Smart & Skilled Entitlement Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program
(NSW Trainees and Apprentices)
- Funding
- NSW Smart & Skilled
About The Fund
- .
Smart and Skilled is a NSW Government program that offers subsidised training for
courses on the NSW Skills List, which identifies industry areas that need more
qualified workers.
Whether you’re a school student, a school leaver, re-entering the
workforce, advancing your career or changing careers, an apprenticeship or
traineeship is one of the best ways to get hands-on training and a nationally
recognised qualification while being paid.
Traineeships are a proven pathway to well-paid jobs in a diverse range
of careers. In NSW, traineeships are also fee free.
There’s never been a better time to start a traineeship in NSW. The NSW
Government is paying the course cost for 70,000 new traineeships – meaning
trainees undertaking a government funded traineeship course no longer face a
student fee of up to $1000.
Traineeships are a great career pathway. They combine on-the-job
training with formal study to give you the skills and experience employers are
looking for. Traineeships generally take around 1-2 years to complete, and
trainees earn a salary while they learn
There are more than 390 traineeship courses funded in NSW, in a range of
industries including early childhood, health and allied services, business, IT,
hospitality and warehouse operations
Search all NSW traineeships funded under Smart and Skilled
Discover the top 20 traineeship courses
Funding Options
Courses Eligible For Funding
Certificate III in Business
BSB30120
Certificate III in Business (Business Administration)
BSB30120
Certificate III in Business (Customer Engagement)
BSB30120
Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations
RII20220
Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations
RII30120
Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
RII30820
Fund Details
General Training Pathway Eligibility:
- Aged 15 years or older.
- Not a school student.
- Permanently reside in Queensland.
- Australian citizen, permanent resident (including humanitarian entrant), eligible temporary resident, or New Zealand citizen.
- Must not already hold a Certificate III or higher qualification completed in the last 10 years (school qualifications and foundation skills excluded).
- Must not be enrolled in another qualification (excluding foundation skills).
Apprenticeship/Traineeship Pathway Eligibility:
- School students can only access via a school-based apprenticeship/traineeship (SAT).
- Must be employed and have a registered training contract for an eligible qualification.
- If from overseas, must have a visa permitting work in Australia.
- Must not have already completed two apprenticeships/traineeships within the last 10 years (including SATs).
Want more information about the Queensland Government User Choice Program ? Check out the below resources!
If it turns out that you are eligible for government funding, we want to make sure you know that there will still be a cost involved in your training – but don’t worry, it’s not too much!
You’ll need to pay a small co-contribution fee as part of your course. Student contribution fees under the User Choice program are currently calculated at $1.60 per nominal hour for each unit of competency/module and are worked out when you start each module. If you hold a concession card, then great news -you’ll only be charged 40% of the student contribution fee! Keep in mind that these fees may change annually however, so please check back with us regularly to make sure you know what’s happening.
Concessional student status applies when the student falls into one of the following categories:
- Holds a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds such a card and is named on the card.
- Holds an official form issued under Commonwealth law confirming that they, their partner, or the person of whom they are a dependant is entitled to concessions under a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card.
- Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
- Has a disability.
- Is an adult prisoner.
Please note: if you are applying for concessional rates, you will need to provide evidence of the above.
For our refund policy, please see the Gold Training Student Handbook for our terms, conditions and cancellations policy.
Not sure if your eligible for the User Choice? Use our funding eligibility checker to find out now!
Benefits of employing a trainee
By employing an apprentice or a trainee, you provide training in ‘your way of doing the job‘ and by having staff trained your way from the start, you can increase your business’ efficiency and productivity.
Financial incentives may be available to employers (dependent upon the qualification). Please visit the Queensland Government website for more information on the financial incentives and benefits involved with employing a trainee or an apprentice.