Media releases

A new Free TAFE course offered in Ballarat will allow students to get the training and skills they need to support Victorians with mental illness.  

Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced the Certificate IV in Mental Health will be offered at Federation University in Mount Helen for the first time in 2021.

She visited the campus today to encourage local students to enroll in the course, which will be offered as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative.

The Certificate IV in Mental Health provides students with specialised knowledge and skills to launch or advance a career as a trained professional helping people affected by mental illness and psychiatric disability.

One in five Australians reportedly experience mental illness and the Federal Government has marked the mental health sector as a growing industry, with more than 50,000 jobs to open within the next five years.

Graduates of the course could work in government, non-government or community organisations in areas including respite care, residential services, rehabilitation programs, clinical settings and corrective services.

The Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative began in 2019 and helps reduce the financial barrier for eligible students wanting to train in the courses that directly lead to the jobs that are most in demand from Victorian employers.
More than 39,700 students took part in the program in its first year, which was 88 per cent higher than the commencements in the same courses at the end of 2018. 

There are now even more Free TAFE courses available to students, who can choose from more than 50 priority courses and pre-apprenticeship courses including the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance, and the Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations.

For the full list of Free TAFE courses, visit: freetafe.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle
“It’s exciting that another new Free TAFE course will be offered in Ballarat, removing the financial barrier for eligible local students who want to gain the skills they need.  I encourage anyone to visit freetafe.vic.gov.au and see if there is a course for them.”

 “The Andrews Government $870 million investment to implement all the interim recommendations of Royal Commission into Mental Health has created a need for more trained professionals. The Cert IV in Mental Health is a way that local students can get the skills they need to be part of reforming our mental health system.”