It’s a reform of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) system which is helping people in NSW get the skills they need to find a job and advance their careers. Smart and Skilled qualifications are subsidised by the NSW Government and details of the scheme are available at www.smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au. Eligible students can choose from hundreds of qualifications, from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma, and are provided with either:
- an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III, OR
- government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas
What’s in it for the learner?
Because Smart and Skilled is Government-subsidised training, the learner pays a portion of the cost for their course and the government then pays the difference to the training provider to cover the difference in cost.
Are there any exemptions or concessions?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) students, students with disabilities and their dependents may qualify for fee exemptions when they enrol in Smart and Skilled training.
Students receiving Australian Government welfare benefits and the dependants of welfare recipients may qualify for concession fees when they enrol in Smart and Skilled training.
All NSW apprentices and most new-entrant trainees are eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled for the qualification that supports their apprenticeship or traineeship
Who is eligible for subsidised training under Smart and Skilled?
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 permanent 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.
Fee-Free Scholarships
The NSW Government’s new Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Scholarships mean that students can get the skills they need to get the job they want and their course fees will be covered.
Young people (aged 15-30) who meet the Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Scholarship criteria are eligible for a government subsidy which covers their Smart and Skilled course fee. This includes young people who are eligible for a concession fee and has been extended to include young people in out-of-home care, who are now also eligible for a Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Scholarship. Visit the Smart and Skilled website for details and eligibility criteria.