Fee-Free and Low-Fee TAFE in WA: Which Mining and Resources Courses Qualify

Fee free and low fee: the two programs

Jobs and Skills WA runs two subsidy tiers through WA TAFEs and some private training providers. On the fee free tier, course fees do not apply, though resource fees for materials may. On the Lower fees, local skills tier, qualifications are half price or less, and Jobs and Skills WA says some are reduced by up to 72 per cent. Each tier has its own course list, and both are published as PDFs.

There is also a third category. Job Ready skill sets are short and free, but you get a Statement of Attainment rather than a certificate. The units can count towards a full qualification later.

Who is eligible

The Jobs and Skills WA training page sets out general eligibility for subsidised training. You must:

• Have left school.
• Have your primary place of residence in Western Australia.
• Be an Australian citizen, hold a permanent visa, or hold one of the listed temporary visa subclasses. Some interstate apprentices and trainees may also qualify.

Fee free excludes existing worker traineeships. For low fee, the annual cap is $400 for jobseekers, people under 25 and concession holders, and $1,200 for everyone else, per qualification or course for each calendar year. That page was last updated in July 2025, so ask the college to confirm the cap that applies to you. Exact eligibility questions go to your TAFE or training provider.

Fee free courses for resources work

We read the Fee free course list 2026 (version 2, effective 29 May 2026) and picked the entries closest to mining and resources work. It is a long list covering many industries, so these are a selection, not all of it.

The fee free list also funds pre-apprenticeships in electrotechnology, plumbing, bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, among others. Building and construction courses have been fee free since 1 January 2025, and Jobs and Skills WA says that runs until the end of 2026.

Low fee courses for resources work

The Lower fees, local skills list 2026 (version 3, effective 25 May 2026) is where most mining Certificate III qualifications and plant trades sit. Again, this is a selection:

The same list includes low fee pre-apprenticeships in fabrication, fixed and mobile plant, mechanical, engineering general and heavy vehicle servicing. These suit people who want a trade on a mine site but do not have an employer yet. Our mining apprenticeships guide covers how mining employers hire apprentices.

What it looks like at a TAFE

Three course pages we checked show how the lists play out:

• Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations. The Jobs and Skills WA course page lists it as fee free, with North Metropolitan TAFE, North Regional TAFE and Australian Training Management as providers. It covers work on open cut coal, quarry and metalliferous sites, including haul truck operations and four-wheel-drive vehicles. The page does not state duration or entry requirements, so ask the provider.
• Certificate III in Mining Exploration. North Metropolitan TAFE lists it at East Perth as low fee, one semester full time, with Semester 2 2026 and Semester 1 2027 intakes. It says the course is competitive, with school leavers needing OLNA or NAPLAN 9 Band 8 (or Year 10 English and maths C grades) and other applicants a Certificate I or II.
• Mining Entry Preparation Skill Set. Central Regional TAFE lists a two week, six unit skill set at Geraldton, fee free for WA residents, open to people over 15. It covers communication, WHS, local risk control, isolating plant, confined spaces and gas testing. It did not appear on the fee free PDF we read, so confirm the funding with the college before relying on it.

What is not covered

Neither list is a guarantee of a job, and they do not replace site inductions. Tickets come from registered training providers, and each mine runs its own induction. We did not find a stand-alone white card unit by name on either list, so check the current lists. Our white card WA page covers that separately. Lists also change as replacement qualifications are reviewed, and the PDFs say the department does that monthly. Pair this guide with the mining courses guide, which explains which tickets and qualifications employers ask for.

How to check and enrol

1. Open the current fee free and low fee lists and find the course code you want.
2. Search the course on the TAFE WA website, which the WA Government says has a fee free and low fee course finder, and note the college, intake and entry requirements.
3. Contact the college, or your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64, to confirm your eligibility, any resource fees and the current cap.
4. Apply or enrol. Competitive courses, such as mining exploration, have selection criteria and application deadlines, so apply early.

If you are still working out what you need, use the Mine Ready Plan or read how to get into mining in the getting started guide.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Last updated 13 October 2026. Facts on this page come from the sources below.

• Jobs and Skills WA: Fee free and low fee training
• Jobs and Skills WA: Training (eligibility and contacts)
• Jobs and Skills WA: Fee free course list 2026, version 2 (PDF, effective 29 May 2026)
• Jobs and Skills WA: Lower fees, local skills course list 2026, version 3 (PDF, effective 25 May 2026)
• Jobs and Skills WA: Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations
• Central Regional TAFE: Mining Entry Preparation Skill Set
• North Metropolitan TAFE: Certificate III in Mining Exploration
• WA Government: Applications for fee free and low fee TAFE courses open (13 October 2025)

The sources are Jobs and Skills WA pages and course lists, plus two TAFE course pages, read on 13 October 2026. The two lists are PDFs updated through the year, so open the current version before you enrol. We have not listed course fees because they depend on your eligibility, provider and the calendar year.