For training providers – Smart and Skilled
This webpage is an introduction for training providers to the NSW Smart and Skilled program, which provides NSW Government subsidised training. Here you can access guidelines, policies, fee arrangements and support.
What is Smart and Skilled?
Smart and Skilled is a NSW Government program that helps people get qualifications in in-demand skills and industries. It’s a key part of the NSW vocational education and training system.
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.
STS Online and the Smart and Skilled application portal – what’s the difference?
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) that are contracted as Smart and Skilled Providers to deliver subsidised training use STS Online for self-service administration.
Go to our STS login page. Google Chrome or Firefox is required.
New process for overpayments to providers
Inaccuracies in training activity data submitted by training providers to the Department of Education have resulted in overpayments being made.
From 15 March 2023, the Department of Education is introducing a new process for identification notification and recovery of overpayments made to training providers under Smart and Skilled contracts.
Find out more on our new process for overpayment process page.
Which qualifications are included?
The NSW Skills List identifies which qualifications are eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled.
You can also use the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Search to search for qualifications.
Who delivers training for Smart and Skilled?
Approved Smart and Skilled training providers in NSW include TAFE NSW, Adult and Community Education (ACE) colleges and independent providers – visit Skills NSW for more information. Training Services updates approved providers about their responsibilities via this website, emails and logins for RTOs.
On 14 November 2025, the Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, the Hon Steve Whan MP announced changes to funding delivery arrangements for TAFE NSW that remove it from the contestable funding market from Semester 1 2026. TAFE NSW continues to deliver Smart and Skilled training to eligible students. Smart and Skilled contracts and funding for independent providers are not impacted.
Who can receive training under Smart and Skilled?
While eligibility depends on many factors, Smart and Skilled course participants include people who are:
- 15 years or older
- no longer at high school or home-schooled students
- living or working in NSW (or an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in a specific defined interstate NSW border area)
- an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
- the holder of a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) or an applicant for one
- a NSW apprentice or trainee
Read our latest Smart and Skilled Student Eligibility Policy and Low cost and free training options for students.
There are different categories of student fees based on the program, qualification and characteristics of the student.
Support for students experiencing disadvantage
Smart and Skilled can support students experiencing disadvantage through:
- subsidised training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, students with disability and dependants of a person with disability.
- fee exemptions for asylum seekers (and eligible partners) for training up to and including Certificate IV.
- scholarships for training up to and including a Certificate IV for:
- young people who are eligible for a concession fee
- young people who are or have been in out-of-home care
- people who are experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence and their dependants.
- fee concessions for students receiving Commonwealth Government benefits and the dependants of benefit recipients. Visit Disadvantaged students and Subsidised training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for more information.
- fee-free foundation skills courses for people who want help with language, literacy or numeracy skills. Visit Foundation Skills, Community College providers and the NSW Skills List.
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 students experiencing disadvantage.
Visit Smart and Skilled loadings for training providers for details.
Essentials for training providers
Approved Smart and Skilled training providers must:
- deliver quality training
- adhere to Smart and Skilled guidelines and policies
- implement the new fee arrangements
- establish consumer protection processes
- follow the relevant policies and guidelines.
Guidelines and policies for Smart and Skilled
The NSW Quality Framework has important information on regulation, provider selection, eligibility, and assessments.
The framework describes best practice for high quality providers. It encourages behaviour to improve provider performance and promotes a student-centred approach to training.
Visit the NSW Quality Framework page for more information.
Other essential guidelines and policies for approved training providers include:
You can find these and other essential documents on our Contracts and policies for training providers page.
Professional development
Each approved Smart and Skilled training provider must develop and implement a continuing professional development policy. This should include trainers, assessors, administration officers and RTO managers. Refer to the Smart and Skilled Teaching and Leadership Policy for more information.
Protecting consumers and handling complaints
Approved Smart and Skilled training providers must have a consumer protection and complaints-handling system in place, as required by the Smart and Skilled Consumer Protection Strategy, the NSW Quality Framework and the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA). Visit the Consumer protection and complaints handling page.
Prices, fees and loadings
As an approved training provider, you must be aware of the fee arrangements for Smart and Skilled including:
VET student loans
If you're interested in becoming an approved VET student loans provider, the Australian Government's VET Student Loans website provides further information.
More information
For further support and advice for training providers under Smart and Skilled:
- Contact Training Services – a division of the NSW Department of Education that looks after vocational education and training in NSW by emailing tscust.service@det.nsw.edu.au or calling 1300 772 104.
- Visit the Skills NSW website for the latest news about vocational education and training in NSW and to search for a training course near you.
- Find information for vocational education and training providers.
- Find information for providing formal training for apprenticeships and traineeships
- Search for Smart and Skilled courses and providers.