For employers – Smart and Skilled

What is Smart and Skilled?

Smart and Skilled gives eligible students:

• an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III
• government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas.

Vocational education and training (VET) gives people workplace skills and technical knowledge. The training offers a structured program designed by industry experts and based on industry needs.

For more about VET:

• Download Strengthen your business with vocational education and training
• Visit our Service providers for apprenticeships and traineeships and VET pages
• Contact Training Services

Courses and providers

Workers and employers in NSW can choose from a range of Smart and Skilled government-subsidised courses.

Subject to the availability of training places there are also:

• targeted funding of higher-level training
• part qualifications in priority industries.

The NSW Skills List outlines the courses subsidised under Smart and Skilled. This list has been developed following extensive consultation with industry and community organisations.

Search the entire list of government-subsidised courses with training providers. 

Search training courses

Approved Smart and Skilled training providers in NSW include TAFE NSW, Adult and Community Education (ACE) providers and private training organisations.

The Skills NSW website can help you find suitable Smart and Skilled courses and providers or you can view the list of Smart and Skilled providers.

If you’re paying an employee’s fee for training, always consult with them on their preferred training provider.

Who is eligible?

Smart and Skilled course participants may include people who are:

• a NSW apprentice or trainee (see section below)

or meet the following eligibility requirements

• aged 15 years or older, and
• no longer at secondary school or home-schooled students, and
• living or working in NSW (or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in specific defined interstate NSW border areas), and
• an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen, and
• the holder of a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) or an applicant for one.

Check the Smart and Skilled Student Eligibility Policy.

More information about eligibility is available on the Skills NSW website.

Young people (aged 15-30) may be eligible to apply for a Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Scholarship

Students experiencing disadvantage

Smart and Skilled also supports students experiencing disadvantage by providing:

• fee exemptions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with disability and the dependants of certain pension recipients. Find information about Fee-free training for students experiencing disadvantage and Subsidised training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• fee-free foundation skills courses for people who want help with language, literacy or numeracy skills. Visit the NSW Skills List.

Apprentices and trainees

Government funding is available for the formal training component of apprenticeships and most traineeships. Some employers are responsible for paying the fees for their apprentices; however, this varies according to the award. Find out more on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

Here’s how the subsidies work under Smart and Skilled:

• All apprenticeship qualifications are subsidised under Smart and Skilled. Some are eligible for fee-free training (from 2018). Refer to the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy for more information.
• Most traineeship qualifications for trainees who are new entrants are subsidised under Smart and Skilled. NSW new entrant trainees who commence training on or after 1 January 2020 may be eligible for fee-free training. Refer to the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy for more information.

Visit For employers - Aprenticeships and traineeships for more information about formal and workplace training.

Targeting skills of existing and new workers

The Smart and Skilled Targeted Priorities Prevocational and Part Qualification (TPPPQ) Program connects businesses and training providers to ensure you can keep the skills of your existing and new workers up to date. It also helps staff develop the skills they need to transition into new roles. Download the Tailor-made training for your business flyer for more information.

Consumer protection

If you're not satisfied with your employee's Smart and Skilled course or its delivery, you are encouraged to support your employee to address any concerns. It’s the student's responsibility to make a complaint. Refer to Smart and Skilled Consumer protection for students. 

Employers of apprentices and trainees have a separate complaints-handling process, as outlined in the relevant training contract and resolving issues webpages.

Fees for Smart and Skilled

A single set of fees applies to government-subsidised courses delivered by approved providers.

The student fee will be the same regardless of the Smart and Skilled provider the student chooses to deliver their qualification. Smart and Skilled fees are set for the full qualification, not annually or by semester. Visit Smart and Skilled prices, fees and subsidies for more information.

Smart and Skilled providers must advise students before they enrol of any charges additional to the student fee. This may include optional training equipment and associated expenses like food and transport.