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:
A person who is eligible to receive Subsidised Training in the Smart and Skilled Entitlement Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program is a person who:
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship fees apply to NSW Apprentices undertaking training in a qualification offered on the NSW Skills List as part of an apprenticeship pathway that supports their apprenticeship.
NSW apprentices who are funded under Smart and Skilled, and who commence subsidised training on or after 1 July 2018 will be fully funded by NSW government for their apprenticeship qualification. Please contact the RTO for further information and eligibility requirements.
For apprentices who are not eligible for the above, the qualification delivered to an apprentice under an apprenticeship pathway is capped at $2,000.
Traineeship
Traineeship fees apply to NSW New Entrant Trainees undertaking training in a qualification offered on the NSW Skills List as part of a traineeship pathway that supports their traineeship.
NSW trainees who are funded under Smart and Skilled and commence subsidised training on or after 1 January 2020 will be fully funded by NSW government for their traineeship qualification. Please contact the RTO for further information and eligibility requirements.
For trainees who are not eligible for the above, the qualification delivered to a trainee under a traineeship pathway is capped at $1,000.
Smart and Skilled Entitlement Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program | |
Qualification Code | Qualification name |
CPC30220 | Certificate III in Carpentry |
CPC30320 | Certificate III in Concreting |
CPC31420 | Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing |
CPC31220 | Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining |
CPC31320 | Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling |
This training is subsided by the NSW government.
The User Choice program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees. The program aims to provide funding aligned to the skills needs of industry and respond to changing government priorities.
This program provides the flexibility for apprentices, trainees and their employers to select a preferred registered training organisation (RTO) from a list of Skills Assure Suppliers (SAS) for the delivery of nationally recognised, accredited training to meet their specific needs. The program works in conjunction with the Commonwealth Australian Apprenticeships system, under which apprentices and trainees (also known in some jurisdictions as “Australian Apprentices”) enter into legally binding training contracts with their employers and receive structured training to achieve a nationally recognised qualification.
To be eligible to receive subsidised training under the User Choice program you must:
Student Co-contribution Fees are an apprentice’s contribution to the cost of tuition. As an apprentice under the User Choice funding program, it is mandatory to pay Student co-contribution Fees. Student co-contribution Fees are currently set at $1.60 per nominal hour for each unit of competency [as set by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT)]. These fees may change at the discretion of the Department. The apprentice’s employer may pay the student co-contribution fee on behalf of the apprentice.
Apprentices may be eligible for a partial or full exemption from these fees if they provide evidence, they are eligible for concession – please get in touch to find out more.
Student contribution fees apply for all units of competency (including any which are achieved by recognition of prior learning) unless you have previously achieved the unit of competency (either the same unit(s) name and code or deemed equivalent) and provide a Statement of Attainment as evidence.
Student contribution fees are payable prior to commencing training in the unit of competency. You may apply for exemption at any time for fees that have not yet been charged.
Free apprenticeships for under 21s
To be eligible, an apprentice or trainee must be under 21 years of age and commence in a Training Contract on or after 1 July 2019 in a designated Free apprenticeship qualification specified on the department’s User Choice Price List. Other eligible apprentices or trainees are those:
Free apprenticeships for under 25s
To be eligible, an apprentice or trainee must be aged between 21 years and under 25 years of age and commence in a Training Contract on or after 1 January 2021 in a designated Free apprenticeship qualification specified on the department’s User Choice Price List. Other eligible apprentices or trainees are those:
The Certificate 3 Guarantee supports eligible individuals to complete their first post-school certificate III level qualification and increase their skills to move into employment, re-enter the workforce or advance their career.
Once a certificate III level qualification or higher-level qualification is completed post school participants will no longer be eligible for a subsidised training place under the Certificate 3 Guarantee program. For more information see the Queensland Government Certificate 3 Guarantee student factsheet.
To be eligible for the Certificate 3 Guarantee you must meet the following criteria:
Certificate 3 Guarantee | ||||
Qualification Code | Qualification name | Number of Units | Co-contribution fee (Non – Concessional) | Co-contribution fee (Concessional) |
CPC30320 | Certificate III in Concreting | 22 | $1,100.00 ($50.00 per unit) | $660.00 ($30.00 per unit) |
CPC10120 | Certificate I in Construction | 11 | $110.00 ($10.00 per unit) | $44.00 ($4.00 per unit) |
Useful links for more information
Vocational education and training (VET) courses are available to students while they are still at school. This is often referred to as VETiS.
VET is learning which is directly related to work. Nationally recognised qualifications are developed by industry to give people the knowledge and skills they need to work in a particular job.
You can undertake VET at school:
To be eligible to access a VETiS qualification funded by the Queensland Government, prospective students must:
Under the VETiS program, the training provided is fee-free to school students and additional costs are met by the school.
VETiS | ||||
Qualification Code | Qualification name | Number of Units | Co-contribution fee (Non – Concessional) | Co-contribution fee (Concessional) |
CPC10120 | Certificate I in Construction | 11 | $0 ($0 per unit) | $0 ($0 per unit) |
VET in Schools (VETIS) who withdraw from training, which is funded under QLD funding initiative, and did not pay any fees, will not receive a refund.
If you’re currently working or have experience in the Queensland building and construction industry, you may be able to study courses subsidised by Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ). CSQ is an independent industry-funded body supporting employers, workers, apprentices, and career seekers in the building and construction industry.
CSQ provides funding to reduce the financial obstacle to training, making upskilling an affordable option for many more individuals in the building and construction industry.
Through its Training Plan, Construction Skills Queensland will provide Funding to the RTO for Training and Assessment Services in the Program
The Skills Assessment and Gap Training (SAGT) program provides a pathway for eligible students with significant industry experience to have their skills recognised and receive the gap training required to achieve a nationally recognised qualification.
To be eligible for funding, participants must be eligible workers or unemployed eligible workers in the civil construction or building and construction industries in Queensland who are one of the following:
AND MUST NOT BE:
Eligible workers must be employed in Queensland. Participants must be able to demonstrate Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) experience in 70% or more of the competencies required to complete the full qualification.
A participant must undertake a minimum of two (2) gap training competencies and a maximum of ten (10). Additional eligibility requirements may apply.
Eligible workers must be employed in Queensland. Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact Everthought Education for more information. The Skills Assessment and Gap Training program is an initiative of Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ). Eligibility criteria applies to all CSQ funded programs.
The higher qualifications program helps existing workers in the building and construction industry to progress their career or those who are unemployed to gain new skills to get a new start. Certificate IV and higher-level vocational training qualifications are available under this program. Current and recently completed apprentices and trainees may also be eligible for this program.
To be eligible for funding, participants must be eligible workers (including relevant clerical, administration and professional staff), an eligible apprentice or trainee (who has completed at least 50% of their training) or unemployed eligible workers (i.e. unemployed for four years or less) in the civil construction or building and construction industries in Queensland who are one of the following:
AND MUST NOT BE:
Eligible workers must be employed in Queensland. Additional eligibility requirements may apply. Please contact Everthought Education for more information. The Higher Qualifications program is an initiative of Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ). Eligibility criteria applies to all CSQ funded programs.
Higher qualifications program | |||||
Unit Code | Unit name | Units Funded | CSQ Contribution per Unit | Max. Funding per Qualification | Student Contribution Per Qualification |
CPC40120 | Certificate IV in Building and Construction | 19 | $298.42 | $5,670.00 | $500.00 |
CPC50220 | Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) | 27 | $383.04 | $10,342.00 | $500.00 |
CPC50320 | Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) | 15 | $338.80 | $5,082.00 | $500.00 |
CPC60220 | Advanced Diploma of Building and Construction (Management) | 10 | $446.50 | $4,465.00 | $500.00 |
Skills Assessment and Gap Training | ||||
Unit Code | Unit name | CSQ Contribution | Student Contribution per Qualification | |
Skill assessment per Qualification | Gap training per unit | |||
AHC30921 | Certificate III in Landscape Construction | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
CPC30220 | Certificate III in Carpentry | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
CPC30320 | Certificate III in Concreting | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
CPC30620 | Certificate III in Painting and Decorating | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
CPC31220 | Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
CPC31320 | Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
CPC31420 | Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
CPC33020 | Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
MSF31113 | Certificate III in Cabinet Making | $1,500.00 | $400.00 | $500.00 |
Students in Western Australia wishing to enrol into an apprenticeship or traineeship pathway may be eligible for funding under the Western Australia Department of Training and Workforce Development’s Apprenticeship Office. The Office registers and administers training contracts and regulates the apprenticeship system in Western Australia, in accordance with Part 7 of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 (the Act) and the associated Regulations.
A training contract is a legally binding agreement between the employer and the apprentice or trainee. In signing the training contract, both parties are bound by certain obligations expressed in the contract. The training contract sets out the terms of the apprenticeship or traineeship, which are agreed to by both the employer and the apprentice or trainee, such as:
A person wishing to undertake apprenticeship/traineeship training:
For more information/any exceptions on eligibility please contact Everthought College of Construction.
Fees and charges for students undertaking publicly funded vocational education and training (VET) in Western Australia will be collected in accordance with the provisions of the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996, Vocational Education and Training (Colleges) Regulations 1996.
Qualification Name | Indicative fees* | |
+Reduced Fee – Concession | +Reduced Fee – Non-Concession | |
Certificate III in Carpentry | $400.00 (Maximum)* | $1200.00 (Maximum)* |
Certificate III in Painting and Decorating | $400.00 (Maximum)* | $1200.00 (Maximum)* |
Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling | $384.12 | $1200.00 (Maximum)* |
Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying | $365.69 | $1200.00 (Maximum)* |
*The student tuition fees are indicative only and are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees are approximate totals and may vary based on units selected within qualification.
DTWD requires students receiving funding under the Lower Fees and Local Skills program to contribute towards the cost of their course/training. The fee may be paid on the student’s behalf by a third party (but not by ECOC). Where the student is required to pay fees personally, they will be given an itemised invoice.
The maximum course fee for non-concession students undertaking a Lower Fees and Local Skills course in 2023 is $1,200. For concession students and youth, the maximum course fee for undertaking a Lower Fees and Local Skills course in 2023 is $400, if you’re aged 15—24 and have left school or eligible for a concession. Additional fees may apply such as resource fees.
Eligibility for the concession rate on course fees is determined at the time of enrolment. The following students are entitled to the concession rate on course fees.
For the Workforce Australia, or the ParentsNext program, appropriate evidence of a student’s eligibility for concession is a letter from the Commonwealth services provider confirming the student’s participation in the program. If the concession is valid for the full enrolment period, then all eligible units the student enrols in within that period attract the concession rate. If the concession is valid for part of the enrolment period, then only eligible units the student enrols in on or after the start date and prior to the expiry of the concession attract the concession rate.
Students undertaking an Apprenticeship or Traineeship with DTWD will need to pay their fees up-front, or by instalments. Students who wish to pay by instalments will be given a minimum of eight weeks from the commencement of a unit to finalise their payments, and collection will be dealt with as per normal procedure for all students.
Everthought College of Construction may waive all fees and charges for students that we assess as being in severe financial hardship for courses below diploma level and concession-eligible Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses. Whether a student is in severe financial hardship is to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Students are entitled to a full refund of the applicable course fee, resource fee and other fees where:
Students can apply for part refund, – Everthought College of Construction sets the withdrawal date for each unit of competency (no less than 20% of the way through the time when the unit is undertaken).
Students who withdraw for reasons other than those outlined in full refund and who lodge a withdrawal form before the census/withdrawal date for a unit will be eligible for a full refund of the course fee for the unit; and
Students can apply for a pro rata refund of fees and charges at any time during the course of delivery if the student withdraws for reasons of personal circumstances beyond their control.
For example:
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