Fees and charges

Fees apply to all government funded courses, including off-campus courses, traineeships and apprenticeships. The Institute is guided by the Ministerial Direction on Fees and Charges.

There are three types of fees:

• tuition
• services
• materials/other

Tuition fee
Tuition fees are based on a rate of $1.37 for each nominal enrolled hour rounded to the nearest $1.

A minimum tuition fee of $55, and a maximum fee of $877, applies to all enrolments in government funded courses by one student for a continuous 12-month enrolment period.

For example:

• a 20 hour course will cost $55 (this is the minimum fee payable)
• a 240 hour course will cost $329 (240 hrs x $1.37)
• a 640 hour course will cost $877 (640 hrs x $1.37)
• a 700 hour course will cost $877 (the maximum chargeable cost of $877 is reached at 640hrs)

Fees for indigenous students
As part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that indigenous students continue to gain educational qualifications, an indigenous completions initiative is being implemented via the Wurreker strategy. Under this three-year initiative, indigenous students will be levied at the minimum tuition fee.

Fee concessions
Fee concessions are available for all government-funded courses, but do not apply to fee-for-service (commercial) courses.

Concession eligibility
Recipients of the following allowances and their dependents, spouses, partners or dependent children may be eligible for a concession on their tuition fees. 

(a)  Australian Government Health Care Card (including dependants)
(b)  Pensioner Concession Card (including dependants), or
(c)  Veteran’s Gold Card.

The above concessions do not apply if the student tuition contribution is being met by an Australian Government Agency or as part of an Australian Government program or initiative.

Proof of eligibility must either be provided at enrolment, or students must show a ‘Date of Grant’ or ‘Card Start Date’ which is no more than ten (10) working days later than the date of enrolment and which is presented to the Institute no more than thirty (30) working days from the ‘Date of Grant’ or ‘Card Start Date’.

Austudy/Youth Allowance
Students receiving (or eligible to receive) Austudy or Youth Allowance (full time students) are entitled to concessions where they meet the above concession criteria.

Confirmation from Centrelink is required at enrolment. Provisional arrangements can be made pending proof of entitlement.

Services fee
The services fee is applicable to all government-funded courses delivered from an EG TAFE campus, in the workplace or through the Flexible Learning Centres.

Service fees are calculated at 31 cents per nominal enrolled hour, with a minimum of $31 and a maximum of $198 for a continuous 12-month period from the anniversary date of a student’s initial enrolment.

Service fees for apprentices and trainees, students enrolled at Flexible Learning Centres and those eligible for concessions are capped at $99.
 
Students undertaking units of competence solely in the workplace will pay the minimum services fee of $31.

Where a student undertakes a combination of workplace-based and off-the-job training, the services fee will be calculated on a pro-rata basis with a minimum of $31 and a maximum of $198.

Services fees for Outreach and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) students will be capped at the minimum of $31.

The money that is raised through the collection of a student services and amenities fee is used entirely to provide a range of services that directly benefit the whole student body rather than individual students. Some of the services offered, such as counselling and disability services may not be required by all students. However, their provision is critical for those who need them.

Services fees are used for:

• recreational activities and equipment for student use
• library facilities, resources and services
• counselling services
• careers advice programs
• special needs support
• study support
• funding of student activities and special events
• costs associated with providing flexible learning and off-campus services such as:
  • communications
  • administration
  • postage
  • student support services.

All students are encouraged to fully utilise any or all of these support services. Services are available to all students whether studying at a smaller campus, studying flexibly at home or attending the campus at night. Phone, fax and email contact details are available from reception at the main campuses.

Materials/other fees
These fees apply to courses where students receive materials such as notes, consumables or learning materials that are retained by the student.

EG TAFE does not charge fees in relation to an enrolment to cover more than the actual costs of providing materials to be retained by a student as his or her personal property. However, students are permitted to use equivalent goods or materials obtained from sources other than EG TAFE.

The curriculum of some Institute programs recommends that students undertake field trips and/or excursions. Students will be informed of these fees when enrolling.

Books and stationery
Any additional purchases such as books, stationery, computer discs or any other course requirements will be prescribed on lists provided at enrolment or from course teachers. Some books can be purchased through the Institute libraries.

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Fee payment options

Payment of all fees should be paid in full before an enrolment is accepted. Full payment by cash, cheque, EFTPOS, or credit card will be accepted on enrolment.

For students unable to pay fees in full, the Institute offers student loans with instalment repayments by direct debit or Centrelink deductions.

Please note: All fee loans/repayment options attract a non-refundable loan fee of $50.

Contact the nearest Student Services Officer for further information on options available for fee payment.

Student loans
To organise a loan for fees, a student needs to:

• Acknowledge a $50 loan fee will be incurred and added to the total amount to be paid off on the loan.
• Complete and sign a Student Loan Application form.
• Pay a minimum deposit.
• A minimum deposit of $86 for valid concession card holders, their recipients and apprentices and trainees ($55 minimum tuition fee plus $31 minimum services fee).
• Full fee paying students (no eligible concessions) are required to pay $86 or 25% of the total fee amount, whichever is the greater.

Direct debit
The student will be required to agree to a schedule of monthly or fortnightly debits from his or her bank account, which ensures that all payments are completed within 6 months from commencement or on the final date of the course, whichever is sooner.

Notes on direct debit

1. Enrolments will only be accepted subject to the approval of the Student Loan Application, and students will be contacted if the application is not accepted.
   
   
2. Students can be charged a dishonour fee if there are insufficient funds available in their bank account, so students need to advise the Institute if they are experiencing hardship and they need to re-negotiate their payment schedule, or defer a debit payment.
   
   
3. If direct debit arrangements need to be changed or cancelled, or debit payments need to be deferred, students need to advise the Institute in writing 5 working days in advance of their next debit day.
   
   
4. Students are liable for any fees outstanding if they withdraw. Any fees owing must be paid in full within 30 days from withdrawal. The student will not be issued with their results if their payments are not complete.

Centrelink deductions
The student will be required to agree to a schedule of fortnightly debits from his or her Centrelink payments, which ensures that all payments are completed within 6 months from commencement or the final date of the course, whichever is sooner.

Refunds
If a student withdraws from all or part of a government-funded course within four (4) weeks of course commencement, and the student completes and signs a Withdrawal form, the student is eligible for a refund of fees for units that he or she has not yet commenced. The refund is based only on the enrolled hours that the student is withdrawing from and the minimum enrolment and service fee is deducted as an administration charge.

Enrolments delivered entirely in the workplace are eligible for a refund of fees for units not yet commenced within 8 weeks from course commencement.

Any enrolment fees owing after withdrawal must be paid in full within 30 days from withdrawal. The student will be informed in writing of the balance of his/her account and the final payment date.

A withdrawal form is available from Student Services or online.

Any refund is subject to the return of the student’s ID card and property or material belonging to the Institute.

The $50 loan fee is non refundable if a student withdraws or does not attend.

If a student withdraws after four (4) weeks from course commencement, or after eight (8) weeks for workplace-based enrolments, there is no refund on tuition or services fees.

Students may apply for a partial refund on materials fees that have already been paid, based on the proportion of the course that they will not participate in and the estimated value of materials not used. The refund of any proportion of materials fees is entirely at the discretion of the Institute. A Withdrawal form must be completed and forwarded to Student Services. Any outstanding loans will need to be paid in full within 30 days from withdrawal. The student will be informed in writing of the balance of his or her account and final payment date.

One hundred percent (100%) of the fee will be refunded if the Institute cancels the course. Students who transfer to the same course of study at another TAFE institute during the year are eligible for a refund on any non-commenced units upon written application and proof of enrolment at another institute.

Students are not entitled to a refund on commercial courses if they withdraw or do not attend.

Skills recognition
Skills recognition, also referred to as recognition of prior learning (RPL) or recognition of current competence (RCC) can reduce your course workload by facilitating credits for skills and knowledge already achieved.

No tuition fees apply for RPL or RCC government funded enrolments. A fee for service charge will be incurred for all non-government funded enrolments. Please refer to the Skill recognition (RPL/RCC) information on this site.

If an individual applies for recognition of prior learning (RPL) after enrolment and has paid full fees and charges, the tuition, materials and services fees related to the units of competency for which RPL has been recognised will be refunded on a pro rata basis.

All information correct as at 1 January 2008