Develop in-demand skills for the Territory
Charles Darwin University is now offering a limited number of Fee-Free TAFE places across a variety of industries in the NT.
With a wide range of hands-on training courses, we hope to give more Territorians the chance to study and make an impact in the workforce.
Don't miss the opportunity to gain a free qualification with the Territory's largest training provider and connect to a career you care about.
Explore courses
Find your course below. To have your tuition fee waived, please ensure you are eligible under the priority list, which is found here.
Business and Retail
Community services
Conservation
Construction
Creative Arts
Early Childhood
Electrotechnology
Food Safety
Hairdressing and Beauty Services
Horticulture
Information Technology
Maritime
Meat Processing
Rural Operations
Browse Fee-Free TAFE courses by study area
- Accounting and Bookkeeping
- Agriculture and Rural Operations
- Aquaculture and Maritime
- Automotive
- Building and Construction
- Business and Retail Services
- Community Services
- Conservation and Ecosystem Management
- Creative Arts and Design
- Culinary Arts and Hospitality
- Education
- Electrotechnology and Utilities
- Engineering and Mining
- Hair and Beauty Services
- Health and Nursing
- Horticulture
- Information Technology
- Metal Trades
- Plumbing
- Sport and Fitness
- Tourism
- Transport and Logistics
Why choose CDU?
Our strong connections with industry, state-of-the-art facilities and world-class trainers mean you’ll graduate ready to work. Our class sizes are small, and the training is hands-on. You’ll get the support you need from trainers and get to know your classmates.
Am I eligible for a free place?
At the time the course commences, you must:
- Live or work in the Northern Territory
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent Australian resident or a New Zealand citizen who has resided in Australia for a minimum of six months and is a NT resident, or
- Be an Australian visa holder who:
- does not have work or study restrictions
- has a valid visa for the duration of the training, allowing for the total volume of learning required to achieve the qualification, including supervised and unsupervised training and study
is not the primary provisional visa holder of a skilled, business innovation and investment, student, work or holiday visa identified on the Department of Home Affairs website
- Be at least 15 years of age, and where relevant be identified as disengaged from school and have the skills and capabilities to undertake training and to actively engage in employment.
Students attending secondary school are not eligible to apply (for further information please refer to Age your child attends school | NT.GOV.AU).
Who is not eligible?
Fee-Free TAFE places are not available to:
- Local Government, Northern Territory Government and Australian Government agencies
- Public schools or their employees
- Private or independent schools or their employees
- School age Territorians e.g. less than 15 years of age.
Priority students
The Commonwealth and Territory governments recognise that some people are under-represented in our workforces, and so people from the following groups are strongly encouraged to apply:
- First Nations Australians
- People out of work or receiving income support
- Young people (17-24)
- Unpaid carers
- Women facing economic insecurity
- Women undertaking study in non-traditional fields
- People with a disability
- Certain categories of visa holder
Click on the link below to learn more about Fee-Free TAFE priority training cohorts.
Fee-Free TAFE is a joint initiative of the Australian and Northern Territory Governments.
FAQs
What are ‘Fee-Free TAFE courses’?
Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments providing tuition-free training places to students wanting to train, retrain or upskill.
How do I apply for a Fee-Free CDU TAFE course?
Find your course in the list above. To have your tuition fee waived, please ensure you are eligible under the priority list, which is found here.
What are the terms and conditions?
Your course will be free for the duration of the course being undertaken provided you remain engaged in your studies. Refer to the CDU Enrolment Policy for more information.
Want more information?
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