Government To Fund Fee Free Early Education And Care Qualifications and ECT Degrees

The Albanese Government has recognised the urgent need to address the critical national shortage of early childhood educators by announcing to fund of over 4,036 fee-free TAFE and vocational education for early childhood qualifications and 1,469 ECT degree qualifications.

More teachers will be trained after 20,000 extra university places were allocated to courses in areas of critical skills needs including early childhood education. 

It will provide extra places for people studying bachelor and sub-bachelor courses in areas of skills need across 42 successful higher education providers.

The five higher education providers receiving the most funding for additional places are:

• Charles Darwin University 
• University of Wollongong 
• Curtin University 
• Edith Cowan University 
• The University of Newcastle.

The additional places will be for students starting next year and in 2024 with an investment of up to $485.5 million over the next four years.

The Government is also delivering 180,000 fee-free TAFE and vocational education places, with extra support for the participation of women and other disadvantaged groups.

This initiative is a key Budget measure of the Albanese Labor Government and is part of the broader commitment to deliver 480,000 fee-free TAFE and vocational education places, commencing with 180,000 training places in 2023, to support industries experiencing skills shortages to be delivered in partnership with States and Territories. Extra training places will be delivered in the critical skill shortage areas including early education and care. 

The Albanese Government will deliver $550 million in this Budget as part of the 12-month National Skills Agreement, with funding matched by States and Territories. Discussions with States and Territories are underway regarding the specific funding and places in each state and territory consistent with other Federal Financing arrangements.

Reference: 
Albanese Government Delivers More University And VET Training Places, Ministers Media Centre Australia