Free short courses at Katanning TAFE to boost skills within Great Southern

Great Southern students can enrol for three, free short courses at the Katanning’s South Regional TAFE campus as part of a $57 million WA Government funding injection to upskill workers to reboot WA’s economy in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Premier Mark McGowan earlier this month unveiled the recovery funding package for WA’s training sector that will deliver 15 free short courses and slash TAFE fees by as much as 72 per cent. The fee cuts have been implemented to meet the State’s needs after COVID-19. From the second semester of this year, the maximum annual fee students will pay is capped at $400 for concession students and youths, and $1200 for non-concession students. South Regional TAFE managing director Sue Lapham said several free short courses would be offered in Katanning. The courses aim to provide a “launch-pad” for workers displaced during the pandemic and will be accessible for eligible students including those aged 15-24 or receiving JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments. “The new skill sets and reduced fee courses are designed to encourage more people to enrol and gain the skills to get back into jobs,” she said. “Business operators and industries will also benefit from having job-ready people to employ when recovering from the current situation.” The Government’s existing Lower Fees, Local Skills initiative will be extended to an additional 39 high-priority courses, with three set to be offered at the Katanning campus — namely Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, Certificate II in Horticulture and Certificate III in Horticulture. Fees for those three courses have been cut in half. “This is in addition to the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and Certificate III in Individual Support offered with half-price course fees announced under the original Lower Fees, Local Skills program,” Ms Lapham said. Mr McGowan said TAFE was a “major part” of WA’s recovery from COVID-19. “Our training-led plan will prepare Western Australians to get back into jobs to meet the economy’s immediate workforce needs following the impacts of the pandemic,” he said. FREE SKILL SETS AVAILABLE Job Ready Basics Business Ready Work in Community Care ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA Aged 15-24 at time of enrolment, excluding school students. Secondary school-aged people not enrolled at school. People receiving the JobSeeker or JobKeeper payment. People and dependents of people receiving Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy. People and dependents of people holding a pensioner concession card or health care card. People and dependents of people holding a Department of Veterans’ Affairs repatriation health benefits card. People and dependents of people who are inmates of a custodial institution. Fees apply for non-eligible students. For details, visit https://www.southregionaltafe.wa.edu.au/