In a huge boost for aspiring sign and graphics apprentices in South Australia, Queensland and NSW, the Certificate III in Sign & Graphics (CPC30216) TAFE training for sign and graphics apprentices will be fee-free from 2025.

The incentive applies to new starts who enroll for Semester 1 in Queensland and SA, and up until June 2025 in NSW. TAFE representatives are currently awaiting confirmation on whether the schemes will be continued beyond those dates.

The news broke in South Australia, where TAFE SA confirmed they will have fee-free places available to apprentices who commence their training in Semester 1, 2025, made possible by a new Fee Free TAFE* in Construction agreement between the Federal and South Australian Governments.

TAFE New South Wales confirmed this week that they have a similar system in place, which will be in effect until at least mid-2025, and TAFE Queensland was also able to confirm a similar deal for new apprentices in the Sunshine State.

In all States, course places will be available to eligible apprentices, without any student contribution fees, and will apply for the duration of their qualification.
Mick Harrold, President of the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA) said it was ‘a great Christmas present’ for the industry.

“It is welcome news that the Federal Government has allocated significant funds to the States to help address the critical skills shortages across construction and other sectors, including our own,” Mick said.

“We are delighted that three State governments so far have recognised the importance of sign and graphics professionals, and have chosen to apply some of that funding to help us meet the vital need for more apprentices in our sector.”

With each State free to allocate funding as they see fit, the structure and conditions of the offer vary slightly from State to State, Mick says, but the fundamental principle is that the Certificate III in Sign & Graphics will be fully funded for apprentices who commence their indentures in SA, Queensland or NSW next year – and that funding will apply for their entire qualification.

“At this stage, ASGA has not been able to confirm whether similar arrangements will be in place in Victoria or Western Australia, but we have reached out to the relevant training bodies and will confirm early in the new year,” Mick says. “Certainly, this is something we would like to see replicated across the country.”
The news is all the more welcome as it comes at a time that the sign and graphics sector – like many others – is desperately short of skilled and qualified trades people, and follows a couple of years of disappointing decisions, which ASGA has been working hard to rectify.

“We have long been working towards increasing the number of apprentices in the sector, because we know it is the best and most sustainable way to secure the future of our industry and its businesses,” Mick says.

“To that end, we still want to see sign and graphics qualifications returned to the government’s priority skills list, and also to have apprentice sign-on bonuses reinstated, however the announcements we’ve seen this week are a good start, and a huge boost for our sector in South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.

“All I can say to businesses in those States is there’s never been a better time to put on an apprentice. If you are looking to expand your team in 2025, you should be grabbing this opportunity with both hands.”

HERE’S WHAT APPLIES IN YOUR STATE:

South Australia

In SA, the announcement is part of a funding agreement for the new Fee-Free TAFE* in Construction program which is designed to help address chronic workforce shortages in the sector.

Struck between the South Australian and Federal Governments in October, the agreement is to provide fee-free TAFE places for courses which provide critical construction skills. As part of this, the Certificate III in Signs and Graphics (CPC30216) will be available under Fee Free TAFE for apprentices who commence their training in Semester 1, 2025, and will apply for their whole qualification.

Click here to find out more and check the eligibility criteria or contact Steve Fogarty: [email protected]

Queensland
For apprentices under the age of 25, funding for fee free places has been provided under the Queensland Government’s Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s program. While this is set to conclude mid-2025, the TAFE expects notification shortly on whether this initiative will be renewed.

Funding for apprentices who are over the age of 25 has been allocated under the Homes for Queenslanders Plan Policy 2024-2026 Free Construction Apprenticeships for Over 25s program – download this document for more information.

To find out more about fee free places for the Certificate III in Sign & Graphics, click on the links or contact Cameron Garrett: [email protected]

New South Wales

All Certificate III Sign & Graphics apprenticeship training will be fee free in NSW until 30 June 2025, so there is still some time for aspiring apprentices to enroll. Its continuance past this date is currently being reviewed by Training Services NSW, and the TAFE expects confirmation by May as to whether the funding will be extended.

To find out more about the course at TAFE NSW, click here or contact Paul Richards: [email protected]