Free TAFE courses and training for care-experienced young people

Young people aged 24 and under who have experienced out-of-home care, including foster care, kinship care or residential care, may be eligible for a wide variety of free training through the Victorian Government’s Youth Access Initiative! Read on to learn what it is, how to access it and how the Centre’s Raising Expectations program can support you.

What is the Youth Access Initiative?

The Youth Access Initiative is a Victorian Government program that removes tuition fees for eligible young people with experience of out-of-home care and youth justice. It is part of the Skills First initiative, which provides government-subsidised training to eligible learners.  

The Youth Access Initiative is different from Free TAFE. It offers many more course options (over 500!) for eligible young people than Free TAFE does.

You can find all registered training providers who can process the Youth Access Initiative here

Download the referral form here!
Download the referral form here!

Who is eligible for the Youth Access Initiative?

‍ ‍You are eligible for this initiative if you:

Click here for a list of orders, programs and youth foyers eligible for the Youth Access Initiative.

What courses are available?

The Youth Access Initiative has over 500 courses available!

If you’re eligible, you can study any Skills First course that fits with your goals, from Certificates to Diplomas and Skills Sets. There are a couple of ways you find available courses:

1. Check the Victorian Skills Gateway

Use the search bar at the top of the page to see if the course you’re interested in is available. If the course appears with a green tick next to it, it is available under the Youth Access Initiative.‍

2. Download the Training Needs List

This list is updated annually. Courses are provided based on the current and future needs of the Victorian workforce. This list is informed by the Victoria Skills Plan – find out more here.

How to apply

Step 1 - Check your eligibility

You may be eligible if you are aged 24 or under and have been in formal out-of-home care or have a youth justice experience. To be eligible, young people must have been on (or are currently on) a Child Protection Order or Youth Justice Order (though not currently in custody).

View all eligible orders and programs for the Youth Access Initiative here.

Step 2 - Find your course

‍You can find courses available through the Youth Access Initiative by searching the Victorian Skills Gateway or using the Training Needs List.

Step 3 - Understand the referral form

There is one form used to access the Youth Access Initiative. Click here download a PDF copy of the form.

We understand that filling in forms like this one can be confusing, so we’ve included some key definitions below.

Who is an Authorised Officer?

An Authorised Officer is a worker who is allowed to confirm that you have an out-of-home care or youth justice experience. They sign Part C of the form to say you are eligible for the Youth Access Initiative.

 Authorised Officers include:

  • Department of Family, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) authorised staff

  • Child Protection Post-Care (manager/case manager)

  • Education First Youth Foyer authorised staff

  • Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) authorised staff

  • Youth Justice case managers

  • Parkville College authorised transition staff

  • Children’s Court Youth Diversion Service Coordinators

  • Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR) authorised staff.

What is a referral agency?

A referral agency is an organisation that helps young people apply for the Youth Access Initiative. A worker from a referral agency can help you fill in the form by completing Part B. Some referral agency workers are also Authorised Officers.

What are Skills First training providers?

A Skills First training provider is a TAFE, dual-sector university or Learn Local organisation that can provide courses under the Skills First initiative. These organisations provide the courses available through the Youth Access Initiative.

All Skills First training providers are listed here.

Step 4 - Choose the referral method that fits you

Option A: Applying with a worker

If you have a worker helping you:

  • You must complete Part A of the form

  • Your worker completes Part B

  • If your worker IS an Authorised Officer you only need to complete Part A and Part B (not Part C)

Please note: If your worker is NOT an Authorised officer, you will need to get Part C completed by an Authorised Officer.

Option B: Applying on your own (self-referral)

If you are applying on your own, without the help of a worker:

  • Complete Part A of the form

  • Tick the ‘self-referral box’

  • Ask an Authorised Officer to complete Part C of the form

‍Once the form is completed -  submit the completed form to your eligible training provider to complete Part D.

When you enrol in your course, present the completed Youth Access Initiative to you TAFE, Learn Local or other Skills First Training provider. Your provider will:

  • Apply the fee waiver if you are eligible

  • Keep an original copy of the form for their records

  • Give you a copy of the form they have signed and processed

‍ ‍In some instances, eligible training providers can process a Youth Access Initiative fee waiver after you have started a course. Reach out to us if you think this might apply to you

Don’t know an Authorised Officer?‍ ‍

If you were previously on a Child Protection Orderand are no longer in contact with a case worker, you can contact Better Futures Intake and Access (previously known as Leaving Care Hotline) for help confirming your eligibility. They can contact the Department of Families Fairness and Housing (DFFH) with your consent to fill in Part C of your form.

If you were previously on aYouth Justice Order and are no longer in contact with a youth justice case worker, you can email a copy of your form with Part A completed and signed to youthaccessinitiativeeligibilty@justice.vic.gov.au

How can Raising Expectations support you?

Whether you’re a care-experienced young person, or supporting someone who is, the Centre’s Raising Expectations team is here to help!

If you’re feeling confused, unsure about your eligibility, or just want some help to apply for the Youth Access Initiative, please feel free to contact us:‍ ‍