Technical and further education or simply TAFE (), is the common name in English-speaking countries in

Oceania Oceania (, , ) is a region, geographical region that includes Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Spanning the Eastern Hemisphere, Eastern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres, Oceania is estimated to have a land area of ...

for

vocational education Vocational education is education that prepares people to work as a technician or to take up employment in a skilled craft or trade as a tradesperson or artisan. Vocational Education can also be seen as that type of education given to an in ...

, as a subset of

tertiary education Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank, for example, defines tertiary education as including univer ...

. TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational courses. Individual TAFE institutions (usually with numerous campuses) are known as either colleges or institutes, depending on the country, state or territory. In Australia, where the term TAFE originated, institutions usually host qualifying courses, under the National Training System/

Australian Qualifications Framework The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) specifies the standards for educational qualifications in Australia. It is administered nationally by the Australian Government's Department of Industry, with oversight from the States and Territor ...

/Australian Quality Training Framework. Fields covered include business, finance, hospitality, tourism, construction, engineering, visual arts, information technology and community work. TAFE colleges are owned, operated and financed by the various state/territory governments.

Qualifications awarded by TAFE colleges

TAFE colleges award Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications accredited in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector that align to Certificate I, Certificate II, Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma qualifications. In many instances, TAFE study at a Diploma or above level can be used as partial credit towards bachelor's degree-level university programs. From 2002 the TAFE education sector has been able to offer bachelor's degrees and post-graduate diploma courses to fill niche areas, particularly vocationally focused areas of study based on industry needs. As at June 2009 10 TAFE colleges (mainly in New South Wales, Victoria, but also Western Australia, ACT, and Queensland) now confer their own degree-level awards and post graduate diplomas, though initially not beyond the level of bachelor's degree. However Melbourne Polytechnic has been accredited in 2015 to offer two master's degree courses.Melbourne Polytechnic Annual Report pp22 Similarly, some universities (e.g., Charles Darwin University and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) offer vocational education courses (traditionally the domain of TAFE); these are funded by the local state and territory governments. Some high schools also deliver courses developed and accredited by TAFEs.
TAFE gears up to offer degrees
' By Rebecca Scott,

The Age ''The Age'' is a daily newspaper in Melbourne, Australia, that has been published since 1854. Owned and published by Nine Entertainment, ''The Age'' primarily serves Victoria, but copies also sell in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territo ...

24 July 2002. Accessed 3 August 2008Leesa Wheelahan, Gavin Moodie,

Stephen Billett Stephen Richard Billett is an Australian educational researcher and Professor of Adult Vocational Education in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. His research centres on vocational learning, workplace learn ...

and Ann Kelly,
Higher education in TAFE
', Research report published by National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), 3 September 2009. Accessed 24 September 2009 Students who enrol in these undergraduate degree courses at TAFE are required to pay full fees and are not entitled to Commonwealth Government supported student fee loans, known as HECS loans, but may access a FEE-HELP loan scheme. While Universities have the ability and power to design and offer their own degree courses, each TAFE degree course must be assessed and approved by the Higher Education Accreditation Committee (HEAC). TAFEs in some states can also teach senior high school qualifications, like the

Victorian Certificate of Education The Victorian Certificate of Education (often abbreviated VCE) is one credential available to secondary school students who successfully complete year 11 and 12 in the Australian state of Victoria. The VCE is the predominant choice for student ...

, Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, and the Higher School Certificate. Some universities, e.g. Charles Darwin University and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, offer TAFE courses; these are funded by the local state and territory governments. Some high schools also deliver courses developed and accredited by TAFEs. Some private institutions also offer courses from TAFEs, however they more commonly offer other

vocational education and training Vocational education is education that prepares people to work as a technician or to take up employment in a skilled craft or trade as a tradesperson or artisan. Vocational Education can also be seen as that type of education given to an ind ...

courses. Many Australians refer to all sub-degree courses as "TAFE" courses, no matter what institution creates or delivers the course. Before the 1990s, the TAFEs had a near monopoly in the sector. TAFE courses provide students an opportunity for certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma qualifications in a wide range of areas.

TAFE colleges by state/territory

In most cases, TAFE campuses are grouped into TAFE institutions or ''institutes'' along geographic lines. Most TAFEs are given a locally recognised region of the country where they exclusively operate covering a wide range of subjects. A few TAFEs specialise in a single area of study. These are usually found near the middle of the capital cities, and they service the whole state or territory. For example, the Trade and Technician Skills Institute in Brisbane, from 1 July 2006, has specialised in automotive, building and construction, manufacturing and engineering, and electrical/electronic studies for students throughout Queensland and the William Angliss Institute of TAFE in Melbourne has specialised in food, hospitality and tourism courses for Victoria.

Australian Capital Territory

In the

Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory (commonly abbreviated as ACT), known as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) until 1938, is a landlocked federal territory of Australia containing the national capital Canberra and some surrounding townships. ...

, these include: * Canberra Institute of Technology

New South Wales

There are ten

TAFE NSW TAFE NSW is an Australian vocational education and training provider. Annually, the network trains over 500,000 students in campus, workplace, online, or distance education methods of education. It was established as an independent statutory bod ...

Institutes in NSW, namely: * Hunter Institute * Illawarra Institute *New England Institute * North Coast Institute * Northern Sydney Institute * Riverina Institute * South Western Sydney Institute * Sydney Institute * Western Institute *

Western Sydney Institute TAFE NSW is an Australian vocational education and training provider. Annually, the network trains over 500,000 students in campus, workplace, online, or distance education methods of education. It was established as an independent statutory bod ...

, including OTEN

Northern Territory

In the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Au ...

, these include: * Charles Darwin University * Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

Queensland

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

TAFE Queensland TAFE Queensland is the statutory authority parent body for TAFE technical and further education training in the Australian state of Queensland. Established in 1882, TAFE Queensland is one of Australia's largest education providers with 120,0 ...

includes: As of May 2014, the TAFE institutes have amalgamated into six regions of the central TAFE Queensland (parent body). The regions of ''TAFE Queensland'' are: * Brisbane (formerly Brisbane North Institute of TAFE, Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE and Southbank Institute of Technology) * Gold Coast (formerly Gold Coast Institute of TAFE) * East Coast (formerly Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE and Wide Bay Institute of TAFE) * South West (formerly Bremer Institute of TAFE and Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE) * North (formerly Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, Mount Isa Institute of TAFE and Tropical North Queensland TAFE) * SkillsTech (formerly SkillsTech Australia) And as of the 1st of July 2014, Central Queensland TAFE (branded as CQ TAFE) was merged into Central Queensland University (branded as CQUniversity) to create Queensland's first dual sector university.

South Australia

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

: * TAFE SA

Tasmania

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

, there are two government TAFE organisations: * TAFE Tasmania includes: ** Institute of TAFE Tasmania (general) ** Drysdale Institute (for tourism and

hospitality Hospitality is the relationship between a guest and a host, wherein the host receives the guest with some amount of goodwill, including the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. Louis de Jaucourt, Louis, chevalier de J ...

) * Australian Maritime College TAFE (maritime studies)

Victoria

In Victoria these include: * Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE (Local: Bendigo-Echuca) * Box Hill Institute of TAFE (Local: Eastern Melbourne, Specialist: Short courses) *

Chisholm Institute Chisholm Institute is a government-owned Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Institute located in the south-east Melbourne Australia. It provides adult education in a number of areas including the arts, hospitality, information technology, t ...

(Local: South East Melbourne) * East Gippsland Institute of TAFE (Local: East Gippsland) * Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE (Local: West and South Gippsland, Specialist: High-voltage electrical)
Federation TAFE
(Local: Ballarat and Horsham - Central Highlands/Wimmera, Specialist: Agriculture & Horticulture, Building & Construction, Business & IT, Community Services, Food & Hospitality, Hair & Beauty, Manufacturing Engineering) * Gordon Institute of TAFE (Local: Geelong) * Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (Local: North East Victoria) * Holmesglen Institute of TAFE (Local: Eastern Melbourne) * Kangan Institute (Local: North West Melbourne, Specialist: Automotive, Fashion) * Melbourne Polytechnic (Local: Northern and inner East Melbourne, Specialist: Equine, Aquaculture, Agriculture, Viticulture, Music) *

RMIT University RMIT University, officially the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,, section 4(b) is a public university, public research university in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1887 by Francis Ormond, RMIT began as a night school offering cla ...

(Specialist: Various) *

South West Institute of TAFE South West Institute of TAFE is the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Institute located in the south west of the Australian state of Victoria. South West TAFE’s campuses are located in Warrnambool, Hamilton, Portland and Colac, with tra ...

(Local: Western District) *

Sunraysia Institute of TAFE The Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, also known as SuniTAFE is a provider of vocational education and training services in north-west Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1980, its first campus is located in Mildura, Victoria, with additional campuses ...

(Local: North West Victoria) * Swinburne University of Technology (Local: Eastern Melbourne) * University of Ballarat (Local: Ballarat-Wimmera) * Victoria University (Local: Western Melbourne) * William Angliss Institute of TAFE (Specialist: Hospitality) * Wodonga Institute of TAFE (Local: Wodonga, Specialist: Driving) * The

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb n ...

discontinued its TAFE arm (which specialised in agriculture and forestry) at the start of 2007.

Western Australia

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to ...

, this includes: * North Metropolitan TAFE (Formerly Central Institute of Technology &

West Coast Institute of Training West Coast Institute (formerly West Coast TAFE) is the TAFE institute servicing the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. The institute, based in the Joondalup learning precinct north of the Perth Central Business District, became part ...

) * South Metropolitan TAFE (Formerly Challenger Institute of Technology & Polytechnic West) *Central Regional TAFE (Formerly Durack Institute of Technology, Goldfields Institute of Technology & C. Y. O'Connor Institute) * South Regional TAFE (Formerly

South West Institute of Technology South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both east and west. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Proto-Germanic ''*sunþaz' ...

& Great Southern Institute of Technology) *North Regional TAFE (Formerly Kimberley TAFE & Pilbara Institute)