Job creation—Fee-free TAFE courses
683. Hon Tjorn Sibma to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Skills and TAFE:
I refer to the answer to question without notice 476 on 26 June in which it was confirmed that 149 TAFE courses are fee free and 185 courses are low fee.
(1) What framework guides the decision to designate a TAFE course as a fee-free course?
(2) What framework guides the decision to designate a TAFE course as a low-fee course?
(3) Who makes these decisions and upon whose advice?
Hon Jackie Jarvis replied:
On behalf of the Leader of the House, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the Minister for Skills and TAFE.
(1) Under the Fee-Free TAFE Skills Agreement with the federal government, the state government designates fee-free courses in priority areas, including the care sector; technology and digital; hospitality and tourism; construction; agriculture; and sovereign capability, such as manufacturing and defence.
(2) Low-fee courses are selected in response to existing and emerging skills needs, the state's economic diversification strategy and government priorities.
(3) It is the Minister for Skills and TAFE on advice from the Department of Training and Workforce Development.
