Major changes to TAFE training fees for youth Health Care Card holders
30-September-2011
The Coalition Government has fast-tracked an election pledge to ensure TAFE concession fee places for 15 to 24 year old students holding a Health Care Card will be available from 1 February this year.
Member for Hastings, Neale Burgess MP has announced that the Coalition would provide $56 million to cut fees for Health Care Card holders by 95 per cent, resulting in major savings for young people accessing Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses.
“The Coalition Government’s commitment will ensure annual TAFE training fees for youth health care card holders will cost just $100 – a substantial saving from the usual tuition fee rates of up to $2,000,” Mr Burgess said.
Mr Burgess said the implementation of concession fee places had been fast tracked to ensure that students enrolling in new courses in 2011 would not miss out.
“As the bulk of enrolments take place in January/February the Coalition has sped up the implementation of concession fee places, and in doing so, removed a major financial barrier to training for young people from families with lower incomes,” Mr Burgess said.
“Young people continue to be under-represented in Victoria’s education and labour market with around 17 per cent of 15 to19 year olds and almost a quarter of 20 to 24 year olds not engaged in full time education or employment.”
Mr Burgess said families in the Hastings electorate, with lower incomes often found it difficult to meet TAFE fees upfront and were less able to accumulate significant debt, which made it more difficult for them to take up higher levels of vocational training.
“The Coalition Government is committed to removing barriers to vocational education to help young people enter employment and gain the skills they need to contribute to the Victorian economy,” Mr Burgess said.
Mr Burgess said the Coalition had also committed to reviewing all fee structures across the training system introduced by the previous government to ensure there was continued support for those who needed to broaden their skills to gain or maintain employment.
“We will review this program after one year and that review will feed into a wider view of the fees structure across the vocational education and training sector in Victoria,” Mr Burgess said. .
Media: Neale Burgess 5977 5600