The head of a regional provider of vocational education has called on the federal Opposition to ensure its proposal for free TAFE courses does not become a "one-size-fits-all" scheme.
Federal Labor has promised to cover the cost of 465,000 TAFE places if elected, aimed at addressing acute skills shortages at a cost of $621 million over four years.
The policy would add to existing free vocational education schemes in states where they already exist, such as Victoria.
Liam Sloan, pro vice-chancellor for vocational education and training at Federation University, believes it is critical subsidised places address workforce needs at a local level.
"The Victorian state will have regions that have different priorities, and we don't want to have one free TAFE list for all of TAFE," he said.
"I would love a free TAFE list for Federation TAFE, so we can go out and respond to the needs of our local employers, our local industries, and Box Hill can go out and respond to their region and their needs".
A chance to retrain
Mr Sloan, who is also chief executive of Federation TAFE, is hopeful a scheme will be implemented allowing people who have exhausted their study benefits to return to TAFE and retrain.
"[That would give] our ageing demographic an opportunity, and it gives those who are maybe considering retirement for whatever reason to re-engage in something like cybersecurity, that they could maybe do in a different environment," he said.
An increase in free TAFE courses would also place pressure on institutions' ability to find teachers.
However, Mr Sloan said stimulating demand for new teachers "will allow people to decide they want to drop the tools now".
"Nurses at the moment are working their hearts out looking after us, and they might decide they want to become a TAFE teacher.
Plenty of work
Opposition spokesman for employment and skills Richard Marles said courses chosen to be part of any federal Labor free TAFE scheme would be determined with the states, based on shortages identified by the National Skills Commission.
Mr Marles said vocational training was often wrongly treated as a "plan B" for young people and called for a "mindset shift".
During a visit to Ballarat, he revealed heavy transport manufacturer MaxiTRANS had told him it needed 30 more welders alone to meet its growing labour requirements in the regional city.
"You come in there with a welding trade, you're getting a job because that is what they need to get more of their product out of the door," Mr Marles said.
