TAFE Courses in Victoria

Choosing the right place to study is a critical decision that requires careful consideration and extensive research. Here’s a structured guide to assist you in making an informed choice.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Options: VET institutions offer a variety of certificates and diplomas across numerous fields. There are two main types of VET providers:

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Colleges: TAFE colleges are public institutions funded and operated by the Australian government. They provide a wide array of courses and qualifications that cater to diverse career paths.

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs): Unlike TAFE colleges, RTOs are privately owned. However, they offer nationally accredited courses similar to those found in TAFE colleges. The offerings at RTOs meet the same rigorous standards set by national regulatory bodies.

Accreditation: Both TAFE and RTOs offer courses that are nationally accredited, ensuring that the qualifications you receive are recognised across Australia.

Regulatory Body: Both types of institutions fall under the umbrella of Vocational Education and Training (VET) and are regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). This ensures that the quality of education and training provided meets the national standards.

When deciding between TAFE and RTOs, consider factors such as the specific courses offered, location, and how the institution aligns with your career goals. Gather all necessary information to ensure your decision leads you towards your desired educational and professional outcomes.

TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education, and is designed for both students who have completed high school and are looking for an alternate to a university degree, for individuals looking to improve their skills at a particular hobby, and for professionals looking to upskill or retrain.

There are a number of both short courses and longer term TAFE courses available in Victoria, which offer a variety of formal qualifications, including:

RMIT University was originally an exclusively TAFE school, being the Royal Melbourne Institute of TEchnology. RMIT was awarded its university status in 1992, after operating for more than 100 years before that as a technical college. As a result of this, RMIT’s TAFE school is one of the largest and most widely recognised TAFE in Melbourne. RMIT TAFE is offered at three campuses:

Vic Uni’s recognised TAFE institution is known as the Victoria University Polytechnic. This TAFE school offers accredited courses, traineeships, and apprenticeships for their students in a number of areas, including hair and beauty, hospitality, business and legal, community services, trades and transition education and nursing/health.

Victoria Polytechnic also boasts a number of campuses, almost all of which are located in Melbourne or surrounding suburbs.

Theses campuses are:

Chisholm TAFE is a college in Melbourne that operates exclusively as a TAFE school, although also offers a partnership with Latrobe university. This means that students that study at Chisholm can earn credit towards a university degree. The college offer a huge range of programs, including art and design, horticulture and conservation, health, hair, beauty and makeup and building trades.

Many of these are online courses or via blended learning, which is the combination of both in-class and online learning. Chisholm TAFE has a number of campuses in Melbourne and Greater Victoria – these are listed below:

This TAFE offers short courses in Victoria, as well as a range of longer-term courses and pathways designed to either qualify students with a VET certification, or in three cases, complete a bachelor after both an advanced and standard diploma in a specific area. They also offer online courses in Melbourne. The Kangan Institute of TAFE in Victoria has five campuses:

Holmesglen TAFE is a large TAFE in Melbourne, offering more than 100 courses. They have a number of short courses available for students or adults simply looking to upskill. They have a variety of campuses, including:

The Gordon TAFE college is a regional TAFE college that offers a variety of courses to students, including Gordon online short courses. Their most popular courses are in health services, administration, nursing, animal studies, beauty therapy, cookery and celebrancy OPD. The Gordon has a number of campuses across Werribee and Hoppers Crossing, including:

South West TAFE provides students with the opportunity to complete a number of accredited qualifications, as well as a variety of short courses and stand alone units, along with apprenticeships, traineeships and industry certificates. They offer offer only TAFE Courses and no university courses.

Courses are offered in a variety of areas, including trades and maritime, IT and telecommunications, disability transition programs, and tourism.

South West TAFE has 4 main campuses covering the South West region of Victoria, such as:

GOTafe is the trading name of the Goulburn Institute of TAFE. The Goulborn TAFE school has a variety of campuses in the north, including a TAFE Shepparton campus.

Its campuses include:

At Box Hill Institute, the qualifications range from certificates I to IV, diplomas and advanced diplomas, even associate, bachelor and master degrees. The institute’s vocational and higher education qualifications are nationally accredited and internationally recognised.

Its campuses include:

Since 1979, the Sunraysia Institute has been providing vocational education and training services in the North West of Victoria, Australia.

Its campuses include:

Swinburne Online combines a dynamic virtual classroom with the support of online tutors and the flexibility of studying when and where it suits best.

Its campuses include:

With 10 campuses across the state, Federation Training offers a vast range of programs and learning opportunities for students to develop experience in a hands-on environment.

Its campuses include:

Since its establishment 155 years ago, Bendigo TAFE has been educating 9,000 students each year via its network of five campuses. With its specialised course content, students will develop relevant skills to help them thrive in their chosen industry.

Its campuses include:

Founded in 1986, Wodonga Institute of TAFE provides a practical approach to training and education, offering qualifications from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma level across a wide range of subject areas.

Its campuses include:

The William Angliss Institute is a renowned specialist training provider for the foods, tourism, hospitality and events industries. The Institute’s courses are delivered both across Australia and internationally.

Melbourne Polytechnic, formally known as NMIT, is a TAFE and higher education institute with majority of its campuses found within the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, with the exception of its southern campus Prahran.