I have re-enrolled this year in the Diploma of Community Welfare and I have to pay $2000 for this year. I have had to access VET Fee Help at this stage to stay in the course; I have had to borrow the money to complete the course. I am 39 and a single parent.

The fees are a lot of money for me to find particularly as a future in community welfare is one of the lowest remunerated occupations. I still have to find the money for the books if I choose to buy them. They are useful industry books and I have not been able to purchase them. It is extremely disappointing that the TAFE fees are so high. I am actually thinking that it might be better for me to transfer to the degree and suffer the debt to earn more money ultimately. But the advantage of completing the diploma locally is networking locally.