Finding courses and training providers

For information about training courses, employment information and subsidised training available in NSW visit:

• Your Career – NSW subsidised courses
• Your Career – apprenticeship and traineeship subsidised courses

Please be aware the delivery location and fee information provided for NSW on Your Career may be incorrect.

Please check with your preferred training provider for further information about the qualification, subsidies, fees, delivery location and funding places availability.

To search all courses available in Australia, visit Your Career – course finder.

Smart and Skilled

Smart and Skilled provides government-subsidised training to help you get skills to get a job and advance your career.

Smart and Skilled provides eligible students with:

• an entitlement to government-subsidised training in Certificate I, II and III level qualifications
• government subsidies for higher-level courses (Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications) in targeted priority areas.

Eligible students undertaking a course subsidised by Smart and Skilled may be able to have the student fee reduced or may be able to undertake training fee-free in certain circumstances.

TAFE NSW

TAFE NSW is the largest provider of government subsidised training in NSW and Smart and Skilled student eligibility, student fees, and fee free criteria also apply to TAFE NSW subsidised courses.

Home schooled students

Eligibility for Smart and Skilled has been extended to registered home schooled students.

Home schooled students registered with the NSW Education Standard Authority until 5 May 2025 and with the NSW Department of Education from 6 May 2025, are eligible for Smart and Skilled. 

Types of courses you're eligible for

Your eligibility for a government-subsidised Smart and Skilled course no longer depends on previous qualifications:

• All students, regardless of the level of any previous qualifications held, can 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. Previous qualifications do not affect eligibility but may affect the student fee.
• You can also enrol in subsidised training at Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level, depending on the availability of funding for these courses.

For more information, refer to Smart and Skilled eligibility .

Apprentices and trainees – Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria

An apprentice or trainee is eligible to receive Subsidised Training if:

• at the time of Commencement is an NSW Apprentice or New Entrant Trainee and has an approved Training Contract in NSW; and
• the qualification that is being undertaken is on the NSW Skills List for Smart and Skilled; and
• the qualification that is being undertaken is shown on their Training Contract.

Student Fees for Smart and Skilled/TAFE NSW subsidised courses

All providers of government subsidised training in NSW must charge the same student fees and apply the same fee policies, including fee exemptions, concessions, scholarships, waivers and fee free courses.

Each qualification has two levels of fees for most students. The First qualification fee applies if the course you are enrolling in is your first qualification since leaving school. The Subsequent qualification fee applies when students undertake a second or further post school qualification.

Most courses from Certificate II to Certificate IV level will also have a concession fee. The concession fee applies when the student is in receipt of a specified benefit or allowance or meets other concession eligibility requirements.

Contact your Smart and Skilled Provider or TAFE NSW for more information about fees and concession fee eligibility.

NSW Fee Free

NSW Fee Free including NSW Fee Free and NSW Fee Free Construction – giving people the skills they need for the jobs they want.

Available for students commencing training by 31 December 2026.

NSW Fee Free and NSW Fee Free Construction is offered in conjunction with Smart and Skilled to make even more courses in areas of Australian and NSW Government priority fee free. Growing NSW’s workforce in critical skills areas to support our economy and community.

It does this by offering:

• Fee free access to courses that support priority industries delivered by a high-quality network of public, community and private training providers including TAFE NSW.

Access to NSW Fee Free places is limited and is subject to:

• availability of NSW Fee Free or NSW Fee Free Construction places
• commencing training in a NSW Fee Free or NSW Fee Free Construction priority course, where places are available.
• meeting the student eligibility requirements below.

NSW Fee Free Qualifications List

To find out which qualifications are available for NSW Fee Free, download the NSW Skills List and filter Column C – Additional Arrangements – NFF Jan-Jun 2026, there are currently 102 qualifications available under NSW Fee Free.

NSW Fee Free Construction (NFF-C Jan-Jun 2026, 49 qualifications are available).

Places are still available; please check with your preferred training provider.

NSW Skills List Prices and Fees

The NSW Government sets the qualification prices and student fees for government-subsidised training under Smart and Skilled.

You may be eligible for a concession or full fee exemption, subject to you meeting the Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria. This can be discussed with your provider of choice during enrolment.

For more information, refer to Qualification prices and student fees and subsidies.

Guidance for using the Smart and Skilled Qualification Prices and Fees

• Download the Excel version and open the file
• Click on Enable Editing
• Search (Ctrl F) for the course of choice
• The course may be offered as a stand-alone full qualification and or as an Apprenticeship or Traineeship – refer to Column E for Program options.

NB: Currently in NSW, all Traineeship and Apprenticeship qualifications are fully subsidised and are fee free.

• The full Smart and Skilled course price (Column D) is listed.
• Columns J and K indicate the first and second/further qualification student fees applicable for Smart and Skilled training.
• Column L indicates the concession fees for eligible students.
• $0 fees indicate the qualification is fully subsidised and students do not pay the course fee.
• Columns M to P contain information for training providers about fee loadings available.

Scenario: I am currently living in NSW, I am 21 years old, receiving JobSeeker Payment and interested in completing a Certificate III in the care sector. What courses are available and how much are the student fees?

Action: Search for the care training you are most interested in – there may be several options for training you might like to consider. Based on your current circumstances, you may be eligible for a fee concession of $240. You may also be eligible for fully subsidised enrolment if you enrol in the traineeship program. Seek advice from a provider that offers the training you are interested in.

Fee Free Apprenticeships and Traineeships

All subsidised apprenticeship and traineeship courses are fee free.

NSW Fee Free Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program

Available for students commencing training by 31 December 2026.

Thinking about a future in the construction industry but not sure where to start? The NSW Fee Free Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program gives you the chance to explore construction trades, build practical skills, and get a feel for real work environments — all at no cost to you.

Funded jointly by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments through the Fee-Free TAFE Skills Agreement, this program offers short, targeted training (known as “part qualifications”) drawn from real construction apprenticeship and traineeship pathways. It’s designed to help you:

• try out a construction-related trade
• build skills that boost your job readiness
• make informed decisions about which apprenticeship or traineeship you want to pursue
• prepare for a smooth transition into the construction industry.

Whether you’re considering a trade in housing, infrastructure, or another construction field, this program gives you a valuable taster before you commit to a full apprenticeship or traineeship.

Who is eligible?

People who meet Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria may be eligible for a fee free place. The Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria:

• 15 years old or over
• no longer at school
• living or working in NSW
• an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder, or New Zealand citizen.

Start exploring your future in construction today.

For more information, please contact your local Training Services Regional Office.