The Malinauskas Labor Government’s Fee-Free TAFE initiative and progress in rebuilding TAFE is playing a key role in addressing skills shortages, with over 9,100 South Australian students receiving SATAC offers from TAFE SA to pursue study and careers in areas facing skills shortages.
9,190 offers have been made so far for students starting in February, an increase of 59% from last year. The offers are across careers and industries such as nursing, pathology, children’s education, dental, IT Networking, aged and disability services, and building, design and drafting.
With TAFE SA's rolling intake of applications, further TAFE SA offers will be made weekly from Friday 13 January into courses with vacancies until all applications close for semester 1 commencements on Friday 21 April 2023. TAFE SA has received over 15,995 applications for this year.
Nursing, pathology, early childhood education and care, aged and disability services, management, and dental are among the most popular courses in 2023 – with a number of these courses returned to TAFE by the Malinauskas Labor Government after the former Liberal Government banned them from being offered in metropolitan areas.
The January offer round comes as TAFE SA continues to see a year-on-year increase in apprentice and trainee enrolments. Current apprentice and trainee numbers are tracking at over 1,000 (20%) ahead of last financial year for the same time.
Some of the more popular qualifications leading to apprenticeships this year are in Certificate II programs, including: Automotive Servicing Technology; Civil Construction; Cookery; Electrotechnology; Plumbing and Salon Assistant.
The most popular apprenticeships/traineeships at TAFE SA include the Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician, Certificate III in Plumbing, Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade, Certificate III in Carpentry and the Certificate III in Engineering - Mechanical Trade.
Applications are still open for Semester 1 through SATAC until 21 April 2023. For course and application information, please call TAFE SA on 1800 882 661 or go to the website www.tafesa.edu.au
Quotes
Attributable to Blair Boyer
Today’s offers show that Fee-Free TAFE and returning courses to TAFE SA will play a key role in addressing the skills shortages we face and giving access to South Australians who otherwise would be unable to afford training.
TAFE SA plays a critical role in helping industries facing skill shortages and giving South Australians the skills they need for the job they want.
It is pleasing to see high application numbers in nursing, early childhood education and care, and aged and disability services – key industries that are in high workforce demand.
The Malinauskas Labor Government’s investment in TAFE SA is not only supporting more students to enrol in TAFE, but to complete their course and get a high quality, secure job.
The Malinauskas Labor Government is proud to be working with the Commonwealth to deliver Fee-Free TAFE.
Attributable to TAFE SA Chief Executive David Coltman
We are thrilled with the response to Fee-Free TAFE and this has contributed to the growth in both application and offer numbers for the semester ahead.
It is pleasing to see the continued demand for a variety of courses across TAFE SA as we continue to support our state to address skills shortages in key industry sectors.
As we work closely with industry, TAFE SA is providing students across the state with quality education and training delivered by expert lecturers – ensuring our graduates are skilled and job-ready.
We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with industry and ensure that our students are receiving the right skills to meet industry needs and provide long-term careers.
