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Skills First funding for retrenched or unemployed Victorian workers
When people talk about 2020 years down the line, they’ll say it was one of those years, where everything changed – in some areas, only temporarily and in others, for good.
Case-in-point: just look at all the people who decided to pick up new hobbies, side-gigs or even change careers completely.
Of course, for a lot of people it wasn’t exactly voluntary.
Many people in Victoria especially found themselves doing it tough financially, and are now looking for new opportunities as a result.
Luckily, there are options that make it possible to change direction or change career without putting undue stress on your finances.
We’ve talked before about the different schemes in place both in Victoria and Queensland that reduce the price of TAFE equivalent courses (and which in some cases make it completely free to study).
Today, we’ll be talking about how people who have been made unemployed (whether from COVID or otherwise) can retrain without having to pay out-of-pocket.
Who is eligible for free TAFE: are there any free TAFE/vocational courses for people who have lost their jobs?
We talk a lot about Victoria’s Skills FIrst program, and how it aims to provide workers for high-demand sectors through free government-funded TAFE equivalent courses and increased funding for training institutions.
As someone who’s recently lost their job, one of the first questions you’re asking is whether or not you’re eligible.
In addition to people who are upskilling or young people who’ve only just left high school, in some cases Victoria’s Skills First program also includes special initiatives for other applicants who may not meet the other eligibility criteria.
Many of these are fairly expected, such as special allowances for asylum seekers and disadvantaged groups – as someone who’s lost their job, you’ll be pleased to hear that in some cases, you, too, may qualify.
Subsidised training for retrenched workers
Over the last year, many workers have faced retrenchment as businesses were forced to limit or even cease operations altogether.
Luckily for them, Skills First contains a special exception for retrenched workers.
If your goal is to break into a new industry now that you’ve been retrenched, Skills First has you covered, with a wide variety of partially and fully subsidised TAFE equivalent courses available to you.
(Important to note that this only applies to retrenched workers who are aiming to shift into a new industry – if you plan on re-entering your industry, you may not qualify.)
Special initiatives for specific groups of workers
In addition to providing subsidised training for retrenched workers in general, the program also includes exceptions for workers in specific industries and areas that are facing particularly high rates of retrenchments or even the loss of their entire industry.
In particular, it singles out workers who’ve lost their livelihoods as a result of:
- The shutdown of Hazelwood power plant and the Carter Holt Harvey Mill in the LaTrobe Valley
- The end of Australia’s car manufacturing industry (this includes automotive supply chain workers)
Workers affected by either of these circumstances can benefit from subsidised training to help them transition into other roles.
How do you qualify for free TAFE/vocational training: how to apply as a retrenched worker
Instead of applying through the state government, retrenched workers (and anybody applying for a government funded course under Skills First) hoping to receive funding need to apply directly through their training institution.
Our friendly course advisors are here to assist – we’ll help you understand eligibility and what’s involved in the process. We’re with you each step of the way to ensure you get all the information you need to make a truly informed decision. Enquire online now.
What jobs you can get from your TAFE/vocational course?
It all depends on which free TAFE equivalent course you choose to complete.
There are a huge number of subsidised courses available, many of which are completely covered by Skills First funding.
In some cases, the cost of resources like textbooks and uniforms will also be covered!
At Academia’s Melbourne campus alone, we offer a range of different courses for retrenched workers, including:
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (Childcare)
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (Childcare)
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Aged Care)
- Certificate IV in Ageing Support (Aged Care)
- Certificate III in Hairdressing
- Certificate IV in Hairdressing
- Diploma of Salon Management
- Certificate III in Patisserie
- Certificate IV in Patisserie
- Certificate III in Cookery
This diverse range of courses open all sorts of doors, and could be your ticket to a rewarding career in fast-growing industries like hospitality, aged care, childcare, and more!
Completing your free government-funded course online
Did you know? With Academia, you may be able to study your free government-funded course online!
While government-funded courses on offer at Academia cannot be completed 100% online, our online learning system does give you more options and gives you a level of flexibility that traditional in-person learning doesn’t.
With small online classes and a system that’s set up to maximise interactivity and collaboration, our online learning system ensures that you get the same level of training as you would if you were attending in-person.
Prepare for your future with Academia
If you’re a retrenched worker, Academia can help!
With a wide range of courses available that can grant you entry into some of the fastest-growing industries in Australia, a government funded TAFE equivalent course might be just what you need to get back on your feet after being retrenched.
And more importantly, it might be just what you need to find a steady and stable position for the years to come.
Whether you have questions about our courses, have questions about your eligibility or simply want to learn which government-funded courses are available, our friendly course advisors are here to help.
Get in touch with us today to find out what your options are:
