All these phrases are enough to get the average stay-at-home mother excited about the prospect of a new life.

Unfortunately, they may have to think again.

See, what I don't understand is, why can't the government just be honest? Why do they have to package the truth with propaganda and shiny marketing material? The truth is, with the changes implemented by the government in July 2009, it may cost you almost as much to go to TAFE as it does to go to uni.

Take my course, Professional Writing and Editing at RMIT. Before the changes, government-subsidised places were a maximum of $877 a year or $55 for concession-card holders. With the changes, if you're under twenty and have no higher qualification, fees are only increasing to $1000 a year for the certificate or $1500 for a diploma. However, it is concession-card holders that will be stung - they won't be receiving any more discounts when studying a diploma.

If you are over twenty or have a higher qualification, your fees will jump to a painful $8000 a year, and government loans similar to HECS will be available.

The government complains that there's a skills shortage but by raising fees they are deterring people that can fill the shortage.

Luckily I started my course at the start of this year and my fees won't change much. However, if I don't finish my course by the end of 2012, which is likely because I'm a mother, I'll have to pay the $8000.

I am thankful that I decided to go back to school before these changes were implemented because there's no way I would have been able to afford the fees. I'm still paying off my uni debt.

— Posted by Koraly Dimitriadis, RMIT TAFE student. This article is an excerpt from a larger piece published at Overland.