Fee-Free TAFE
Fee-Free TAFE, extended until 2026, allows eligible Queenslanders to study priority skill sets and qualifications, providing opportunities to upskill, reskill or start a career in high-demand industries.
Fee-Free TAFE is part of the Free TAFE initiative, which also includes Free Nursing and Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s.
If you started your qualification under Fee-Free TAFE in 2023, you'll continue to receive fee-free access to that qualification, even if you didn't complete it by 31 December 2023.
Qualifications
View the qualifications list (XLSX, 24KB).
You can also search the Queensland Skills Gateway for qualifications funded under Fee-Free TAFE.
Student numbers may be capped for some qualifications so funding can be made available each year, especially for popular qualifications.
Qualifications and skill sets funded under Fee-Free TAFE are aligned to national and state skills priorities, in-demand areas, and emerging industries to enable Queenslanders to be job-ready and meet current and future skills needs.
As industry priorities change and new qualifications and skill sets are developed, the qualification list may change.
Get started
'Fee free' means we will cover the cost of training, so you don't have to pay tuition fees. However, you might need to pay related costs such as uniforms and resources.
Fee-Free TAFE is only available at the below training providers. Explore their fee-free courses:
- TAFE Queensland – phone 1300 308 233
- CQUniversity – phone 13 27 86.
Eligibility
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 or Free Nursing (see below about early childhood education exception).
Pre-requisite qualifications
You may need to hold a relevant qualification as a pre-requisite or be working in the relevant industry for some courses. For example, to complete the Battery Electric Vehicle Inspection and Servicing skill set, you must already hold a trade qualification in the automotive industry.
Visa holders
If you hold a visa, you must ensure your visa subclass is eligible for subsidised training.
Employment status and prior qualifications
You can enrol in a qualification under Fee-Free TAFE regardless of your current employment status or the number of qualifications you've previously completed. If you've completed a qualification subsidised under a different funding program, you're still eligible.
However, you can only complete 1 qualification under Fee-Free TAFE or Free Nursing.
The exception is if you've completed Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care under Fee-Free TAFE. In this case, you may be eligible to access Fee-Free TAFE for the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care only (while meeting all other Fee-Free TAFE eligibility).
Restricted qualifications
Some restrictions and/or exemptions may apply for some qualifications. Additional eligibility requirements will be based on industry advice or requirements under the relevant national training package.
Check with your preferred Fee-Free TAFE training provider for any applicable restrictions or exemptions.
Other free and subsidised training
If Fee-Free TAFE doesn't meet your needs, find out about our other free and subsidised training programs.