Smart and Skilled student information

The NSW Government offers training subsidies through the Smart and Skilled program. You may be able to study for free or at a lower cost. Find out who can apply, available courses and what fees you may pay.

To be eligible for Smart and Skilled, you must:

• live or work in NSW, or

• identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander living in a defined NSW border area.

You can check if your postcode qualifies in the Smart and Skilled Student Eligibility Policy.

You must also:

• be at least 15 years old

• no longer be in secondary education (except if you’re homeschooled)

• be one of the following:

– an Australian citizen

– a permanent resident

– a New Zealand citizen

– a humanitarian visa holder

– a partner visa holder with a humanitarian sponsor

• have a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI).

If you don’t have a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI), you won’t be able to access Smart and Skilled subsidies. You can create your USI or find your existing USI on the USI website. We can also help you create or find your USI when you enrol.

To receive a fee reduction, you must enrol in an eligible Smart and Skilled course.

The following course types on the NSW Skills List - Smart and Skilled are subsidised by the NSW Government:

• certificate I

• certificate II

• certificate III

• certificate IV

• diploma

• advanced diploma

• apprenticeships and traineeships

• short courses (statement of attainment)

• fee-free foundation skills courses, including:

– reading, writing and numeracy skills

– job readiness courses

– pathways to further training or study.

Not all courses are part of Smart and Skilled. To check if a course is eligible, visit course areas.

At TAFE NSW, different Smart and Skilled fees apply depending on your course and circumstances.

You may be able to:

• access fee-free training

• get a fee-free scholarship

• study for free as an apprentice or trainee

• pay a reduced concession fee (if you receive Centrelink payments)

• pay a standard student fee.

Use the fee calculator on each course page to check your estimated fees.

Fee-free training means you do not pay course fees. The government fully subsidises these fees.

Eligibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you may qualify for fee-free training under Smart and Skilled.

You must live or work in NSW or a recognised border area. If you live outside NSW, check your postcode in the Smart and Skilled Student Eligibility Policy.

Eligibility for people with disability

If you have a disability, you may be eligible for fee-free Smart and Skilled training.

You’ll need to provide evidence of your disability or proof you receive the Disability Support Pension (DSP). You may also be eligible if you’re a dependent child, spouse or partner of someone receiving the DSP.

To check your eligibility, visit the NSW Government website.

Eligibility for asylum seekers

If you’re a humanitarian visa holder enrolled in a Smart and Skilled course (certificate I to certificate IV), you may be eligible for fee-free training.

This may also apply to your partner if training starts on or after 1 July 2021. You’ll need to provide your visa and your partner’s visa (if applicable).

To check your eligibility, visit our permanent and temporary visa holders page.

Priority courses and industries

Some courses linked to priority industries are fee-free. Fee-free places are limited and not guaranteed. We’ll let you know if you can apply when you enrol.

Fee-free apprenticeships and traineeships

If you’re a registered apprentice or trainee, you may be eligible for fee-free training.

• Apprenticeships must have started on or after 1 July 2018

• Traineeships must have started on or after 1 January 2020

We’ll apply fee-free training automatically once we receive your training plan proposal.

A fee-free scholarship means you don’t have to pay for your course. Course fees are fully subsidised.

To be eligible for a fee-free scholarship, you must:

• be between 15 and 30 years old

• receive a government payment or benefit

• meet the Smart and Skilled eligibility requirements.

You may also be eligible for a fee-free scholarship if you’ve experienced domestic or family violence, or if you’re currently in, or have previously been in, out-of-home care.

We’ll confirm your fee-free scholarship eligibility when you enrol. If you’re eligible, you can receive up to 2 fee-free scholarships over 4 years.

Domestic or family violence

If you’re experienced domestic or family violence, Smart and Skilled can help you build new skills. You may be eligible for fee-free training for a certificate I to certificate IV qualification.

To be considered for a fee-free scholarship, you’ll need to connect with our counselling and careers development team and provide documentation showing that you’ve accessed a domestic and family violence service.

We’ll keep your information private in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Out-of-home care

You may be eligible for fee-free training for a certificate I to certificate IV qualification if you’re:

• aged 15 to 17 and currently in out-of-home care, or

• aged 18 to 30 and have previously been in out-of-home care.

You’ll also need one of the following documents:

• a Children’s Court Care Order

• a Confirmation of Placement letter

• a leaving care letter from the Minister for Families and Communities

• a letter from the Department of Communities and Justice or another agency

• your care records from the Department of Communities and Justice

• other evidence that shows you are, or have been, in out-of-home care.

For more information on fee-free scholarships, visit the NSW Government website.

If you’re not eligible for fee-free training or a fee-free scholarship, you may still qualify for a Smart and Skilled concession fee. A concession fee is lower than the standard course fee.

Check your eligibility

You may be eligible for a concession fee if you receive a [Commonwealth Government benefit](https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw/apprentices-and-trainees/low-cost-and-free-training-options/disadvantaged-students/commonwealth-government-benefits]{external} payment, or you’re the dependent child, spouse or partner of someone who does.

Before you enrol, we’ll check your eligibility with Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. To do this, we’ll need your Customer Reference Number (CRN) or, in some cases, an income statement.

Commonwealth Government benefit payments include:

• JobSeeker Payment

• Disability Support Pension

• Age Pension

• Austudy (you must have received Austudy for at least 2 weeks before enrolling or starting your course)

• Parenting Payment (single)

• Carer Payment (does not include Carer Allowance or Carer Adjustment Payment)

• Family Tax Benefit Part A (maximum rate)

• Farm Household Allowance

• Special Benefit

• Veterans’ Affairs payments

• Veterans’ Children Education Scheme

• Youth Allowance (you must have received Youth Allowance for at least 2 weeks before enrolling or starting your course).

We’ll ask you to complete a consent form with details of the person receiving the payment so we can confirm eligibility with Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Concession fees are available for qualifications from certificate I to certificate IV. They do not apply to diplomas or advanced diplomas. If you’re studying at diploma level or above, you may be eligible for a VET Student Loan.

VET Student Loans

TAFE NSW is an approved VET Student Loans provider. The program may help you pay for an eligible vocational education and training (VET) course at diploma level or above.

Visit our VET Student Loans page for more information, including eligibility requirements, how to apply and how to repay your loan.

If you’re enrolled in a Smart and Skilled course, you’ll pay the full student fee if you don’t qualify for:

• fee-free training

• a fee-free scholarship

• a concession fee.

If you’re eligible for a reduced student fee, the amount you pay will depend on your circumstances and whether you’re enrolling in your first or second qualification.

Estimate your fee

You can use the fee calculator on any course page to estimate your course fees.

To calculate your fee estimate:

1. Find your course and find a location to enrol.

2. Select ‘Estimate my fee’ and answer a few questions.

Our Enrolment and Student Administration Policy [PDF, 562 KB] outlines payment conditions and refund eligibility.

When you enrol, we’ll need to confirm:

• your eligibility for Smart and Skilled

• your estimated fee with Training Services NSW

• evidence that supports your eligibility.

We must confirm these details before we can finalise your fee. If you’ve already completed a qualification through Smart and Skilled, you won’t be eligible for further subsidies for the same qualification.

If you’ve completed part of a qualification, you may be eligible for additional funding. To maintain your eligibility for future support in a similar qualification, you should formally withdraw from any qualification you no longer intend to complete. If you’d like to recommence your studies, and need assistance, contact us.

Third-party providers

We’ll let you know if another training provider will deliver all or part of your course. Details about course delivery, including any third-party providers involved, will be available on your course page.

Apply for RPL or credit transfer

When you enrol, you can apply to have your previous skills, experience and learning recognised through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or credit transfer.

Defer or withdraw from your course

If you need to change your enrolment, we can support you with deferrals, withdrawals and refunds.

As a TAFE NSW student, you have the right to:

• update personal information we hold about you

• access information about our feedback and complaints process

• expect your education and training to meet Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) regulations and Smart and Skilled contract requirements.

Customer complaints and feedback

The TAFE NSW Customer Complaints and Feedback Policy [PDF, 369 KB] was developed in line with ASQA and Smart and Skilled requirements.

This policy:

• is clear and accessible

• outlines your rights to consumer protection

• explains how we manage and respond to queries, complaints and allegations, including those involving TAFE NSW staff or subcontractors

• outlines how we ensure timely investigations and responses

• identifies our dedicated consumer protection officer and includes their contact details.

Report a problem or concern

You can report a problem or concern to any TAFE NSW employee or by completing our online feedback form. We’ll record your concern and handle it promptly and confidentially.

To learn more, visit our [feedback, compliments and complaints] (https://www.tafensw.edu.au/about/complaints-feedback) page or read our Customer Complaints and Feedback Policy [PDF 238 KB].

If you’re unable to resolve your complaint or aren’t satisfied with the outcome, you can email ConsumerProtection@tafensw.edu.au or raise your concerns with an external body.

TAFE NSW offers a wide range of support services, including:

• study support

• Aboriginal support services

• counselling services

• disability services and support

• educational and careers counselling

• multicultural services and support

• employment support

• childcare services

• library services

• financial services

• international student support.

Explore our student support services.

For more Smart and Skilled information, visit the NSW Government website.

If you need help, call 131 601, chat with us online, visit a TAFE NSW campus or submit an enquiry.

Our counselling services are available if you’re thinking about studying at TAFE NSW.