Fees and payment guide

To encourage all Tasmanians to achieve at least a Certificate III qualification, a higher level subsidy is available if you:

• are enrolling in a Certificate III qualification (or on a pathway to a Certificate III qualification)
• have not completed a Certificate III level qualification in the last five years.

Fee concessions are offered based on your (or your family’s) Centrelink status. You may be eligible for a concession if you:

• receive a Centrelink allowance such as JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, a pension, Austudy or ABSTUDY;
• are listed on a current Centrelink Card as a dependent; and/or
• have a Health Care Card.

To claim a concession, you just need to produce Centrelink evidence relevant to your benefit/allowance at the time of enrolment.

Note–

• concessions are not available for commercial/unsubsidised courses
• learning materials such as text books, workbooks or protective clothing are not covered by the concession
• concession fees are only payable once during a 12-month period for each course you undertake.

A childcare subsidy may be available to eligible learners whose children require care during timetabled classes or other course-required activities (for example work placement or industry visits).

To be eligible, your child/children must attend a registered child care centre or participate in the Family Day Care program. This funding is limited, so please speak with a Student Counsellor as soon as possible to see if you are eligible.

You can either pay fees in full at the time of enrolment or arrange a payment plan. In a payment plan, payments can be made either weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The payment plan will be in place for the length of your course.

If your course is delivered over multiple years, fees will be split across the duration of your course, and you’ll be invoiced each year.

To pay your course fees in full, refer to your invoice for payment options. Alternatively, call us on 1300 655 307 to set up a payment plan or you can use Centrepay if you receive a Centrelink payment.

Course tuition fees are distributed evenly across your units of study (UOS). You’ll be required to pay for each UOS on or before the census date of each unit.

Failure to pay your fees by the census date will lead to suspension of your Canvas account, preventing further study. Once all fees are paid your Canvas online learning account will be reinstated.

If you can’t meet the financial commitments of paying for UOS as you progress through your course, you may be able to defer your fees to the VET Student Loans (VSL) scheme. This scheme allows you to defer payments of tuition fees as a loan with the Australian Taxation Office, subject to eligibility and until your income reaches a certain level. VSL applications need to be completed before census date and only apply to future financial commitments.

The VSL scheme is the only alternate payment method offered for Diploma or Advanced Diploma courses. They are not eligible for TasTAFE payment plans.

Find out more about VET Student Loans.

Short courses and commercial courses are generally not subsidised. You’ll need to pay your fees in full before starting your course. No deferred payment methods are offered.

For standard and higher level subsidised courses, upfront payment of fees at the time of enrolment is preferred. You can use credit card, cheque or EFTPOS to make your payment at your closest Client Services offices located in Burnie, Devonport, Hobart and Launceston, or at a Service Tasmania outlet

If you are unable to make an upfront payment, you will need to make arrangements to pay by instalments at the time of enrolment.

Your agreed payment plan will be structured to ensure that the full course fee is paid by the completion of your course. You will be given a schedule of instalments, together with payment options of BPay, Service Tasmania or direct credit, as well as being able to make your payments at Client Services. Payments can be made on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

If you receive regular Centrelink benefits, you may choose to pay your course fees using the Centrepay direct debit option whereby deductions are made directly from your Centrelink benefits.

Note–

• 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’.

If you are studying at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level, you may choose to defer your course fees to VET Student Loans (formally VET FEE-HELP).

This scheme allows you to defer payments of tuition fees as an income dependent loan with the Australian Tax Office, if you are able to meet eligibility requirements. If you do not wish to defer your course fees through VET Student Loans, payment is required before you begin each unit of study.

Find out more about VET Student Loans.

For commercial/unsubsidised courses and qualifications, upfront payment of your fees at the time of enrolment is required.

All courses need to be paid in full prior to you commencing your course.

You can use credit card, cheque or EFTPOS to make your payment, or we can invoice you/your business.

If you wish to withdraw from your course, we will be sorry to see you go – but please don’t just disappear or stop coming!

Please discuss your intention to withdraw with one of your teachers and they will be able to advise you of the withdrawal and refund process.

If you wish to obtain a refund or credit, it is your responsibility to advise Client Services of your intention to withdraw prior to the cooling off date. If you withdraw prior to the cooling off date you will be eligible for a 100% refund, or up to 80% if you have completed a unit of study

You will not be eligible for a refund if you withdraw beyond the cooling off period, however, TasTAFE will consider requests for credits after this period if paying your outstanding fees may result in financial hardship. If you feel this applies to you, please make an appointment with one of our Student Counsellors to discuss your situation.

In the event that TasTAFE is unable to deliver the course you have enrolled in, every effort will be made to place you into an alternative course (with your permission) without any additional course fees being payable. If the alternative course fees are less, the difference will be refunded, and if no alternative can be agreed upon, your fees will be refunded in full.

If you receive a Centrelink benefit, it is your responsibility to advise Centrelink within 14 days of any changes to your total weekly study hours. Changes may affect your eligibility for payments and/or conditions associated with your payments.

If you are undertaking a Diploma or an Advanced Diploma qualification and wish to withdraw from your course without incurring tuition fees, you will need to do this before the census date for your units of study.

You are not entitled to refunds for units of study which are in previous census date periods.

Please familiarise yourself with the Census date applicable to your course when you enrol, or give us a call on 1300 655 307.

If you receive a Centrelink benefit, it is your responsibility to advise Centrelink within 14 days of any changes to your total weekly study hours. Changes may affect your eligibility for payments and/or conditions associated with your payments.

To be eligible for a refund for a commercial course, you must notify TasTAFE of your intention to withdraw at least 72 hours prior to the commencement of training. This excludes courses of less than five consecutive days if you have a medical certificate.

There is no cooling off period where access to training is available within 24 hours.