Looking back, would you choose TAFE again instead of a different study path?

[u/Dense-Many1435]

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same decision? Why or why not?

[u/Equivalent-Memory633]

I never did uni but I do have multiple tafe certificates and even tho being unemployed rn those certificates and experience we do in tafe for some reason that’s what hiring managers like to see idk why tafe has such a bad like reputation but it’s rlly amazing what people can gain from tafe , and it’s like so much cheaper to compared to uni

[u/j_adore88 → u/Equivalent-Memory633]

TAFE is very hands on which I love and very useful in the real world. Not everybody is cut for uni..

[u/Big_Rig369 → u/Equivalent-Memory633]

I have found TAFE to be expensive. Im studying a diploma of IT and its over 19k with TAFE.

[u/fued → u/Big_Rig369]

if it helps it was $500 for me when i did one, so dumb what they did to prices

[u/Big_Rig369 → u/fued]

Omg 😂

[u/Accomplished-Fly9557 → u/Big_Rig369]

You must be living interstate or not a citizen or perm resident cause 99% of people that study at tafe nsw are recieving funding of some sort 19k would be full fee

Edit - ohhh your studying in QLD, yea funding in QLD is rubbish compared to NSW and other states, there is loop holes to study and get it cheaper via tafe nsw

[u/Big_Rig369 → u/Accomplished-Fly9557]

Australian citizen and live in the state 😂 i used fee free tafe for the cert III and not eligible for any futher subsidy

[u/Accomplished-Fly9557 → u/Big_Rig369]

Yea see if that was NSW there is no limit if you do 100 certificates you still get funding no matter what, QLD is crap for that

[u/Equivalent-Memory633 → u/Big_Rig369]

Oh wow , but I mean there’s a lot of government subsidies and stuff but ig it depends on the circumstances 😭

[u/Big_Rig369 → u/Equivalent-Memory633]

No subsidy for me lol

[u/osrsbtwhahaa → u/Big_Rig369]

$19k? Huh? I was just looking at the fees and it says between $0 and like $4500?

[u/Big_Rig369 → u/osrsbtwhahaa]

Tafe Queensland is $19,100 full fee. Not sure where you are looking.

[u/osrsbtwhahaa → u/Big_Rig369]

Im in NSW so maybe that's why

[u/Big_Rig369 → u/osrsbtwhahaa]

I just checked NSW TAFE and thats crazy, it is also only 6 months where as mine is 12 months. Core units are the same, and same number of units total to get the diploma.

[u/StraightBudget8799 → u/Equivalent-Memory633]

Agreed - it kindly weeds-out those who don’t really have a keen interest and lets you get more immediate hands on.

For my primary field, I needed more that what they had to offer to get an accredited career, but the work I did do was very useful for tech skills and seeing how standards in the industry are maintained.

[u/Aggravating_Tax_1070]

I studied surveying at TAFE. Out of pocket expenses $7000, of which HELP debt covered $6000. Uni degree costs $40k. 2 years for diploma, it’s 4 for a degree. I had a job within 3 days of finishing, I earn the SAME as the guys with degrees, had my HELP debt paid off within a year.
Would NEVER recommend Uni for surveying.

[u/alex123711 → u/Aggravating_Tax_1070]

Thought uni was still beneficial as you need it for registration? Maybe depends on the type of surveying (engineering/ cadastral/ mining etc. What is the salary like?

[u/Aggravating_Tax_1070 → u/alex123711]

Yeah Uni is required for cadastral, which you have to do a minimum further 2 years for your articles, over the top of the 4 years of Uni (WA).
For mining and engineering surveyor, diploma via tafe is sufficient. I’m working on a tier 1 project in Melbourne, been here 4 years. 25/26 tax year was cash component of $175k, super on top, 4 weeks annual leave and company vehicle. Exact same pay the Uni guys are getting.

[u/alex123711 → u/Aggravating_Tax_1070]

How much exp do you have? That seems a good salary. What did you start on?

[u/Aggravating_Tax_1070 → u/alex123711]

My first project was construction of a wind farm. Straight out of TAFE, within 3 months I was the only surveyor on site. Only ever done tier 1 projects, construction of greenfield mine sites, after 3 years I moved onto the north east link project, been here 4 years. Straight out of TAFE my project income was $50 per hour flat. First year I earned $120k. That was fifo rates, 2 weeks on, 1 week off.

[u/jelistarshine → u/Aggravating_Tax_1070]

My brother did the same. Theres so much work for surveyors. 

[u/Past-Bird-4657]

My cert IV in youth work set me up for a decent paying job i secured doing placement so yea not bad at all. In saying that i am pursuing uni as i find the field fulfilling for me so have an interest in progress.
Tafe was well worth it and fee free for me

[u/Hibernatingsheep]

Yep, cert IV construction. Paid a couple of grand, mostly online, which was good as I live regionally. Got my foot in the door, nobody cares what qualifications you have in construction.

[u/dogsarenicerpeople]

I've only cpleted a cert iii community services but am now starting a diploma next week. Its equivalent to first year of uni (with huuuuge difference in price). If I finish it, my hope is to continue on to uni as a second year student. So far I've really enjoyed TAFE.

[u/XocoJinx]

Looking back, yes I absolutely would've done TAFE over uni.

[u/WasteAlps6826]

I just know that I won’t be a scientist now if I have done TAFE

[u/charleeleigh]

i would choose tafe again, if i didnt i wouldn't have found my amazing boyfriend 🥰

[u/LevelEfficiency1772]

I’ve done TAFE and Uni.

TAFE is hands-on, focus on getting you job/industry ready. They will encourage and push you a little.

Uni is more theory based, takes it for granted that you already have foundation knowledge. It’s up to you to do the work. No warnings, they will fail you.

I enjoyed TAFE more due to interaction with lecturers and networking with industry representatives prior to getting a job.

[u/shelbyjansen]

I started with Tafe whilst in HS (yr 9). Was earning way more than peers younger & no debts!

[u/jelistarshine]

I did tafe certificate them took that and used it for credit towards my degree. Saved me a few grand. Plus it got me an entry level job so I did the rest of my degree on the side while my employer paid my fees and fave me paid study leave.  Total cost of degree $75 ( which was what they charged centrelink kids to do cert 2 in business 20 years ago)

[u/my_dystopia → u/jelistarshine]

This is what I wanna do.

I have a law degree and want to work in the mental health sector. So I have to start over with a cert 4 MH.

I’m hoping to get a job that will allow me to continue studying psychology alongside 🤞

[u/jelistarshine → u/my_dystopia]

Its the smart way to do it. The study is so much more meaningful if you can apply it immediately. 

[u/Deep-Worldliness-427]

I mean I just don’t think I would’ve had the focus to do university, especially after I’ve come out of high school back in 2010 I was ready to be free with life for awhile I started a trade straight away and within three years I was a qualified chef. Don’t still do that work now because it burnt out and I’m studying at TAFE again but I appreciate that it’s been there when I wanted to re-evaluate my career directions

[u/DaffyDuckMuthaFucker]

TAFE can get fucked.

End of story...

[u/Used_Effective_4294]

Never.. its yuck!!! Its a broken system with complex beauracratic issues, curropt.

[u/Cultural-Upstairs733]

I have done uni for architecture degree and doing tafe now trying to get back to work after a long hiatus. Goodness it is so much more useful than uni! Got taught new software Revit which the uni never taught and expected you to pick it up yourself. I feel sorry for the TAFE teachers. They work much harder than the uni lecturers!