Media release
Government expenditure on vocational education and training (VET) totalled $10.1 billion in 2025, remaining broadly unchanged from 2024, according to new data released by NCVER.
While the overall expenditure was similar to 2024, the mix of expenditure across the VET system continued to shift, with increases in VET delivery, student assistance and system administration and governance expenditure alongside lower apprenticeship-related expenditure.
'Government funding data provides an important picture of how governments are investing across Australia’s vocational education and training system,' said NCVER Managing Director John King.
'The data help explain where public investment is being directed across the sector and how expenditure patterns are changing over time.’
Expenditure on VET delivery remained the largest expenditure category and increased 2.5% to $6.9 billion in 2025. This category includes training subsidies, VET delivered to school students and expenditure reported for national initiatives such as TAFE Centres of Excellence, Fee Free TAFE and the National TAFE Network.
Apprenticeship-related expenditure declined by 6.7% to $2.9 billion in 2025. Student assistance expenditure increased by 15.5% to $447.5 million, while expenditure on system administration and governance increased by 11.9% to $1.0 billion.
Background: Government funding of VET 2025 provides information on the distribution of government funding for VET in Australia. The publication is based on 2025 calendar year data provided by the Australian, state and territory government departments responsible for administering funds for Australia’s VET system.
Download the report: Government funding of VET 2025
Enquiries: Elise Stone P: +61 8 8230 8443 E: communications@ncver.edu.au
About NCVER: NCVER is Australia’s custodian of vocational education and training (VET) data. We deliver trusted data and insights that help the VET system work better for people, businesses and communities.
This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.