A Complete Guide to Technical and Further Education (TAFE)

Life as a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) student is so rewarding for domestic and international students alike. Studying a TAFE course allows you to learn practical skills that can lead on to higher education or that will be the building blocks for a career in a certain field. In this blog, we find out all about TAFE including the study levels and course structures available to help you make an informed choice in terms of your future.

So, What is TAFE?

TAFE studies are vocational programmes or certifications that are provided by the national training system of Australia known as Vocational Education and Training. These courses are part of the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) and include all sorts of interesting subjects including everything from arts to winemaking and construction. Consequently, there will always be something that will pique your interest!

TAFE institutes are funded and run by the state and territory government of Australia. TAFE is designed to provide students with diploma/certificate qualifications. Interestingly, there are now also post-graduate diplomas and bachelor degrees offered in certain fields, so there is a world of choice available!

TAFE is the perfect entry point for students who wish to earn credits towards a bachelor’s degree. Also, it’s possible for students to transfer their TAFE credits over to complete degree programmes.

TAFE Institutes

TAFE courses for international students as well as domestic ones are extremely popular. In fact, TAFE is the largest training and education sector in the whole of Australia. There are around 60 TAFE institutes dotted all around the country in both metropolitan and regional areas. TAFE qualifications are designed to provide students with the qualifications, skills and training they need to be a successful part of the workforce.

Because the state or territory government regulates TAFE, specific policies and fees tend to differ. So, to find out more details about the course(s) that interest you, it’s a good idea to take a look at the territory or state website. Here are some details of well-known Australian TAFE institutes:

• TAFE NSW – New South Wales
• Canberra Institute of Technology – The Australian Capital Territory
• Training WA – Western Australia
• Charles Darwin University – Northern Territory
• TasTAFE – Tasmania
• TAFE SA – South Australia
• TAFE Qld -Queensland

With TAFE institutes situated throughout the country, there’s sure to be one to suit you!

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