Wednesday, 20 March 2019

 Mr MERLINO (Monbulk—Minister for Education) (11:06): I rise to update the house about the rollout of free TAFE across Victoria, particularly how it benefits female students. This is a great story. There are now 13 500 students enrolled in free TAFE courses thanks to the Andrews Labor government. Around 1600 are enrolled in preapprenticeship pathway courses and around 11 900 in certificate III to diploma courses in our TAFEs. To date, the five most popular courses are diploma of nursing, certificate IV in accounting and bookkeeping, diploma of community services, certificate IV in education support and certificate IV in cybersecurity. Of those 13 500 students, 8000 are female students. This represents an increase of 77 per cent of female students undertaking those courses compared to this time last year. Of those top courses, nearly two students out of three are women. Over half of the female students in free TAFE courses are over 30 and are seeking to get a job or to try and get a new career. This is life-changing.

Ms McLeish interjected.

Mr MERLINO: I am not angry, I am excited, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. I am particularly excited about the areas that are traditionally dominated by men. For example, courses in building and construction and cybersecurity have seen increases of 7 per cent and 13 per cent respectively. The proportion of women in free TAFE preapprenticeships has increased to 14 per cent, up from 9 per cent in 2008. This is transforming lives and careers, and importantly it is breaking down some of the financial barriers faced by women in particular returning to training after having children or caring responsibilities.