Smart and Skilled

The NSW Government offers subsidies for training via the Smart and Skilled program. This page provides details on checking eligibility for the program and available courses. It also has information about fees, including options for fee-free courses.

To be eligible for Smart and Skilled, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be aged 15 or older.

• Live or work in NSW.

• Have completed year 10 or equivalent and are no longer at school in secondary education.

• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder, New Zealand citizen or a partner visa holder whose sponsor is a humanitarian visa holder.

You will need to enrol in an eligible Smart and Skilled course to qualify for a reduction of your fees. Find a course to enrol in and check your eligibility.

The following NSW Skills List course types are subsidised by the NSW Government:

• Certificate I

• Certificate II

• Certificate III

• Certificate IV

• Diploma

• Advanced Diploma

• Apprenticeship and Traineeship courses

• Short courses (Statement of Attainment)

• Fee-free foundation skills courses to help with reading, writing, numeracy skills; courses to help you get a job, and courses to further your training or study.

Not every course qualifies for the Smart and Skilled program. To find out if the course you’re interested in qualifies, check our course page.

At TAFE NSW we have different types of Smart and Skilled fees. Depending on the course and your circumstances, you may:

• access fee-free training through the Smart and Skilled program

• qualify for a fee-free scholarship

• be eligible for free training as an apprentice or trainee

• pay a reduced concession fee based on your Centrelink eligibility

• pay standard student fees.

Use the fee calculator on each course page to estimate the course fees. Read on to find out more about the different fee options we provide.

Fee-free training means you don’t have to pay for your course. The course fees are fully subsidised.

Eligibility for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples

If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you may qualify for free courses under the Smart and Skilled program. This assistance is available if you reside or work in New South Wales (NSW) or in nearby border areas. If you live outside of NSW, you can verify if your postcode qualifies by checking the postcodes on this form.

Eligibility for people living with disability

If you live with disability, or are the dependant of a Disability Support Pension recipient, you are exempt from fees for any Smart and Skilled training you undertake. To see if you qualify, please check the Smart and Skilled website.

Eligibility for asylum seekers

If you are an asylum seeker enrolled in a Smart and Skilled course (Certificate I to Certificate IV), you may be eligible for fee-free training. This eligibility also extends to the partners of humanitarian visa holders for any training commencing from July 1, 2021, onwards. You will need to provide your visa and your partner's visa as evidence. To check your eligibility, visit Temporary Visa Holders - TAFE NSW.

Priority courses and industries

Some courses that support priority industries are fee-free at TAFE NSW. Fee-free places are limited, and are not guaranteed. When you enrol you will be advised if you are able to apply for a fee-free place.

Fee-free Apprenticeships and Traineeships

If you are a registered apprentice or trainee you could be eligible for free training under Smart and Skilled. Apprenticeships qualify if they started on or after 1 July, 2018. Traineeships qualify if they started on or after 1 January, 2020. TAFE NSW will apply the fee-free training automatically if we have received your Training Plan Proposal.

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

Check your eligibility if you are 15-30 years

The following criteria must be satisfied to access a fully-subsidised, free-free scholarship:

• You will need to show evidence that you are aged between 15-30 years.

• You receive a government payment(s) or benefit(s).

• You can meet the rules for Smart and Skilled.

If you can meet the criteria above, you are eligible to receive one fee-free scholarship each year. We will let you know if you have been accepted as a fee-free scholarship student when you enrol. You can also receive up to two fee-free scholarships over four years. Learn more.

Check your eligibility if your circumstances involve domestic or family violence

If you have experienced domestic or family violence you can get free training for a Certificate I to Certificate IV through Smart and Skilled to help you build new skills or find a new job. When you enrol, you’ll need to let us know about your situation, but be assured we’ll keep your information private and safe, following our privacy policy.

You will also need a letter from:

• a domestic and family violence service

• a refuge

• another support service that knows your situation

Check your eligibility if you are, or have been, in out-of-home care

If you are aged 15-17 years and currently in out-of-home care or aged 18-30 years and have previously been in out-of-home care, you are eligible to get free training to study a Certificate I through to a Certificate IV level qualification.

When you enrol, you’ll need to let us know about your situation, but we’ll keep your information private and safe, following our privacy policy.

You will also need:

• a Children’s Court Care Order

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

• any other documentation that clearly shows your current or previous state of being in out-of-home care.

Call us on 131 601 or send an enquiry if you have questions. We’re here to help make your path to learning as smooth as possible.

If you’re not eligible to receive fee-free training or a fee-free scholarship, you might pay a concession fee. This is less than the full student fee for the course.

Check your eligibility

You may be able to pay lower fees if you get an eligible Centrelink payment. TAFE NSW will check with Centrelink to see if you can pay the cheaper concession fee before you enrol. To check this, we will need your Customer Reference Number (CRN) or in some cases, an Income Statement.

These Centrelink payments include:

• JobSeeker Payment
• Disability Support Pension
• Age Pension
• Austudy
• Parenting Payment (Single)
• Carer Payment
• Family Tax Benefit Part A (maximum rate)
• Farm Household Allowance
• Special Benefit
• Veterans' Affairs Payments
• Veterans' Children Education Scheme
• Widow Allowance
• Youth Allowance.

If you are a Commonwealth Government Benefit recipient, or if you're the dependent child, spouse or partner of someone who is, you may pay a lower fee for your training.

You will need to complete the consent form showing the payment recipient, so your details can be confirmed with Centrelink or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Concession fees are available for courses from certificate I to certificate IV level. If you want to do a diploma or advanced diploma, concession fees do not apply.

If you are enrolled in a Smart and Skilled course, you will pay the full student fee if you don’t qualify for fee-free training, a fee-free scholarship or a concession.

If you do pay reduced student fees, the fee you pay for your study depends on your situation and whether it’s your first or second course. You can use the fee calculator on any course page to estimate your fees for that course.

Follow these steps to check your fee estimate:

1. Find your course - go to the course page you're interested in.

2. Calculate your fee - click on the ‘Calculate your fee’ button and answer some questions.

You can call us on 131 601, visit a TAFE NSW campus, or submit an enquiry to learn more.

When you enrol, we will need to confirm your:

• eligibility for Smart and Skilled

• estimated fee with Training Services NSW

• evidence to support your eligibility.

These will need to be confirmed before we can confirm your fee.

If you have completed a course under Smart and Skilled, please note that you are unable to access further subsidies for that same course.

If you have completed part of a course, you might be able to secure more funding. However, you need to formally withdraw from any courses to keep your chances of receiving support for a similar course, in the future. If you would like to recommence your studies in the same course and need assistance, please contact us if you need help.

Students who do not provide a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) are not entitled to subsidies under Smart and Skilled. You can find your USI or create a new one using the USI website.

For more information on Smart and skilled, please visit the Smart and Skilled website.