- Certificate I in New Opportunities for Women (NOW) program will be fee free in 2024
- NOW provides foundation skills training to help women reconnect with training and jobs
- Aligns with priority to enhance access to training and employment opportunities for women
- Courses to support VET teaching workforce also added to fee free course list in 2024
The Cook Labor Government has added six courses to the fee free course list for 2024, including a program to help women make a new start following a break from the workforce.
The Certificate I in New Opportunities for Women (NOW) course has been added to the fee free list in 2024, as part of the State Government's expanded measures to support increased VET and workforce participation for under-represented groups.
The NOW course has been developed specifically to help Western Australian women, who have been out of paid employment for a long period or are considering vocational education and training (VET) pathways, to refresh and boost their skills to be job ready.
The program provides participants with the opportunity to explore various career options, build self-confidence, and gain the necessary foundation skills - such as reading, writing and maths - to progress to other VET courses or take up entry-level jobs.
NOW is open to women of all ages and backgrounds and provides full-time or part-time training options with flexible hours to suit women with family responsibilities.
To further support women participating in training and the workforce, special provisions have been made to fully subsidise the resource fees associated with undertaking the course.
Additionally, the new Diploma of Vocational Education and Training and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment have been added to the fee free list for enrolments in 2024 to help grow the TAFE teaching workforce.
The qualifications will enable industry leaders, passionate about sharing their knowledge and training others, to pivot or expand their careers into teaching at TAFE.
Qualified VET teaching staff will also be able to upskill through fee free Assessor, Facilitation and Work Skill Instructor Skill Sets.
This also complements the State Government's targeted lecturer recruitment campaign to encourage industry experts into a VET teaching career through the TAFE 'Be More' campaign.
The new additions align with the agreed national priorities under the State Government's new $1.34 billion National Skills Agreement with the Commonwealth Government to improve outcomes for under-represented groups and bolster the VET workforce.
To learn more about the NOW program or the other new VET teaching fee free courses, please visit jobsandskills.wa.gov.au or contact your local Jobs & Skills Centre on 13 64 64.
For more information about teaching at TAFE, visit wa.gov.au/Be-more-as-a-TAFE-lecturer.
As stated by Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk:
"Making training affordable and accessible for women who have had a break from the workforce is a key priority for our Government.
"We know that many people who have not engaged in the VET system require extra support to do so.
"Under our Government's $1.34 billion National Skills Agreement with the Commonwealth, we are increasing our investment in TAFE training and services to help break down barriers and boost access to foundation skills training for priority groups.
"Adding the NOW course to the fee free list in 2024 and making special provisions to further subsidise the resource fees ensures there are no out-of-pocket training costs - providing equal access to all WA women, regardless of their economic circumstance.
"We hope that in making this important investment, more women can transform their lives through training and reconnect with the workforce."
As stated by Women's Interests Minister Sue Ellery:
"Women often face significant barriers to training and upskilling, which can be amplified when they have been out of the workforce or haven't engaged in the workforce before.
"One of these barriers is often the cost, which can hold women back from participating in training, limiting their opportunities to engage in paid employment and achieve economic independence.
"The NOW program gives women the foundation skills, employability skills, and confidence to pursue a pathway to work or study.
"Removing the training costs associated with the NOW program is another way our Government is supporting WA women to be part of the workforce and thrive in our communities."
