Finance businesses are taking advantage of the NSW Government’s fee-free traineeships to meet the surging demand for financial services and mortgage brokers as Australians look to refinance their loans during the current economic downturn. 

The Federal Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme paired with the newly announced Home Builder program and the efforts by banks to provide relief to households by offering attractive fixed interest rates, has contributed to the demand for financial services such as mortgage broking. 

Orange local Glenn Atkinson (pictured, right) has been recruited by pmw Finance, a division of accounting, business and financial advisory firm pmwPlus, while he studies a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking at TAFE NSW to become a fully accredited mortgage broker. Under the NSW Government’s fee-free traineeship program.   

Pmw Finance Mortgage Broker, Matt Derham, said: “The course allowed Glenn to achieve the level of expertise we required in order to help our clients.” 

“Since the outbreak of the pandemic we’ve seen a steep increase in queries from clients concerned about the current climate and Glenn, thanks to the speed of which he was able to complete the course, has been able to diligently look after those clients.”

“Glenn has been a great asset to our team and the practical skills he’s picked up in his TAFE NSW course along with his knowledge of the industry is shining through in his work.”  

Glenn worked in the banking sector for eight years and wanted to use this period to upskill his career and pursue his passion for property. 

“In times like these people are in need of financial assistance and advice and I wanted to help people recover from this COVID pandemic in the best way I know how. 

“TAFE NSW has a great reputation in the industry and my teachers were well-equipped to teach the practical skills I needed,” Glenn said. 

The TAFE NSW course is delivered in a blended format, where students complete the course flexibly and at their own pace online. As part of the course, students also have a dedicated support teacher they can contact to answer any questions. Additional support is provided via weekly face-to-face sessions at TAFE NSW or online connected sessions from anywhere in the state. 

TAFE NSW Banking, Accounting and Finance teacher, Debra Anderson, said completing the course at TAFE NSW gives students a competitive edge in the industry. 

“The Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking not only gives students the minimum qualification to work as a mortgage broker, it also allows accreditation with ASIC to sell Tier 2 products like insurance and deposit products, making TAFE NSW one of only a few Registered Training Organisations to offer this,” Ms Anderson said. 

“As well as this, students can enrol in the course at any time in the year, allowing them to be qualified faster and pursue their dream job without delay.” 

Under the NSW Government’s fee-free apprenticeship and traineeship initiative, the government will pay the course cost for 70,000 new traineeships for businesses.  

To enrol in a finance course at TAFE NSW, visit https://www.tafensw.edu.au/course/-/c/c/FNS40815-01/Certificate-IV-in-Finance-and-Mortgage-Broking or call 161 601.  

Media contact: Jessica Cortis, Media and Communications Business Partner, 0456 170 211.