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Government Subsidies | looking for government subsidies for this program?

What is Smart and Skilled Funding?

Smart and Skilled is a reform of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. It’s helping people in NSW get the skills they need to find a job and advance their careers. Smart and Skilled funding, which is subsidised by the NSW Government, contributes to the cost of each course, with the student paying the balance. 

At DP Training, we offer Smart and Skilled Funding Under the following four programs:

  1. Smart and Skilled Full Qualifications Program
  2. Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers Program
  3. Smart and Skilled Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program
  4. Smart and Skilled School-Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program

Smart and Skilled – Full Qualifications Program

Smart and Skilled provides government-subsidised training and higher-level courses. Subsidised by the NSW government, this program helps you get the skills to find a job and advance your career. The training would be fee-free for eligible candidates.* The approved qualifications under the program include –

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, the student must be –

  • 15 years old or over
  • no longer at school and/or no longer being home-schooled
  • living or working in NSW
  • an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen

*Note – To access the fee-free training, you must be enrolled and start the course before 31st December 2023 and complete the qualification before 30th June 2024.

Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers Program

To increase the number of qualified tradespeople in NSW and address labour and skills shortages, the NSW Government introduced the Trade Pathways Program. Subsidised by the NSW Government, this program targets partially skilled workers, mature aged workers and women who have not been attracted to previous opportunities in gaining trade skills.

DP Training offers Trade Pathways for Experienced Workers Program for the following courses:

Course Code

Course Name

TLI37122

Certificate III in Rail Infrastructure

Eligibility Criteria

  • be aged 21 years or older at the time of enrolment; and
  • Have a minimum of 2 years of work experience in the trade that they will be undertaking training in; and
  • be currently working in the industry associated with the qualification being undertaken, or have worked in the industry within the last five years; and
  • Not be a current apprentice or trainee; or if a cancelled apprentice, cancellation must be greater than 6 months; and
  • not be enrolled in any related Smart and Skilled subsidised training; and
  • assessed as capable of a minimum of three (3) Units as an RPL outcome; and
  • no longer be at school; and
  • be living or working in NSW; and
  • Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen

This program is fully funded by the NSW Government until 30 June 2024.

Smart and Skilled Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program

Apprenticeships and traineeships combine work-based training with an employer and formal training from a training provider. Subsidised by the NSW Government, the apprenticeships and traineeships are established under training contracts between the employer and the apprentice or trainee and are regulated by the government. They’re a great way to be paid for work, learn and earn a qualification.

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.

DP Training Courses subsidised under the Smart and Skilled apprenticeship and traineeship program

DP Training offers Smart and Skilled Funding under the apprenticeship and traineeship program for the following courses:

Qualification Name

National Code

Certificate III in Individual Support

CHC33021 

Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

 HLT33115

Certificate III in Business

BSB30120

Certificate IV in Ageing Support

CHC43015 

Certificate IV in Disability

CHC43121

Certificate IV in Leisure & Health

CHC43415 

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to receive Subsidised Training in the Smart and Skilled Funding under the apprenticeship and traineeship program, you must:

  • be an Australian citizen or Permanent Resident
  • be an NSW Apprentice or New Entrant Trainee and have an approved Training Contract at the time of commencement

As proof of your registration as a NSW apprentice or new entrant trainee, you must provide a Training Contract identifier (TCID) number

For more information about smart and skilled funding visit the links below:

For students – https://smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au/for-students/apprenticeships-traineeships

For employers looking to enrol their staff – https://smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au/for-employers/employing-apprentices-trainees

Smart and Skilled School-Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Program

School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeships (SBAT) are available to all Year 10, 11 and 12 high school students in NSW. Subsidised by the NSW government, these SBATs allow students to commence an apprenticeship or commence and complete a traineeship while at school.

All NSW school-based apprentices and most trainees are eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled for the qualification that supports their apprenticeship or traineeship.

DP Training Courses subsidised under Smart and Skilled School-Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship program

DP Training offers Smart and Skilled Funding under the apprenticeship and traineeship program for the following courses:

Qualification Name

National Code

Certificate III in Individual Support

CHC33021 

Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

 HLT33115

Certificate III in Business

BSB30120

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to be subsidised to under take a qualification under the SBAT Program a student must:

  • be Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • be studying in years 10, 11 or 12
  • be undertaking a qualification listed on the NSW Skills list as an Apprenticeship or Traineeship qualification
  • an approved or registered School Based Apprentice or School Based Trainee in NSW at the time of commencing the qualification
  • have the qualification shown on the Training Contract.

As a proof of your registration as NSW school-based apprentice or trainee you must provide a Training Contract identifier (TCID) number and proof of your school enrolment.

More information can be found at the Smart and Skilled website or call DP Training to find out if you are eligible for Smart and Skilled funding.

Smart and Skilled – www.smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au

Contacts

Smart and Skilled Customer Support Centre:

Email: smartandskilled.enquiries@industry.nsw.gov.au