Skilled ProgramSmart and Skilled is a new initiative that is part of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. It aims to help people in NSW to develop the knowledge and skills they need to secure paid employment and enhance their careers.
Students who are eligible for the Smart and Skilled program are entitled to the following:
- Subsidies to complete training up to and including Certificate III.
- Access to funding for higher-level certifications (Certificate IV and above) in areas that are deemed to be relevant to industry development.
The smart and skilled website contains a comprehensive overview of everything there is to know about the Smart and Skilled program. It is designed to familiarise prospective students with the enrolment process and how you can access training with your preferred provider.
Smart and Skilled offers access to diverse courses and training providers. To determine whether you are eligible for the Smart and Skilled training program, just complete the relevant details in the Eligibility Checker. You can then use the Course Finder to take a look at the courses and training providers that are available as well as the details of the estimated costs.
The Smart and Skilled website also includes information that is of use to employers and training providers. Training Services NSW, which operates the scheme, is a part of the NSW Department of Industry and is responsible for the development of any policies related to the program as well as funding, planning, and regulatory activities. Training Services NSW also provides professional advice on employment and VET in the NSW region.
Smart and Skilled is seen as a significant step that aims to give you the skills and knowledge you need to secure paid employment and develop your professional career. Eligible students can access government subsidies when opting to complete certain qualifications provided they meet the following criteria:
- Australian citizens, permanent residents, or humanitarian visa holders, or New Zealand citizens
- At least 15 years of age
- No longer attending school
- Currently living and working in NSW
- Registered as an apprentice or new entrant trainee in NSW.
Furthermore, if you wish to complete any course that qualifies as Certificate III or below, you must not yet have completed Certificate IV or above.
Any students who are eligible for the Smart and Skilled training initiative and associated government subsidiaries and who are aged between 15 and 30 may also be eligible for full scholarships.
The NSW Government recently announced that, in 2017, an additional 32 qualifications would be made available in addition to the 700 subsidised vocational and training educational courses that are currently on offer.
Interested students can find full details of the qualifications that are available under the initiative in the NSW Skills List 2017. The extensive nature of this list represents the government’s commitment to modernising the courses that are available to eligible students while also ensuring that current industry-specific needs are met.
The NSW Skills List was developed in collaboration with industry professionals and employers and is intended to reflect the skill areas that are required to support future job growth and industry development while enhancing young people’s skills base to help them find gainful employment.
It is anticipated that the 2017 NSW Skills List will supplement NSW Government priorities across a range of areas including the $73.3 billion infrastructure program and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It will also increase the amount of students who complete qualifications in core science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects, which are deemed to be critical to the future development of the workforce.
Of the new qualifications that have been introduced to the scheme, over 50% are qualifications higher than Certificate IV or above that will enhance the skills of the NSW workforce. Examples of these courses include the Advanced Diploma in Building Surveying and Trenchless Technology (Certificate II). Subsidised courses are also available in a range of high-tech skills area including a Diploma in Digital and Interactive Games and an Advanced Diploma in Information Technology Business Analysis.
Some of the more popular courses taken under Smart and Skilled funding include:
- Certificate III in Childhood Education and Care (Children Services aka Childcare)
- Certificate III in Business
- Certificate III in Business Administration
- Diploma of Business
- Diploma of Leadership and Management
- Certificate III in Hairdressing
- Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
- Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
- Certificate III in Individual support
This article is to provide information only. Qualify Me! does not offer Smart and Skilled courses at this stage.
