Fee-Free TAFE – success story collection

Studying the Adult Tertiary Preparation (ATP) course, she’s determined to set an example for her children, proving that pursuing higher education and a rewarding career is never too late.

Having spent the past 17 years as a stay-at-home mum, she has shifted gears to focus on a new path, initially considering the police force.

“I want a career where I can help people, but after being diagnosed with ADHD, I realised the police force wasn’t an option,” Jessica said.

Undeterred, she set her sights on becoming a paramedic instead, a career where she could still make a difference in people’s lives, so she began studying with TAFE Queensland to enrol in university and study Paramedicine.

Born in Korea and raised in Melbourne, Susan Lee spent 17 years in London with her husband before returning to Brisbane two years ago to be closer to family and give her children a better quality of life.

However, after struggling to find steady work as a musician, Susan decided to change career and pursue her interest in the legal profession.

“I have friends in the legal industry who shared insights on its job security and encouraged me to study a subject related to law. So, I decided to learn something that interests me as well as earn a steady income,” Susan explained.

Before enrolling to study the Certificate IV in Justice Studies (10971NAT), her husband discovered the course was funded by Fee-Free TAFE, which made her decision to go into the legal profession easier.

Susan is saving thousands of dollars by using Fee-Free TAFE funding to study for her legal career, which is part of the Queensland Government’s Good People. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.

After 20 years helping those in aged care, Tammara Cooper is taking her passion one step further by pursuing a Diploma of Nursing at CQUniversity.

Tammara has held a Certificate IV in Aged Care and worked in the industry in Rockhampton for many years, but thanks to the Queensland Government’s Fee-Free TAFE (FFT) program, the mature-age student has been able to pursue further training to become a nurse.

Gina was initially inspired to get into gardening due to the COVID pandemic.

“Not being able to easily access fresh food because everything had closed down, I had to rely on my herbs and vegetable garden,” Gina explained.

“But after having had back and neck issues for many years, I decided to purchase a raised vegepod garden.”

Shayne Jupp – Juppy to his friends – has been around the Tasmanian hospitality scene for 3 decades. Recently, thanks to Fee Free TAFE, he returned to TasTAFE to complete his Certificate III in Hospitality.

Mitchel Smith is one of a growing number of mature people taking on and completing an apprenticeship, thanks to his employer and CQUniversity TAFE. He says it’s never too late to give it a go, especially with the recent release of a new Queensland Government initiative.

Pinar came to Australia in 2008 and soon after became a single parent to two children.

She started volunteering and studying Diploma of Community Services to follow her passion for community work, ultimately awarded Bendigo TAFE’s 2022 Student of the Year and was a finalist for the 2023 Victorian Training Awards Vocational Student of the Year.

“If it wasn’t for Free TAFE, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to study,” Pinar said.

“In an outer remote town like Airlie Beach, there are not many options for studying and developing a professional career. CQUniversity along with the Fee-Free TAFE program gave me the opportunity to finally study this course online from home.”

Leah-Rose Hart, a proud Indigenous woman with connections to the Gundungurra and Darug peoples of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, is currently far from her Darug, pursuing a path with deep purpose and significance. Leah-Rose is completing her Certificate IV in Youth Work (CHC40421) at TAFE Queensland’s Springfield campus to then help those youth in her community who are struggling.

Annette Wano is destined to make a difference to Mackay’s Torres Strait Islander community thanks to CQUniversity’s Nursing training and the Free TAFE initiative. 

The proud Meriam Samsep woman is currently immersed in the final stages of her Diploma of Nursing, a dream she said wouldn’t have been possible without the Queensland Government’s Free Nursing initiative.

After 30 years of experience in office administration, Leanne Simpson wanted a change and decided to pursue her childhood passion of working in health care.

Free TAFE gave Leanne the opportunity – and the means – to take a leap, starting with a qualification in aged care, which led to her current job in residential aged care.

“It’s changed me as a person. Free TAFE has given me the opportunity to push myself and to realise I got skills I didn’t think I had. The learning capability. Being able to learn again and know that I can do it,” Leanne said.

Her love for supporting others has continued to flourish, with the 59-year-old now enrolled in the Free TAFE Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) at Kangan Institute to expand her career options.

Cimah Orion-Williamson once dreamed of being a park ranger, but now she’s pursuing a passion for helping people thanks to CQUniversity and the Fee-Free TAFE program. 

The Bundaberg woman decided to study a Diploma of Nursing at CQUniversity after trying to find employment in the parks and wildlife sector.