We caught up with three graduates to chat about their experience studying Free TAFE courses at RMIT, and how their study gave them the tools to achieve their career goals.
If you’re thinking about a change of industry, turning your passion into a career, or reskilling to get back into the workforce, RMIT offers Free TAFE options that will help you achieve your goals soon.
Free TAFE for priority courses enables eligible Victorians to build job-ready skills without paying tuition fees. If you complete a Free TAFE course within one of the Free TAFE pathways you can also access specific, related courses tuition-free. This means you can do a Certificate and a Diploma within the same pathway without paying tuition fees.
As a dual-sector university, RMIT provides both vocational and higher education qualifications – including a range of Free TAFE courses options – where graduates land jobs in the industry or pathway into further study.
Here’s what studying a Free TAFE course looks like and how it will help you shape what’s next.
Having worked as an early childhood educator for over eight years, moving into community service was a long-time consideration for Edwina Saines.
“I enjoyed working with children and families and was curious to see how I could develop my skills in youth work or family services," she said.
Edwina was interested in studying community services for a number of years but couldn’t afford the fees prior to finding her Free TAFE course.
“Free TAFE really was a gamechanger for me. I was incredibly excited when I found out the Certificate IV in Community Services was on the list of courses and I was eligible.”
“The certificate attracts such a variety of people with all types of life experiences that I had the privilege of hearing about throughout our study time together.
“These first-hand recollections are what stay with you and remind you what the community services sector is all about.”
After finishing her certificate, Edwina also completed a Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) with RMIT. One of the subjects covered in the diploma helped her learn about Australia's domestic violence epidemic.
One of the subjects covered in the diploma helped her learn about Australia's domestic violence epidemic.
“When we covered this subject, it really shed light on the depth of this crisis and the root causes of it in Australia. It has influenced my career direction and I’m excited to be applying to study counselling next year.
“I’m hoping to use my next qualification to make a difference within the family violence sector.”
After Craig Bruty’s business was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and he became a full-time dad, he made a choice to change the direction of his career.
Knowing firsthand how transferable bookkeeping and accounting skills are, he chose to study the Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping.
“Free TAFE provided me with a quick and smooth transition back into further education," he said.
"I am now empowered with the knowledge to establish, operate and maintain an accounting system for any small business. This includes evaluating business technologies and putting them into action, as well as successfully managing day-to-day business operations."
Craig’s biggest takeaway from his time studying at RMIT was the hands-on experience he was able to gain outside the classroom through volunteering.
“Stay open to opportunities to be involved with organising and presenting industry panels, or networking and feedback sessions. Doing this helped me build strong connections with teachers and staff at RMIT.”
When Craig considers what’s next for him, the prospects are brighter than ever.
“Free TAFE has opened the door for me to complete a Diploma of Accounting in the future. It has also provided me with the knowledge and confidence to manage the bookkeeping for my wife’s floristry business, State of Nature.
“The long-term goal is for my wife and I to both work full-time in the business.”
After hearing about the demand for youth workers, Rhys McKenzie decided that now was the time to pivot his career to an area that held a special place in his own personal story.
“I thought about it long and hard and it came down to me saying to myself, ‘Someone was there for you when you were young, so why not be there for somebody in the same position?’”
With Free TAFE enabling Rhys to study a Certificate IV in Youth Work, he soon discovered that youth work is more than the ability to help others.
“It’s not just about learning how to work with young people; it’s about learning about yourself so you can help young people,” he said.
After completing the certificate, Rhys decided to continue his journey with a Diploma of Youth Work at RMIT.
He said one of the highlights of the diploma was being able to bring his personal passion for filmmaking into a placement undertaken with the Deer Park Library.
He said one of his highlights of the diploma was being able to bring his personal passion for filmmaking into a virtual placement undertaken with the Deer Park Library.
"Our project was to provide young people with videos on topics they had enquired about with the library staff. The team of students and I created a massive pool of videos that addressed most of these topics. It was a lot of work, but I had a lot of fun doing them and would definitely do it again.”
Having completed his vocational training at RMIT, Rhys is now working as a support worker at the Salvation Army.
“This involves checking in on our clients that are staying in the hotels, completing welfare checks, helping with food and travel aid, and working with their case managers to help them achieve their goals.
“I aspire to work in a school as a youth worker or counsellor one day. Right now, my main goal is to gain as much experience as possible.”
Story: Pallavi Daniel and Jacob Johnston
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Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.