If you’re an international student who’s considering at a TAFE college in Western Australia, we’ve got great news! The Government of Western Australia announced earlier this week that it is launching a $2.4 million package to attract international students to live, work and study at Western Australia’s regional TAFE colleges.
The two-year program, which launched this year, includes a $5,000 bursary for up to 200 students to train for skills shortage occupations. The news comes just a few weeks after it was revealed by the National Skills Commission that Australia’s skill shortage has nearly doubled from 2021-2022.
It’s expected that the bursaries will target occupations such as aged and disability care, childcare, and hospitality and tourism. All of these sectors have significantly felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and now have a critical shortage of workers. Students pursuing certifications in these fields (commencing February or July, in 2023 or 2024) at any of the following regional TAFE colleges in WA will be eligible for the bursary:
- North Regional TAFE
- Central Regional TAFE
- South Regional TAFE
This month, TAFE International Western Australia (TIWA) will begin hosting international agent familiarisation tours to showcase all that regional WA has to offer. The agents – who hail from across the globe, including countries like Brazil, the Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, Colombia and Korea – will then promote the two-year pilot program to international students.
“The return of international students to Western Australia is a priority for our government,” said International Education Minister David Templeman. “This initiative is a practical solution to attract international students to the regions in industry sectors with critical skills shortages.”
Learn more about the bursary and its eligibility criteria here.
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