MCFE

{MCFE}{643 Spencer St}{West Melbourne}{3003}{Vic}{Australia}{(130) 036-8883}
643 Spencer St, 3003 West Melbourne, Vic
Phone: (130) 036-8883

About Us

Melbourne College of Further Education (MCFE) is a trusted RTO that has been operating since 2003, providing a range of government-funded courses in Melbourne. MCFE (RTO no. 21340) specialises in community services courses in Melbourne. We deliver what we promise, and offer job-ready candidates, providing opportunities for multiple pathways within a supportive, nurturing, and flexible environment. MCFE has a Skills First Funding contract, which gives us the ability to offer a range of government-funded courses in Melbourne and Victoria, to eligible individuals.

Who We Are

Melbourne College of Further Education (MCFE) is the trading name for iAscend Polytechnic Pty Ltd. MCFE is a trusted and well-respected Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with over 20 years’ experience in training, supporting and inspiring students to succeed in their chosen pathway. We believe in real skills for real jobs, and take the extra time to customise our course materials, and create new and innovative ways of delivering course content.

Registrations
and Accreditations


  • Registered Training Organisation (RTO 21340) registered with ASQA
  • Approved to deliver International Courses: CRICOS provider (02961A)
  • Skills First Funding Contract – allowing us to provide a range of government-funded course options to eligible individuals

Training and Assessment

Qualifications and skill sets completed with MCFE are recognised nationally. Qualifications achieved through the Australian VET system are also highly regarded internationally. MCFE offers high-quality training, both face-to-face and via a blended online model, offering students options to undertake our courses in a way that best suits their lifestyle.

Our trainers are dedicated and highly qualified with extensive practical industry experience and committed to providing quality outcomes for our students, ensuring that training is both engaging and an enjoyable experience.

Our student support team is extremely passionate, and committed to helping students succeed. They are always on hand to help with any questions and provide students with the support they may need to complete the course satisfactorily, especially if circumstances change.

We Deliver
Courses In:

  • Aged Care/Individual Support
  • Home and Community Care (HACC)
  • Early Childhood Education and Care
  • School-Based Education Support – Integration Aids, Teachers Aids
  • Work Health Safety (WHS)
  • Business
  • Hospitality
  • Other short courses and tickets

Government Funding

MCFE has a Skills First Funding Contract. Numerous skill-sets and qualifications have access to Skills First Funding, with funds made available by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.

If you are eligible, you will have access to NO FEE or LOW FEE course options to help you excel in your career. It is important to note that enrolling in a funded course can affect your access to future Skills First Funding. The course fees/costs depend upon eligibility for a Government subsidy. Detailed fees and funding information can be found under Student Information, or click the button below.

Learn More

Meet Our Team

Qualifications and skill sets completed with MCFE are recognised nationally. Qualifications achieved through the Australian VET system are also very highly regarded internationally.


  • Rohan CrespFounder

  • Amy HickmanCEO

  • SimoneCourse Advisor

Location

Our head office is centrally located near Melbourne CBD at 39/617-643 Spencer Street, West Melbourne. We deliver courses in a number of different locations around Melbourne, including our head office. We pride ourselves on being accessible, and inclusive, which is why we hold classes in a number of locations around Melbourne. For more information on all our locations click here.

Testimonials
What People Say About MCFE

I had the pleasure of completing my Diploma with MCFE with Jay as my trainer, and I can honestly say it was such a positive experience. Jay is extremely knowledgeable, supportive, and dedicated, and she genuinely cares about her students and their success.

Jay explains content clearly, makes learning engaging, and always takes the time to help when you need extra support. Her feedback and encouragement helped me stay motivated and successfully finish my Diploma with confidence.

I’m very grateful for everything Jay has done and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a trainer who is professional, kind, and passionate about education.

Thank you Jay for all your support!
Completed my course with MCFE and they were amazing, Christie being the educator made it so much fun I looked forward to going into face to face classes and always ready for questions or happy to assist. Going through a hard time during my course ALL the staff were amazing very understanding and went the mile to help (Christie, Amy, shanea, Jay and Caitlin) and always travel by phone which was import to me
Cannot recommend Christie, Jay, Shanea, Caitlin and Amy enough. They were incredibly supportive throughout the entire course and made it a fun and interactive learning environment. Thank you all!
MCFE has been a great platform to do further study. Christie is an AMAZING person. Not only knowledgeable in teaching the course, she was super supportive and always kept us engaged and motivated both online as well as in person during skills sessions whilst many of us were juggling life.

I really enjoyed doing the course and am very thankful for the experience I had.

Communication with admin staff at MCFE was always prompt and efficient. I’d like to thank Jay, who came out to observe me during my placement (even though I hadn’t met her). Jay was so lovely and approachable which made me feel comfortable and allowed me to do what I had to do in the classroom without feeling nervous.
completed my CHC40211 – Certificate IV in School Based Education Support at Melbourne College of Further Education in November 2025, along with HLTAID012 First Aid – Education & Care Setting (CPR, asthma and anaphylaxis) in September 2025.
The course was practical, relevant, and helped to prepared me for working in a school setting.
A special mention to my teacher Christie, who was absolutely amazing—supportive, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in her students’ success. She made learning clear, engaging, and enjoyable.
I would highly recommend Melbourne College of Further Education to anyone pursuing education support studies.
So lucky to have found this course! Christie was so helpful every step of the way and made all our lessons enjoyable. All the staff were so helpful especially when I was falling behind in my course due to life circumstances and they helped me get back on track and achieve my certificate!😊
I completed the Cert IV of Eduction support with MCFE last year and it was the most supportive and professional education experience I have had.
I was fortunate to have Christie as my trainer who was always positive, engaging and went beyond what was required in her role.
It’s was great to have a trainer who is genuinely passionate and knowledgeable in her job and clearly cares and wants her students to succeed.
My husband and I both completed the course with Christie as our mentor. She was incredibly helpful, understanding and took time to ensure her students were confident in the material.
I would like to share my experience as a student in my 60’s and English is my second language.i was very hesitant to enroll to certificate 3 in early education until I met my teacher j woods.
She is the best teacher you can wish for.
She is passionate and patient,inclusive and intelligent.
I looked forward for our classes,and sadly our course coming to an end soon.
Thank you j for a great year of learning and connecting with other students.
Thank you 🙏
I am currently studying Education Support IV through MCFE, and it has been the most supportive course I have undertaken. Christie is an exceptional trainer who consistently goes above and beyond to support her students. Her classes are engaging, informative, and enjoyable, creating a positive learning environment. Thank you, Christie — your dedication truly makes a difference.
Last year I took a big step and decided it was time to change careers.. petrified as I had not used a computer or studied in many years. I completed my certificate IV to become a teachers aide and it was just the most wonderful experience I could have ever asked for. Christie Buswell my educator always went above and beyond. She is the most amazing teacher anyone could ask for. She calmed my nerves and answered every silly question I ever asked. Her upbeat personality made the classes so fun and I actually missed them once it was all over. MCFE made it possible for me to carry on working as I completed my course and was just so easy to navigate and so well run and organised. Once I completed my studies I got a job instantly and I cannot thank MCFE and Christie enough.
Christine Cacchione
This is my second review for MCFE and trainer Christie Buswell, having posted a review last year soon after commencing my Cert IV in Education Support via Sunbury - impressed from the outset.

I feel compelled to review again having now completed my course at the end of last year, and to report that I promptly obtained employment soon after. I credit my new knowledge, skills and success to Christie’s training and her above-and-beyond support.

Christie modelled in her own output every week how we can uniquely support students to meet them where they’re at. As adults, we come to further education with such a vast history and current circumstances/needs.

Christie personally met me where I was at, with genuine encouragement and enthusiasm from start to finish. She did this for all of her students.

She shared of her own lived experience in the role, gave space and opportunity for others to share their knowledge, experiences and thoughts. Fostering a genuine collaboration all to the same goal of how we too can make a practical, positive impact, supporting teachers and students in the role of Ed Support.

It’s actually a real shame to lose Christie from the classroom (she built quick rapport with students and staff on my workplace assessment). But what an asset to have her in training, sharing her skills, knowledge and passion. Ensuring we feel supported to complete our course and that we are empowered to succeed and do well in the field thereafter.

Training was honestly engaging, hands-on, relevant and inspiring. Delivered with charisma, style and a compassionate heart.

Shanea and Isabella in the office were always prompt to respond to enquiries and send reminders. I received my certificates (First Aid and IV Ed Support) quickly upon completion of my course.

Forever grateful to have landed with MCFE at this time in my life. An excellent experience I highly recommend to others.
MCFE were very easy and professional to deal with. They support their students and encourage them to succeed. My trainer, Christie Buswell, went above and beyond to throughout the Education Support Certificate IV. I have no hesitation in recommending.
Completing my course last year with MCFE was made so fun and achievable because of Christie she was always so bubbly and ready to teach. She really loves her job which makes it so easy to learn from her. The school was also accommodating with password resets and submissions, thanks to the other staff that assisted me namely Shanea, Caitlin, Jay and Amy. You were all so quick to assist so I could go on with my studies thanks so much.
Christie B was the most incredible teacher! I cannot fault the knowledge she has. Moreover her ability to articulate that knowledge to pass on to her students is second to none!

She has such an in depth understanding of her subject, in education support, and she really understands the difference fantastic learning support officers can make in students lives.

Christie puts in the time with her students, no stone is left unturned regarding content, and her communication and willingness to answer any and all questions is thorough.

She really is a teacher who will go above and beyond - I feel very lucky to have had her during my time at MCFE.
Fantastic teachers, extraordinary experience!
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Christie Buswell at MCFE for her outstanding teaching and guidance throughout the Education Support course.
Her expertise, professionalism, and dedication greatly enhanced my learning experience.
I highly recommend Christie and the MCFE program to prospective students, helped me to be confident in my new job role as an ES.
Christie is the best teacher I have ever seen. Very energetic and creative teacher.
I would like to thank Jay Wood for her great teaching in the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care course. She is a supportive and dedicated teacher who explains the content clearly and creates a positive learning environment. Her guidance has helped me feel more confident and prepared to work in early childhood education.
One of my friends recommended this course to me with MCFE and I have completed Cert 3 last year and Diploma in early childhood educational and care this year and I have to say that I am very lucky to be Jay Woods’s students. She went out of her way to help me a lot with tough questions and through placement period as well. Thank you so much Jay, I appreciated your work and time for us
I have been with my trainer (Jay woods) for months and she was one of the best trainers. She has a high skill in communicating ideas and information and provides a detailed explanation of the idea. She is a very professional trainer.
Mai Maksoud
I had a really positive experience completing my Certificate III in Early Childhood and Care, thanks to my teacher Jay.
She has been supportive, knowledgeable, and always prompt to explain topics clearly.
I enjoyed every lesson as Jay made them engaging and practical making easier to understand how to apply the skills gained throughout the course.
I'm very grateful for the guidance and support that I have received by Jay, and I would highly recommend her as teacher.
Best support I’ve ever had when it came to study !
I’ve studied early childhood and education while working at the same time and I’ve never met such lovely office ladies and trainers ! Robyn has been kind enough to let me finish my studies before the closure of a lot of students due to government funding , I won’t forget Isabelle and the other ladies, Belle has been very good with communication, especially on the phone, emails and keeping me up to date with anything , study requirements and due dates , extensions , classes and trying their best to help me find work placement even though it’s been a tough year and it’s been very hard to find work placement this year and that I’m pregnant and not far off til our baby is due , I can always go back to find work placement as I have complete all my studies required 🙂 thank you to all the trainers especially Danielle & Seema!
Danielle was very good I completed my units quickly as I learned so much from her and she was very cheerful, easy to chat with and she explained the study work where people could understand , i was also participating & i built that confidence with Danielle. I’ll always adore seema ! She was the best trainer I’ve had, she’s been very supportive throughout the whole course 🙂 even when I was struggling sometimes, she would always lift me up, help , support me with questions I’ve asked, thank you MCFE, i will be back next year sometime to start work placement xx
I recently completed my Cert IV in School Based Education Support with MCFE, and it was an outstanding experience. The course content was clear, relevant, and very well organised. My trainer, (Saadiyah), went above and beyond to support every student. Her teaching style was engaging, professional, and full of real-world knowledge. She always took the time to explain concepts thoroughly and provided constructive feedback that helped me grow. I’m grateful for the positive learning environment and would highly recommend this college to anyone looking to start a career in education support
My trainer, Christie, was amazing. She always came prepared and made every class informative and engaging. Her experience in school-based learning really showed through the way she explained things and supported us. The activities we did in class helped me truly understand and remember what we learned. What meant the most was how she went out of her way to help us with job applications and selection criteria for Education Support roles — that extra support made such a difference. I’m really grateful for her guidance and would happily recommend MCFE to anyone thinking about studying here.
Very well course designed with experience training provided, placement experience was very 👍
I enjoyed doing the course from MCFE . The MCFE team is very well organised. Thanks to trainers who are very good and helpful professionals.They are ready to help and support when needed .
Saadiyah is a very good trainer and has been supportive and friendly all the time. She encourages us to do well and makes it easy learning. Christie is a very supportive and good trainer. Jay is a very good and professional trainer. Keep up the good work MCFE!!
Our Instructor ( Certificate III for Childhood Education and care ) Laila Taha is an amazing teacher. Her class is very interactive. Her methodology of teaching is excellent. She is always there for the students with helping hands. If anyone wants to pursuit this course, you can definitely count on them
Excellent first aid course.

On line content easy to navigate and complete.

Enjoyed the small group setting with the excellent teacher Sylvie.
Made for a relaxed but effective learning environment.

Would highly recommend this course.

Thank you to all the team for a good day of education.
My first aid class was very useful. I learned how to stay calm in emergencies and give help quickly. We practiced CPR, learned about choking, burns, and cuts. The class gave me confidence to handle accidents and help others safely.
I am currently pursuing a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and thoroughly enjoying the course. I am dedicated to building a successful career in this field. The support we receive from our educator, Laila, is outstanding and greatly appreciated.
MCFE is a great school !! The staff are all very helpful most specially one of the teachers Ms. Saadiyah Hossaín. Keep up the great work and more power😊
Grateful for our teacher Saadiyah - her commitment to her students success makes you want to do your best
Was nervous about undertaking this course but her support along with a great class has me excited to finish. Thanks again - Jannis 😊
Saadiya is easy to deal with. We can ask questions and assist us on how to do it. This makes learning easy and enjoyable.
I just want to say a big thank you to the amazing team at MCFE, especially Saadiyah…She is absolutely super professional, supportive, and just a genuinely lovely person to deal with all the students.

Saadiyah made everything feel so easy and stress-free. She always kept me in the loop, gave great advice, and really cared about helping me find the right and easy way by giving beautiful settings of examples behalf of her personal experience.

Huge thanks again to Saadiyah and the MCFE team—I really appreciate all your help and would highly recommend you to anyone looking for study in education!
Melbourne College of Further Education is the best College for learning the required knowledge about School Base Educational Support courses. I am in Victoria at Catholic Regional College, Sydenham, Victoria Australia.
I studied my Cert 4 in Education Support here and my trainer Saadiyah Hossain, she's an amazing person. She is a trainer that will help her students to pass their course, and if you're stuck shell help you get through it all. Thank you for all your Support.
As a former student of MCFE who, unfortunately, couldn’t complete my certificate due to personal reasons, I'd like to express my sincere pleasure for the chance to deal with their staff members. From the very beginning right through to the end of my time with MCFE, the entire team was incredibly helpful, accommodating, and genuinely supportive.
The way the course was structured made learning both practical and accessible, with a strong focus on real-world applications compared to other course providers. I especially appreciated the inclusive and welcoming environment (especial thanks to Shanea from student services)
Overall my experience was very positive, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this organisation to anyone considering training in the courses they provide.
I'm currently studying Cert IV in School Based Education Support at Melbourne College of Further Education. I'm really enjoying it. The communication between MCFE and the students is excellent; they consistently keep in touch with us to ensure everything is going smoothly. My teacher, Saadiyah, is impressive and incredibly helpful. She makes sure we fully understand the tasks and stay up to date with all our work
I’m currently undertaking the Certificate IV in School Based Education Support at Melbourne College of Further Education (MCFE), and I can’t speak highly enough of my experience. From my initial enquiry through to onboarding and now into my studies, the support, organisation, and care from the entire team — especially my educator Christie — has been beyond amazing. I really love learning here and I’m sure you will too! 🧡
After extensive research, I finally decided to enroll with MCFE to complete the Cert IV in School Based Educational Support, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I made, All the admin staff and my teacher Ms.Saadiyah are supportive and have excellent experience. Ms Saadiyah is very resourceful, well-experienced, and so knowledgeable. I am so grateful that I got an opportunity to learn from her. She is so friendly but professional. She makes the class so pleasant, and I am waking up every Saturday looking forward to attending her classes.
MCFE - highly recommended.
MCFE is a great college because staff are helpful and prompt in responding to queries. The information in the learner resources are comprehensive and cover everything that is required for me to know to be able to work in my chosen field. The tools provided, such as Canvas, etc., is easy to navigate. Online classes, self-paced learning, in-person workshops and assessments are well presented and offer different means of engaging students and educating effectively. My trainer was a great teacher who had extensive industry knowledge, was flexible in her teaching style that accommodated different learning abilities and made herself available to her students.
Great training provider, all staff are very approachable and professional. I can highly recommend MCFE
This course has been fabulous so far, our instructor Christie is such a bubbly, happy and energetic teacher. You can really sense her love for what she does. We have a decent sized class online and she is so diligent in answering all questions that students may have, no matter what they are. She is available which as a mum of three going back to school is so reassuring to make sure I’m constantly on track with my learning. Christie is very relaxed and enthusiastic and has a beautiful way of teaching and I’m LOVING what I’m learning! Highly recommend this course through MCFE! 😀
I have almost completed certificate IV in Education Support. My experience with MCFE has been smooth and enjoyable. Both Christie and Jay have been amazing teachers and mentors, they have both been very supportive and have gone above and beyond to ensure that everyone has a clear understanding of the content. A very supportive organisation and because of this I feel very confident moving forward once qualified. I highly recommend MCFE!
MCFE have been an exceptional school to learn my Cert IV in Education Support. The staff and personnel have been great with supporting me during the class as well as keeping me updated with all I need to complete the course. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great school to check them out.
Christie is a great teacher, patient, warm, vibrant, helpful.
I made the right decision when choosing MCFE to further my education in education, they’ve been very supportive throughout the enrolment process and in online classes, Christie is an amazing mentor, teaching and guiding us through the first stages of the course has been enjoyable and informative.
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MCFE Courses & Programs

Melbourne College of Further Education (MCFE), as a division of iAscend Polytechnic, provides in-demand vocational courses to get you qualified while you work, gain a new qualification, or start a whole new career.

We are with you every step of the way, providing individual and classroom support, and practical hands-on training, to help you achieve the qualification you need.

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