PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Ms ROBERTS (Pearce) (13:26): I would like to support this motion and to acknowledge that Wednesday 9 September 2026 was National TAFE Day—a day to celebrate the contributions of TAFE teachers, staff and students right across our nation. I thank Australia's TAFE teachers and staff for their dedication to skilling and training Australians. Every day, in classrooms, workshops and clinical settings, they are turning ambition into ability and helping school leavers, career changers and upskillers to build real careers in the industries that keep our country moving.
This motion emphasises that the government's investment into free TAFE removes financial barriers to ensure more Australians can gain the skills needed to work in industries critical to Australia's success. Labor is training our future tradies and care workers by prioritising skills investment in the sectors we need workers most—in housing, care and support, clean energy and digital capability.
This motion observes that the government has partnered with state and territory governments to invest over $1.5 billion in free TAFE between 2023 and 2026. The latest national data shows there were 851,025 enrolments across the country in that period—from 334,212 in New South Wales to 128,732 here in Western Australia. In Western Australia alone, free TAFE enrolments have smashed targets by almost 400 per cent—87,000 enrolments when the target was just 22,000.
This motion recognises that the government has legislated permanent free TAFE, guaranteeing 100,000 free TAFE places every year from 2027. The Free TAFE Act 2025 locks in at least 100,000 free TAFE and VET places every year, backed by more than $1.6 billion in investment to 2034-35. Free TAFE is delivered in partnership with state and territory governments, with places prioritised for people who face barriers to education and training.
That includes First Nations Australians, young people aged 17 to 24, jobseekers, unpaid carers, women facing economic insecurity, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields and people with disability. More than 306,000 young people have enrolled along with more than 209,000 jobseekers, over 76,000 people with disability and more than 53,000 First Nations students.
Women make up almost 62 per cent of enrolments—523,600 women are taking on qualifications under this program. This motion further recognises that hundreds of thousands of students have continued to embrace free TAFE by enrolling in and completing courses in areas such as nursing, construction, care and technology. Enrolments are strong across all priority sectors.
Over 236,000 are in care, more than 78,000 in construction, over 75,000 in technology and digital, and more than 68,000 in early childhood education and care. There have already been more than 275,000 completions under free TAFE. Free TAFE is changing lives.
Research from Jobs and Skills Australia shows VET graduates earn a median income increase of $11,800 within a year of completing their course. Eighty-four per cent of graduates are employed after completing their qualification—a 15 per cent increase from before enrolment. Let me bring this home to Pearce.
Our community is one of the largest and fastest-growing in Western Australia. Just this month, I joined Minister Clare at Mindarie Senior College to recognise 19 student volunteers from across Pearce—young people giving their time to Quinns Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club, the Salvation Army, local bush fire brigades and aged care. These are the very students who will be the next nurses, teachers, tradies and digital workers, and free TAFE is their pathway.
Across the northern suburbs, families have saved over $7 million in course fees, with the most popular course the Certificate III in early childhood education and care—saving each student about $3,500 and helping fill our childcare centres with qualified workers. Here, in Pearce, that means more local young people can train in nursing, construction, disability support, digital and technology without being priced out.
And, because free TAFE is permanent, families can plan with confidence. They know that in 2027, 2028 and beyond, 100,000 places a year will be there, prioritised for people who need them most in the courses that lead to real jobs. Free TAFE is about more than courses.
It is about dignity. It is about opportunity. It is about saying to every Australian in Pearce and beyond that if you have what it takes, you will get a place.
Labor backs free TAFE and backs Australia's future. I commend the motion to the House. Debate adjourned.