Veteran Support


At Wodonga TAFE, we understand that your experiences, both in service and beyond hold real value. That’s why our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for Veterans Program is at the heart of how we support Victorian; veterans, Defence Force personnel, and their families transition to civilian life through education and beyond.

RPL is about more than just paperwork. It’s about recognising your hard-earned skills, knowledge, and experience; whether gained through military service, previous study, work, or life, so you can fast-track your education and move toward new career goals with confidence.

We work with you to map what you already know against nationally recognised qualifications, helping you avoid repeating learning you’ve already mastered. This approach saves time, reduces costs, and honours your journey. By focusing on what you need to gain new employment or to improve your current position, the effort required is aimed at a measurable outcome for you.
 

How We Support You
 

You’re not alone in this process. Our dedicated Veteran Liaison Officer is here to provide comprehensive support. Whether you’re transitioning from the ADF, exploring new opportunities, or looking to formalise your skills, we’ll work with you to find the right pathway forward.

What kind of support:

  • Take the time to understand your passions, identify your unique strengths and help you overcome challenges.
  • This is an impartial service, we work with you and the TAFE/RTO that best suits to establish RPL for Veterans pathway opportunities.
  • Funding support for RPL units within a career plan.
  • We also connect you with additional services that may be helpful, including career advice, wellbeing support, and access to specialist staff.
Veteran Liaison Officer (VLO)




As a Veteran himself, our dedicated Veteran Liaison Officer is your first point of contact. 


Hi, my name is Mitch Sisley, former RAEME SGT and Veteran of three deployments to the MEAO. I bring 17 years of military experience along with nearly 10 years in training and Vocational Education both within and after my service.

I’m confident in understanding your military experience and mapping that info to a Recognised qualification and I take pride in helping Veterans move on after discharge. Like many others my injuries and just getting old had me needing to realign my career and find my next purpose in life.

As the Wodonga TAFE VLO I can still use my skills and knowledge to assist veterans like you to not only move on from Defence but to excel in the Civilian sector.

Specialist Services

The VLO can also assist in supporting the families of veterans or current serving spouses to develop their own career pathways. The VLO understands the complexity of Military life and the barriers that can be faced by posting cycles and managing family life. With Wodonga TAFE’s on-campus childcare facility, we can help you get into the workforce sooner.

We have direct connections to the Australian Government, Australian Defence Force (ADF), Ex-service Organisations (ESO), ADF Transition Cell (ADFTC), Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) and ADF Reserves. The VLO has a current Defence Common Access Card and visits sites to assist members at Latchford, Bandiana, and Gaza Ridge Barracks as well as willing to travel to other Victorian bases to ensure you succeed in your goals.

Program funding

The RPL Veterans Program is funded by the Department of Families Fairness and Housing – Veterans Program. There are up to 20 RPL Veteran's Program specific scholarships per year for Veterans that enrol. 

Ex-Defence Force personnel who hold a Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) Gold card may be eligible for concession fees for TAFE courses. This means that Veterans may be able to retrain or upgrade their existing skills with Wodonga TAFE.

You can now access more than 80 Free TAFE qualifications and short courses without the cost of tuition fees, even if you already hold a VET qualification or degree. 


Other funding support

Our VLO can also assist you in accessing various scholarship funds to assist in the cost of your further education.

  • The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund provides financial support to those entering a diploma or advanced diploma at TAFE, subject to eligibility criteria and selection. This is a third-party scholarship, external to Wodonga TAFE. To learn more visit: Gallipoli Scholarship Fund - Application (2025 applications are currently closed).
  • RSL Australia offer various scholarship schemes that might assist Victorian Veterans to achieve the dreams of further education for more information visit: RSL Scholarships & Awards.
Wodonga TAFE Veteran Skill Set

Wodonga TAFE offers a Veteran Skill Set of up to 15 Units of competence developed with Veterans in mind and chosen from a broad range of qualifications to assist you to begin your journey to further education. 

Veterans across the State of Victoria can take advantage of this Skill Set if they are unsure of their prior qualifications yet would like to take part in learning outside of the standard VET qualification package model. 

For those who are not sure if their previous skills and training will provide RPL, the Veteran skill set offers the following:

  • Three Work Health and Safety (WHS) units (Cert II – Cert IV)
  • Six Leadership/Managment units
  • Six Communication units.

Veterans can choose any combination up to the full 15 units, which are found across a broad range of qualifications. For more information get in contact with the Wodonga TAFE VLO.

Wodonga TAFE delivers practical, industry-relevant training across a range of industries from entry-level certificates to diplomas. With our many University partnerships, we can support you further with pathways to higher education.

Wodonga TAFE proudly maintains a strong connection with the Australian Defence Force; our contracted training delivery model strengthens our understanding of the unique experience and training Veterans have gained when in service.

Useful links

 

 

Information & General Enquiries

Call 1300 698 233

Email vlo@wodongatafe.edu.au

 

Veterans and Families

Wodonga TAFE acknowledges its partnership with the Australian Defence Force and is committed to working with Australian Defence Veterans to connect and increase their participation in education and employment to ensure they are an active and valued part of our community. We have established a Veterans and Families working group to ensure we action our plans and initiatives within our Veterans and Families Strategy.

Learn more
www.wodongatafe.edu.au
1300 698 233
info@wodongatafe.edu.au
RTO: 3097