By far the largest provider of further education courses in Australia is the string of over 200 Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges, which together have over a million students. TAFE colleges are state run and are similar throughout the country, many having a number of campuses and training centres (including some universities).
Many courses have a strong vocational focus and are noted for their practical, hands-on emphasis. The majority of TAFE courses are at the certificate, diploma and advanced diploma levels, although some degree level courses are offered, and courses can be used as entry to a full-time degree course at university. TAFE courses include pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships, trade, post-trade and technician courses, plus commercial and general courses to certificate level. TAFE courses are also used to supplement apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Most courses last for around two years and can be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis or combined with a job when the employer allows time off to attend classes.
Fees vary with the state or territory, each of which sets its own fees. The average cost of a full-time course in NSW in 2005 was $500 and for a diploma course around $1,020 per year, although some states waive fees for school-leavers who enrol directly in TAFE courses on leaving school. There are concessionary rates (or no fees) for low-income earners. Resident students are also eligible for Austudy grants.
Open Universities Australia
Open Universities Australia (formerly Open Learning) was set up by the government to offer high quality tertiary education to all Australians. It’s
owned and operated by a consortium of seven Australian Universities: Curtin University of Technology, Griffith University, Macquarie University, Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University of Technology and the University of South Australia. There are no limits on the number of people who may enrol, no educational requirements and, usually, no requirement to attend on-campus or residential seminars. Students can study in any or all of the four study periods each year, beginning in March, June, September and December.
Students have a choice of 700 individual units and 60 undergraduate, postgraduate and TAFE qualifications, and can take up to ten years to complete a qualification. All units can be studied at home, with the aid of CD-ROMs, on-line learning and video and audio cassettes. For further information contact Open Universities Australia Pty Ltd, PO Box 5387, Melbourne, VIC 3001 (Tel. 03-8628 2500, www.open.edu.au ).