Fee-free TAFE is a joint initiative of the Australian and Tasmanian Governments, providing tuition-free* training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill.

The following Tasmanian residents are eligible for Tasmanian Government subsidised training:

• Australian citizens
• Permanent residents

And Tasmanian residents who have permission for work and study in Australia and:

• Are New Zealand citizens with a Special Category Visa
• Are holders of a temporary humanitarian visas
• Are Tasmanian State Sponsored skill migrant visa holders
• Are a dependent (aged over 18) or partner (spouse) visa holder of an eligible applicant.

All other visa holders are ineligible for subsidised training. This includes all bridging visa holders and Tasmanian State Sponsored business visa holders.

Applicants must also meet any specific entry requirements for individual courses.

First Nations Australians, young people (17-24), people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, women facing economic insecurity, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields and people with a disability are encouraged to apply.

Note: People studying within the education system (up to Year 12), or undertaking a traineeship or apprenticeship are not eligible.

*Your tuition fees are covered; however you may need to cover costs such as textbooks, workbooks, uniform, online learning resources or personal protective clothing. Depending on your course, there may also be other expenses that you need to budget for.

Any additional fees will be identified in course specific information.

The number of Fee-Free places on offer at TasTAFE are determined by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments.

For entry, applicants must show evidence that they have a Registered Working with Vulnerable People Card (RWVP) or a receipt that the applicant has applied for a RWVP card. A RWVP card is a requirement of the National Quality Framework Regulations for Early Education environments (if a receipt is used as evidence the card must be shown as evidence prior to starting the course).

You will be required to undertake the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) to confirm you have the required Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) skills to work at Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) exit level 2 or higher. Account details and instructions will be sent to you within 24 hours of applying. If you have previously undertaken the Literacy and Numeracy Assessment – we will review your results and notify you if further action is required.

The fee you pay at TasTAFE will depend on the course you choose and may vary depending on the level of government subsidy available, the cost of delivery, any previous study you have undertaken and/or your personal circumstances. Tuition fees for this course are available at the top of the page via the Fee Calculator.

Your tuition fees cover the basic materials needed for your course, but may not cover items such as text books, workbooks, uniform, online learning resources or personal protective clothing. Depending on your course, there may also be other expenses that you need to budget for.

For this course, you will need to pay for the following items:

• A TasTAFE polo top is required for work placements ($45) and
• a Working with Vulnerable People registration ($20.40).

For courses undertaken in 12 months or less, you will be invoiced the full course fee (including any other essential fees associated with your course).

*For courses studied over multiple years, your course and other fees will be split over the years of study, with the concession fee being charged on a yearly basis. At the time of enrolment you will be invoiced for the first year’s fees. An invoice will be raised in each subsequent year around the same time as your ‘enrolment anniversary’.

Further information on fees, payments and other costs.

The following skills and attributes will be useful to students studying this course:

• Organise, plan, and prioritise their time to manage study and other commitments.
• Be responsible for the health and safety and wellbeing of self and others.
• Recall information and report with accuracy.
• Demonstrate literacy skills – reading, writing, and comprehension - adequate to sector and workplace standards for report reading and or writing, documenting individual children’s learning, reading and or writing policies, following policy and procedures, completing forms and notifications, reading, and writing reflections and evaluations.
• Perform basic mathematical functions to responsibly handle medications, infant formula measurement, chemical dilution of fluids, reading recipes and fostering numeracy skills in young children.
• Use technology skills to research and obtain information, and document information using digital media.
• Work independently or as part of a team.
• Be respectful and positive in verbal and non-verbal interactions with children of all ages and abilities in both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Actively listen to others and give full attention, taking time to understand and asking questions as appropriate.
• Role-model positive and respectful behaviour and engage with verbal and non-verbal communication with all stakeholders, including children, families, colleagues, and community members.
• Demonstrate good interpersonal skills and communication skills with multicultural teams and diverse stakeholders to ensure inclusive practices are followed.
• Be physically able to move around quickly to respond to children’s needs and safety requirements.
• Move freely, to stand, lift, bend, twist, and reach.
• Attend to children’s needs with age-appropriate practices, including nappy changing, food preparation, service and feeding, cleaning, and tidying.

On successful completion of this course you will receive a CHC30121 - Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Below is a list of all core and elective units that TasTAFE offers in this course. The selection of units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend and the qualification packaging rules. For further information refer to training.gov.au.