The Sunday Mail recently unveiled a shocking statistic that only 13% of students enrolled in the government’s much-promoted Fee-Free TAFE initiative have actually graduated with a qualification. This staggering figure paints a picture of a policy that is not only failing students but also wasting taxpayer money at an unprecedented scale. The report further debunks the government’s claims of success, as the 500,000 enrolments touted by officials are not "extra" or new students entering the system; rather, they are simply students who would have paid their fees anyway, now getting free access. For a program that has cost taxpayers $1.5 billion, the return on investment is shockingly low.
This policy disaster raises serious questions about the government's competency in managing public funds and delivering real results in education. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has indicated that the "additional" students that the government promised to attract through the Fee-Free scheme only account for 1.3% of the total enrolments. In plain terms, the scheme is not delivering the outcomes it was designed for and is becoming a black hole for taxpayers’ money.
Students Left Disappointed and Disillusioned
The feedback from students enrolled in these so-called fee-free courses has been overwhelmingly negative. Many of them dropped out soon after starting, frustrated by a lack of proper teaching, disorganised course structures, and a lack of resources. For those who stuck it out, the experience was reportedly abysmal, with the focus placed more on pushing students through the system to inflate completion numbers than on actual learning or skill development.
From speaking with students and trainers, it's clear that TAFE institutions were woefully underprepared for the influx of students. Class sizes ballooned to unreasonable numbers, with some trainers managing over 30 students at once—a number far beyond what any trainer can handle effectively, especially when trying to deliver meaningful education. Many trainers lacked the skills to transition to online teaching, which led to a substandard learning experience. In some cases, trainers resorted to giving students the answers to assessments as a means of "teaching," reducing education to mere box-ticking.
The Training Sector in Crisis
The low completion rates at TAFEs aren't a new issue, but it's one that has been swept under the rug for far too long. While these Fee-Free TAFE courses were touted as the solution to the nation’s skills shortages in key areas like aged care, early learning, and disability support, they’ve failed spectacularly to deliver on that promise. Instead of producing job-ready graduates in these critical sectors, the program is delivering incomplete training and leaving both students and the industries they were supposed to enter in the lurch.
There is a dire need to re-evaluate how these courses are structured. High-risk areas such as aged care and early childhood education require much more than just a certificate on paper. These fields demand practical experience and hands-on learning that currently aren’t being provided in any meaningful way through the Fee-Free scheme. Proper investment must be made in real-world practicums and apprenticeships to ensure that those entering these industries have the skills and experience they need to succeed.
A Policy Born from Politics, Not Planning
At its core, the government’s Fee-Free TAFE initiative was never a well-thought-out business decision. It was a politically motivated move designed to secure votes from public servants and potential students rather than a policy based on a strategic business case. The Labour government has clearly put politics above practicality, creating a scheme that sounded good on paper but has proven to be disastrous in practice.
What’s even more concerning is that, despite clear signs that this policy is failing, there seems to be no immediate action or reform on the horizon. Instead of investing in quality outcomes and targeted skills training, the government is content to let this billion-dollar failure continue unchecked.
The Need for a Radical Overhaul
The time for piecemeal adjustments is over. The government must radically overhaul the Fee-Free TAFE initiative if it wants to deliver the skills training this country so desperately needs. First and foremost, the program needs to be grounded in quality, not quantity. The focus should shift from simply enrolling as many students as possible to ensuring those students receive high-quality training that prepares them for the workforce.
Smaller class sizes, better-prepared trainers, and more robust support for online learning are all essential to achieving this. Additionally, we need to invest in practical, hands-on training for industries like aged care and early childhood education, where real-world experience is critical.
Finally, this entire policy must be reviewed with clear eyes and with the understanding that throwing more money at a broken system will not fix it. Strategic planning, based on real-world data and industry needs, must be at the forefront of any future education reforms. Otherwise, the government will continue to waste billions of dollars, and Australia will still face skills shortages in key sectors.
Time for Accountability
The Fee-Free TAFE initiative is a prime example of a policy that sounds great on paper but falls apart in execution. With a shockingly low completion rate, under-prepared educators, and a failing strategy, the government has let down students, trainers, and taxpayers alike. It’s time for the Labour government to stop hiding behind inflated enrolment numbers and start delivering real results that matter. Australia’s future workforce depends on it.
