Building the workforce Australia needs

 

Free TAFE

The Albanese Labor Government has invested over $170.6 million in Free TAFE in Victoria over 2023 and 2024 and will invest a further $86.4 million from 2025 – 2026, including $22.2 million for the Fee-Free Construction places. 

From 1 January 2023 to 30 September 2024, there have been over 108,400 student enrolments in Fee-Free TAFE courses in Victoria.  

Over this period, to help areas of high skills need and demand in Victoria, Fee-Free TAFE has supported:  

• Over 34,300 enrolments in the Care sector. 
• Over 13,300 enrolments in the Construction sector. 
• Over 9,900 enrolments in the Technology and Digital sector. 
• Almost 6,000 enrolments in the Agriculture sector. 
• Over 5,500 enrolments in early childhood education and care. 

During 2024 to 2026, 68,000 places will be available in Victoria including the additional 5,200 Fee-Free TAFE and VET places for courses relevant to the construction sector.    

Only a re-elected Labor Government will make Free TAFE permanent.

 

Apprenticeships

The Albanese Labor Government is building the workforce Australia needs for the future by backing apprentices to complete their trade in the residential housing sector.

The Government will provide a $10,000 incentive payment – doubling the current level of support – to encourage Australians to train for jobs in this critical sector.

Labor’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: we want Australian workers to make more things here and that includes building more homes.

From July 1, 2025, eligible apprentices will receive $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages, over the life of their apprenticeship to work in housing construction. Apprentices will receive $2,000 at six, 12, 24, 36 months, and at the completion of their apprenticeship.

Encouraging more people into apprenticeships will ensure we have the workforce to deliver our Homes for Australia Plan, an ambitious target to deliver 1.2 million homes over the next 5 years.

 

 

Building a universal early education and care system 

 

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will take the next steps in building a universal early education and care system by expanding access to quality early education across the country.
The Government will establish a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, which will roll out from July 2025.
More centres will be built and expanded in areas of need, including in regional Australia. 

The Building Early Education Fund will deliver grants to providers and the Government will also explore options for the Commonwealth to invest in owning and leasing out services. 
It will include a focus on co-locating services on school sites wherever possible and on supporting the growth of high-quality not-for-profit providers. 
This is a key part of ensuring more Australian families can access quality early education and care. 

The Albanese Labor Government wants to build a universal system where every child is guaranteed access to at least three days of high-quality early education, and care is simple, affordable and accessible for every family.
As part of these reforms the Government will deliver the 3 Day Guarantee. This will replace the current Activity Test from January 2026 with guaranteed eligibility for 3 days a week of subsidised early education for children who need it.The Albanese Labor Government has already cut the cost of early education for more than 1 million Australian families through our Cheaper Child Care reforms. The average family receiving Child Care Subsidy has saved around $4,400 because of our reforms.
We are also building the early education workforce through our 15 per cent pay rise for early educators. 

 

 

Building more affordable homes

 

 

Australia needs more homes. That’s why we’re making it easier to build, rent and buy – because every Australian deserves the security of a roof over their head.

The Albanese Labor Government’s Homes for Australia Plan is an ambitious target to deliver 1.2 million homes over the next 5 years.

Labor is getting homes built quickly – by supporting states and local government to build water, sewerage, roads and other infrastructure.

We’re delivering the biggest investment in social and affordable housing in more than a decade – building over 55,000 social and affordable homes and taking the pressure off rents.

We’re helping first homebuyers to get their own home sooner – with a deposit of 5 per cent or less and no Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

The Albanese Labor Government has increased rent assistance by over 40 per cent and is strengthening renters’ rights across Australia.

      

 

Building a stronger Medicare system

 

Labor wants all Australians to have access to a free bulk billing doctor.

 

Whether your family needs urgent or ongoing health care, under Labor, every Australian will have access to free healthcare with their Medicare card.

 

To do this Labor will:

 

·         Expand the bulk billing incentive to all Australians

·         Boost Medicare payments to general practices that bulk bill every patient

·         Train thousands more nurses and doctors

 

This builds on Labor’s first term achievements, including:

·         Free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, including in Ballarat, so that you and your family have access to bulk billed health care when you need it

·         Cheaper Medicines, cutting the cost of prescriptions

·         Largest investment in bulk billing in Medicare history, which has restored bulk billing for those who need to see the GP most often

·         Delivering an extra $402 million next year to fund public hospitals in Victoria

Labor built Medicare and only Labor will protect and strengthen it.

 

Supporting older Australians

 

The Albanese Labor Government is supporting Australians to age well, feel secure in retirement, and access the care and support they need.

Labor is restoring dignity to aged care by putting nurses back into nursing homes.

We are supporting pay rises for aged care workers to recognise their value and the complex work they do.

The Albanese Labor Government is helping older Australians to remain independent in their homes and we have expanded access to the Seniors Health Care Card.

Labor has made medicines cheaper to help with cost-of-living pressures and is tackling scams to protect older Australians.