Smart and Skilled Frequently Asked Questions

You can commence a maximum of three fee free traineeships under the initiative.

If you started your Smart and Skilled traineeship qualification with your training provider before 1 January 2020 you are not eligible for fee free training. No refund will be made. However, If you have enrolled in your traineeship qualification prior to 1 January 2020 but did not commence in the qualification until after 1 January 2020 or later, your training provider must refund to you or your employer, if your employer paid the student fee on your behalf, any qualification fee(s) that have been paid to date.

No, traineeship training is only fee free for trainees starting their Smart and Skilled traineeship qualification with their training provider from 1 January 2020 onwards.

You are eligible for fee free training if you start your Smart and Skilled funded traineeship qualification with your training provider on or after 1 January 2020. If you commence training with your training provider before this date the student fee must still be paid to the training provider.

If you commence your Smart and Skilled traineeship qualification with your training provider on or after 1 January 2020 your qualification is likely to be fee free. Your Smart and Skilled Provider will confirm this for you. Your fee, which will be an amount of up to $1,000, will be paid for you by the Government directly to the training provider.

You are eligible for fee-free training if you start your apprenticeship qualification with your training provider on or after 1 July 2018. This means neither you nor your employer will have to pay the qualification student fee. If you commence training before this date the student fee must still be paid to the training provider by you or your employer.

Yes, if you commence your Smart and Skilled apprenticeship qualification on or after 1 July 2018, then neither you nor your employer will have to pay the qualification student fee. This amount, of up to $2000 will be paid for you by the Department directly to the training provider.

Holding a previous qualification does not affect your eligibility to undertake training up to Certificate III level under Smart and Skilled, however it does affect the student fee. If you meet the Smart and Skilled eligibility conditions to undertake a qualification up to and including Certificate III, and you don't have any post-school qualifications, you will pay the lower fee for your first Smart and Skilled subsidised course at Certificate III level or lower. You will pay a higher fee for any subsequent Smart and Skilled courses you undertake.

The NSW Skills List identifies the qualifications eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled. Developed through extensive industry and community consultation and labour market research, the Skills List includes a wide range of vocational qualifications to support the diverse skills needs of NSW employers. The Skills List enables people in NSW to make more informed choices about their training, knowing that Smart and Skilled courses can give people the skills they need to get a job, advance their career or continue onto further study. The Skills List covers all industry sectors in NSW and includes qualifications up to Advanced Diploma. All NSW apprenticeships and most new entrant traineeships are also on the Skills List.

Any VET qualification obtained as part of your secondary education does not affect your eligibility for Smart and Skilled training. This is because it is not considered to be a post-school qualification. However, if you independently enrolled in a VET qualification that was not a requirement of your secondary schooling and you obtained it after turning 17, this may affect the fee you pay. Note that your fee will be higher where your previous qualification is considered to be a post-school qualification.

No. Your previous qualifications, including those obtained overseas, do not affect your eligibility, however they may affect the student fee. As you already have a post-school qualification, you will pay a higher fee for your Smart and Skilled training than someone who does not have any qualifications. If you commence an apprenticeship or new-entrant traineeship, you may be eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled for the qualification that supports the apprenticeship or traineeship and will pay the relevant fee.

Yes. Your previous qualifications do not affect your eligibility; however, they may affect the student fee. As you already have a post-school qualification, you will pay a higher fee for your Smart and Skilled training than someone who does not have any qualifications. These conditions do not apply for apprentices or trainees who are new entrants undertaking specific traineeships. These students are eligible for a government subsidy for the qualification that supports their apprenticeship or traineeship and pay the relevant fee. Also, most foundation skills courses do not count as a post-school qualification. View Extra Learning Support for a list of these courses.

If you have undertaken a course as part of your secondary education, you are still eligible for subsidised training under Smart and Skilled. A course undertaken as part of your secondary education does not count as a post-school qualification. If you have not achieved any other qualifications after leaving school, you are eligible to enrol in a Smart and Skilled course at any qualification level and you will pay a lower fee.

If you are:

• 15 years old or over, and
• no longer at school, and
• living or working in NSW (or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in specific NSW border areas, and
• an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, Australian humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen

or

• a NSW apprentice or a new-entrant trainee undertaking a selected traineeship on the NSW Skills List
• you may be eligible to enrol in a government-subsidised course with an approved Smart and Skilled training provider.
• Previous qualifications do not affect your eligibility.

If you have a Certificate IV or higher qualification you are still able to access subsidised Smart and Skilled training up to Certificate III level, providing you meet the personal eligibility criteria for Smart and Skilled. As you already have a post-school qualification, you will pay a higher fee for your Smart and Skilled training than someone who does not have any qualifications.

You should advise your Smart and Skilled training provider that you have already completed these modules, or units of competency, and that you would like a credit transfer for them. If you are granted credit transfer for one or more units of competency, your approved Smart and Skilled training provider will recalculate the student fee based on the units/modules for which you are given credit transfer. Your student fee can also be recalculated and reduced if you are granted recognition of prior learning.

Approved Smart and Skilled training providers determine the payment arrangements for their students. They must publish information about these arrangements and must inform students about them before enrolment. Providers may have arrangements in place so students can pay off their qualification in instalments. Ask your preferred approved Smart and Skilled training providers about these arrangements.

Smart and Skilled fees are set for the whole qualification. They are not annual fees

From 2016, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who have a Certificate IV or higher qualification will be able to access subsidised Smart and Skilled training up to Certificate III level, providing you meet the personal eligibility criteria for Smart and Skilled. If you commence an apprenticeship or new-entrant traineeship you may be eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled for the qualification that supports the apprenticeship or traineeship. You may also be eligible for subsidised training in targeted priority areas at Certificate IV level or higher, depending on funding availability. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who are eligible are exempt from fees for any Smart and Skilled courses.

No. Eligibility for fee exemptions and concessions is determined when you enrol in the course, based on the details you provided at that time. It is not possible to change the type of fee you pay after you have commenced your training.

Smart and Skilled supports disadvantaged students by offering fee exemptions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) students, students with disabilities and the dependants of Disability Support Pension recipients. Fee concessions are also available to students receiving Australian Government welfare benefits and the dependants of Australian Government welfare recipients. Lower-cost foundation skills courses are available for people who want help with language, literacy or numeracy skills to help them get a job or do a vocational course. Training providers are compensated through a top up to the subsidy, called a loading, for the typical additional costs associated with providing training to specific categories of disadvantaged students. This is important for meeting equity objectives, as it ensures there is no financial disincentive for training providers to enrol these students. If you are interested to proceed to enrol in a Smart and Skilled Funded course, Please read the following Pre- enrolment Information handbook and the Smart and Skilled Information handbook to familiarize yourself with AUSCHS policies, procedures and operations. If you need more information, feel free to contact us.