In short:
Free TAFE is set to expand under the 2026/27 Victorian Budget, with 15,000 additional places planned and record enrolments already underway. In Melbourne’s west, limited campus access and course availability remain ongoing concerns despite the funding boost.
TAFE Funding Continued
The 2026/27 Victorian Budget includes $459.4 million for skills and training, with a continued focus on the Free TAFE program.
The funding includes an expansion of Free TAFE places from 2027, with an additional 15,000 students expected to take up courses.
Current enrolments sit at more than 60,800 students, the highest level in over a decade.
The Free TAFE Guarantee has also been legislated, locking in the program beyond the current budget cycle.
The budget also includes funding for three new TAFE Centres of Excellence, delivered in partnership with the Australian Government.
These include a renewable energy centre led by TAFE Gippsland, a home and community care centre led by Holmesglen, and a digital, AI and technology centre led by Chisholm.
Additional measures include $10 million for campus upgrades, such as new training equipment and accessibility improvements, and $5.4 million to support a VET Educator Academy aimed at training new teachers.
Funding is also allocated to student support services designed to improve course completion rates.
The announcement comes in an election year, with skills and workforce development expected to be a key policy area.
In Melbourne’s outer west, access to TAFE courses remains limited compared to other parts of the state, with fewer campus options and course availability continuing to be raised as an issue by local residents and industry.
