Subsidised Training Under NSW Smart and Skilled Initiative

What is Smart and Skilled?

Smart and Skilled is a reform of the NSW vocational education and training system. It’s helping people get the skills they need to find a job and advance their careers.

Smart and Skilled provides eligible students with:

  •  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.

Am I eligible for subsidised training?

You may be eligible for Smart and Skilled funding 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 humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen

From 2016 students with a Certificate IV or higher qualification will be able to access subsidised Smart and skilled training up to Certificate III level. This means that even if you have a higher-level qualification you may still be eligible to re-train to enter (or re-enter) the workforce.

You can also enrol in subsidised training at Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced level, depending on the availability of funding for these courses. Having completed a Certificate IV or higher-level qualification does not affect eligibility.

For more information on Smart and Skilled eligibility, go to the Are you eligible↗ page on the Smart and Skilled website↗

  • As a condition of your enrolment you are required to give Shield Training Group your Unique Student Identifier (USI). For more information about the USI click here↗, or to create your USI visit this link↗

  • For all approved Smart and Skilled qualifications Shield Training Group requires your consent for the Department of Education and Communities (the Department) to be given your Personal Information that may also be disclosed to other Australian government agencies. You will be asked to complete a consent to use and disclosure of Personal Information to the Department of Education and Communities and other Government Agencies form.

  • Fees apply for your selected course. The fee amount you pay and the government contribution is dependent on your eligibility.

    Fees have been set by the NSW Government for training providers and Signature Training must charge the student as determined from the data you have provided to us. Depending on your eligibility you may be charged the Standard Student – First Qualification fee, Standard Student – Subsequent Qualification fee or Concession fee for disadvantaged students.

    If you are an Australian Government welfare recipient we will need documentation from you that will assist us in calculating your fee.

    The direct link to NSW Smart and Skilled schedule of fees can be accessed at: www.training.nsw.gov.au/smartandskilled/prices_fees.html↗

  • You are eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT). Should your application for RPL and or CT be approved by Signature Training, following the Standards for Registered Training Organisations and the NSW Recognition Framework, the outcomes will be entered to determine any reduction in the course Fee.

    RPL is an assessment process assessing your competence against the competency standards you seek recognition for with the provision of evidence. Please contact Signature Training if you wish to apply for RPL prior to enrolling.

    CT applies when you can provide a Certificate, Statement of Attainment or transcript that has recorded the same unit code and title of a unit included in the enrolled course. You will be asked to provide a copy of your document, which has been witnessed by a JP as having sighted the original, as evidence of your seeking CT. Please contact Signature Training if you wish to apply for CT prior to enrolling.

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Deferring or Discontinuing Subsidised Training

If you wish to defer your course you may do so for up to 12 months from when we have received notification from you. It is hoped that you should not need to discontinue your course. If you wish to discontinue your course we ask that you inform Shield Training Group in writing. Any refunds owing please refer to our Refund Policy.

If you wish to defer or discontinue your course please write with your reasons to:

contact@shieldtraininggroup.edu.au

Consumer Protection Strategy

All Smart and Skilled students and potential students (consumers) have the right to expect that the training they receive is consistent with the national VET regulator’s requirements (the Australian Skills Quality Authority) and the requirements of the Smart and Skilled contract.

The Consumer Protection Strategy:

  • Defines the rights and obligations of students and consumers with respect to their training under Smart and Skilled.

  • Defines the consumer protection obligations of a training provider with a Smart and Skilled contract.

  • Explains the measures the NSW Department of Education (the Department) has implemented to protect the rights of students receiving training under Smart and Skilled.

  • Describes the Smart and Skilled complaints handling and dispute resolution process.

  • Lists other agencies that may assist in the complaints handling process.

Consumer contacts Training Services NSW:

If a consumer cannot resolve their complaint with their training provider then they contact Training Services NSW by