automation classroom and control room, specialist classrooms for wind energy training, computer laboratories, general classrooms, and other facilities.
The expansion of the TAFE Modern Equipment Program will deliver new equipment for electrical, building and construction, health, driver training, automation and manufacturing courses.
The heavy vehicle driver training facility at Neerabup will provide the metropolitan area with a new dedicated, TAFE-run training facility with the capacity to train 170 students a year.
It will include heavy rigid trucks and trailers, forklift trucks, a high-tech heavy vehicle driving simulator and wide roads that are suitable for providing practical on-road skilled driver training.
A reintroduced Adult Apprentice Incentive will offer 100 places in 2025-26, funding employers - especially in the building and construction trades that support the housing industry - to meet the wage gap when employing an apprentice or trainee over the age of 21.
The GTO Wage Subsidy Program provides opportunities for Western Australians to complete an apprenticeship, through paid hands-on skills training.
Extension of the GTO Wage Subsidy Program will assist small to medium businesses to get more apprentices and trainees on the job, while also helping to build more houses locally.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Building a skilled workforce helps keep our economy the strongest in the nation, powers our transformation to renewable energy and delivers on our commitment to make more things in Western Australia.
"This Budget continues to reflect my government's support for fee-free TAFE and securing a future that's Made in WA.
"We know training is vital to delivering the workforce of tomorrow.
"That's why my government is building WA's construction workforce, training our clean energy workforce, and providing the funding to make sure our students are trained with the best and most appropriate equipment.
"At the same time, we're attracting skilled building and construction workers from overseas and interstate to meet the industry's current demands."
As stated by Skills and TAFE Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"We are setting students up for success, providing the equipment, the programs, and the employer support to deliver job-ready graduates to fill the positions required in the State's booming economy.
"These Budget commitments will help to address skills gaps and build WA's skilled workforce, ensuring they receive practical training at state-of-the art facilities featuring the same cutting-edge technology they will encounter in the workforce.
"These strategic investments in training will benefit students and future employers, who can be assured they are getting workers with the right skills for the job."
