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Technical and further education

{{Short description|Vocational education system in Australia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2011}}

{{About||the similar concept in the United Kingdom and Ireland|Further education|the similar concept in the United States and Canada|Continuing education|a related but different category of educational institution in various countries|Institute of Technology}}

{{Redirect|TAFE|the Indian manufacturing company|Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited}}

Technical and further education or simply TAFE ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|eɪ|f}}) is the common name in Australia for vocational education, as a subset of tertiary education. TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational courses. Colloquially also known as "Tech".{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Individual TAFE institutions (usually with numerous campuses) are known as either colleges or institutes, depending on the state or territory.

In Australia, where the term TAFE originated, institutions usually host qualifying courses, under the National Training System/Australian Qualifications Framework/VET Quality Framework. Fields covered include business, finance, hospitality, tourism, construction, engineering, visual arts, information technology and community work. TAFE colleges are owned, operated and financed by the various state/territory governments.

Qualifications awarded by TAFE colleges

TAFE colleges award Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications accredited in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector that align to Certificate I, Certificate II, Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma qualifications.{{cite web|url=http://www.aqf.edu.au/register/about/|title=About the AQF Register|access-date=17 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704223551/http://www.aqf.edu.au/register/about/|archive-date=4 July 2015|df=dmy-all}} In many instances, TAFE study at a Diploma or above level can be used as partial credit towards bachelor's degree-level university programs.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

From 2002 the TAFE education sector has been able to offer bachelor's degrees and post-graduate diploma courses to fill niche areas, particularly vocationally focused areas of study based on industry needs. As of June 2009, ten TAFE colleges (mainly in New South Wales{{cite web|title=TAFE NSW Higher Education|url=http://www.highered.tafensw.edu.au/}} and Victoria, but also Western Australia, ACT, and Queensland) now confer their own degree-level awards and post graduate diplomas, though initially not beyond the level of bachelor's degree. However Melbourne Polytechnic was accredited in 2015 to offer two master's degree courses.Melbourne Polytechnic Annual Report p. 22 Similarly, some universities (e.g., Charles Darwin University and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) offer vocational education courses (traditionally the domain of TAFE); these are funded by the local state and territory governments. Some high schools also deliver courses developed and accredited by TAFEs."[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/07/24/1027332400427.html TAFE gears up to offer degrees]" by Rebecca Scott, The Age, 24 July 2002. Accessed 3 August 2008.Leesa Wheelahan, Gavin Moodie, Stephen Billett and Ann Kelly, [http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2167.html Higher education in TAFE] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515174100/http://www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2167.html |date=15 May 2013 }}, research report published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), 3 September 2009. Accessed 24 September 2009.

Students who enrol in these undergraduate degree courses at TAFE are required to pay full fees and are not entitled to Commonwealth Government supported student fee loans, known as HECS loans, but may access a FEE-HELP loan scheme.See Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations, [http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/FeesLoansAndScholarships/Undergraduate/FullFeesAndFEE-HELP/FullFeesAndFeeHELP.htm Full Fees and FEE-HELP] ({{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202084140/http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/FeesLoansAndScholarships/Undergraduate/FullFeesAndFEE-HELP/FullFeesAndFeeHELP.htm |date=2 February 2010 }}), goingtouni.gov.au website. Accessed 19 September 2011. While Universities have the ability and power to design and offer their own degree courses, each TAFE degree course must be assessed and approved by the Higher Education Accreditation Committee (HEAC).

TAFEs in some states can also teach senior high school qualifications, like the Victorian Certificate of Education, Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, and the Higher School Certificate. Some universities, e.g. Charles Darwin University and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, offer TAFE courses; these are funded by the local state and territory governments. Some high schools also deliver courses developed and accredited by TAFEs.

Some private institutions also offer courses from TAFEs, however they more commonly offer other vocational education and training courses. Before the 1990s, the TAFEs had a near monopoly in the sector. TAFE courses provide students an opportunity for certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma qualifications in a wide range of areas.

TAFE colleges by state/territory

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In most cases, TAFE campuses are grouped into TAFE institutions or institutes along geographic lines. Most TAFEs are given a locally recognised region of the country where they exclusively operate covering a wide range of subjects.

A few TAFEs specialise in a single area of study. These are usually found near the middle of the capital cities, and they service the whole state or territory. For example, the Trade and Technician Skills Institute in Brisbane, from 1 July 2006, has specialised in automotive, building and construction, manufacturing and engineering, and electrical/electronic studies for students throughout Queensland and the William Angliss Institute of TAFE in Melbourne has specialised in food, hospitality and tourism courses for Victoria.

=Australian Capital Territory=

In the Australian Capital Territory, these include:

=New South Wales=

There were ten TAFE NSW Institutes in NSW, which have since been joined into a state-wide service. OTEN or TAFE Digitalhttps://www.tafensw.edu.au/digital is TAFE's online offering.

=Northern Territory=

In the Northern Territory, these include:

=Queensland=

In Queensland, TAFE Queensland includes:

As of May 2014, the TAFE institutes have amalgamated into six regions of the central TAFE Queensland (parent body). The regions of TAFE Queensland are:{{cite web | url = http://tafeqld.edu.au/ | title = TAFE Queensland | access-date = 2014-04-26}}

  • Brisbane (formerly Brisbane North Institute of TAFE, Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE and Southbank Institute of Technology)
  • Gold Coast (formerly Gold Coast Institute of TAFE)
  • East Coast (formerly Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE and Wide Bay Institute of TAFE)
  • South West (formerly Bremer Institute of TAFE and Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE)
  • North (formerly Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, Mount Isa Institute of TAFE and Tropical North Queensland TAFE)
  • SkillsTech (formerly SkillsTech Australia)

And as of the 1 July 2014, Central Queensland TAFE (branded as CQ TAFE) was merged into Central Queensland University (branded as CQUniversity) to create Queensland's first dual sector university.

=South Australia=

In South Australia:

=Tasmania=

In Tasmania, there are two government TAFE organisations:

  • TasTAFE includes:
  • Institute of TAFE Tasmania (general){{cite web |url=http://www.tafe.tas.edu.au/institute/campuses.htm |title=Campus Locations |access-date=2005-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060105202941/http://www.tafe.tas.edu.au/institute/campuses.htm |archive-date=5 January 2006 |df=dmy-all }}
  • Drysdale Institute (for tourism and hospitality){{cite web |url=http://www.tafe.tas.edu.au/TAFEAPP.ASP?WCI=SigList&id=11 |title=Drysdale |access-date=2005-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024154833/http://www.tafe.tas.edu.au/TAFEAPP.ASP?WCI=SigList&id=11 |archive-date=24 October 2005 |df=dmy-all }}
  • Australian Maritime College TAFE (maritime studies)

=Victoria=

In Victoria these include:

=Western Australia=

Image:Central TAFE, Perth, Western Australia.jpg

In Western Australia, this includes:

See also

References

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External links

=State and territory TAFE websites=

  • [http://www.tafe.nsw.edu.au TAFE NSW]
  • [http://www.tafe.vic.gov.au TAFE Victoria]
  • [https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20060306062627/http://www.vtac.edu.au/pdf/guide/tafecourses.pdf Victorian TAFE courses ]
  • [http://www.tafe.qld.gov.au TAFE QLD] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819193316/http://www.tafe.qld.gov.au/ |date=19 August 2008 }}
  • [http://ttsi.tafe.qld.gov.au/ Trade and Technician Skills Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819193316/http://ttsi.tafe.qld.gov.au/ |date=19 August 2008 }}
  • [http://www.tafesa.edu.au TAFE SA]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20060819084128/http://www.tafe.wa.edu.au/ TAFE WA]
  • [http://wcit.wa.edu.au West Coast Institute of Training] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524084833/http://wcit.wa.edu.au/ |date=24 May 2019 }}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080317010352/http://www.tafe.tas.edu.au/ TAFE Tasmania]
  • [http://www.cit.act.edu.au Canberra Institute of Technology]
  • [http://www.globalcollege.edu.au/ International colleges in Australasia]

=Victorian Association of TAFE Libraries=

  • [http://www.vatl.org.au/ VATL]

=Vocational education and training (VET)=

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20050224091736/http://www.dest.gov.au/ Department of Education, Science and Training] (DEST)
  • [http://www.ncver.edu.au/ National Centre for Vocational Education Research] (NCVER)
  • [http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/ Australian Flexible Learning Framework] (FLX)
  • [http://www.austafe.edu.au/ National Association of TAFE Managers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051023055404/http://www.austafe.edu.au/ |date=23 October 2005 }} – (AUSTAFE Inc.)
  • [https://training.gov.au/Home/Tga National Register of VET] (TGA formerly known as the NTIS – national database of VET providers and qualifications)

=TAFE union sites=

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080804142941/http://www.aeuvic.asn.au/campaigns/tafe_stop/ AEU Victoria – TAFE Teachers]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20080922100614/http://www.ourtafesmatter.com.au/ Our TAFEs Matter – NTEU]

TAFE course comparison sites

  • [https://www.training.com.au/tafe-courses/ Training.com.au - Directory of TAFE courses]
  • [https://www.tafecourses.com.au/ Tafecourses.com.au - TAFE courses & information from across Australia]
  • [https://www.courses.com.au/ Courses.com.au - Compare TAFE and Private RTO Courses]

{{Education in Australia|state=collapsed}}

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Category:Australian vocational education and training providers

Category:Vocational education