LEAD RTO | NSW Programs
Smart and Skilled program
This training is subsidised by the NSW Government.
Smart and Skilled is a reform of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. It’s helping people in NSW get the skills they need to find a job and advance their careers.
Smart and Skilled provides eligible students with:
- An entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III
- Government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas.
Further information about Smart and Skilled is available on the link below.
Our Scope
Please see below our list of training qualifications we have available under Smart & Skilled and the prices and student fees and subsidies, current as of 5 August 2024.
| Code | Qualification Title | First Qualification | Second or Further Qualification | Concession | Apprenticeship/ Traineeship (A/T) |
| BSB30120 | Certificate III in Business | $1,320 | $1,580 | $240 | T |
| CHC22015 | Certificate II in Community Services | $830 | $990 | $160 | T |
| CHC30221 | Certificate III in School Based Education Support | $1,600 | $1,930 | $240 | T |
| CHC32015 | Certificate III in Community Services | $1,450 | $1,750 | $240 | T |
| CHC33021 | Certificate III in Individual Support | $1,450 | $1,750 | $240 | T |
| CHC42021 | Certificate IV in Community Services | $1,990 | $2,320 | $240 | T |
| CHC43015 | Certificate IV in Ageing Support | $1,990 | $2,320 | $240 | T |
| CHC43121 | Certificate IV in Disability Support | $1,990 | $2,320 | $240 | T |
| CHC43315 | Certificate IV in Mental Health | $1,990 | $2,320 | $240 | T |
| CHC52021 | Diploma of Community Services | $4,420 | $4,970 | TBA | T |
We strongly suggest that students contact LEAD RTO to discuss your individual circumstances.
We offer fee-free programs, concessions and student contributions under Smart & Skilled.
Eligibility Criteria applies. Below you will find additional information.
We look forward to chatting to you further.
Fee Free
NSW Fee Free – giving people the skills businesses need
NSW Fee Free July to December 2024 improves access to training, including for young people, job seekers, First Nations People, unpaid carers, women undertaking study in non-traditional trades and certain categories of visa holders.
It does this by offering:
- courses that support priority industries, fee-free
- the priority courses at TAFE NSW and other Smart and Skilled contracted training providers, including Adult and Community Education providers.
Access to NSW Fee Free places is limited and is subject to:
- availability of a NSW Fee Free place
- commencing training in a NSW Fee Free priority course between 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024
- meeting the student eligibility requirements below.
Who is eligible?
People who meet Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria and are undertaking a NSW Fee Fee priority course 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.
For further information on what courses are available please visit Skills Compare.
Please note that NSW Fee Free places are limited and a fee free place is not guaranteed. When enquiring with a training provider please ensure you have all the information needed to help you make a decision, including asking about the timeframe for confirming whether a Fee Free place is available to you and what the qualification fee is if a Fee Free place is not available.
Apprentices and trainees
NSW apprentices and some new-entrant trainees may be eligible for a government subsidy for the training that supports their apprenticeship or traineeship.
Under the NSW Government fee-free traineeship initiative, NSW new entrant trainees that commence their training on or after 1 January 2020 may be eligible for fee-free training. For eligible trainees there will be no requirement to pay the fee.
Concessions
Are you eligible for subsidised training?
Smart and Skilled provides government-subsidised training and higher-level courses to help you get skills to find a job and advance your career.
Smart and Skilled provides eligible students with:
- an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III
- government funding for higher-level courses (Certificate IV and above) in targeted priority areas.
Am I eligible?
Are you:
- 15 years old or over?
- no longer at school?
- living or working in NSW?
- an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen?
If you answered ‘Yes’ to all four questions, you’re eligible for Smart and Skilled training.
Other eligibility conditions
Your eligibility is not affected if you have completed a vocational education and training (VET) course, including a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, as part of your high school education.
There are also some exceptions to the eligibility conditions described above, such as for Aboriginal people.
Use the Skills Navigator to find a course and check your eligibility.
Home schooled students
Eligibility for Smart and Skilled is extended to registered home schooled students whose training commences on or after 1 January 2017.
Fee-free training for disadvantaged students
Fee-free training for disadvantaged students
If you have disabilities or are a dependant of a person with disabilities, you may qualify for fee exemptions when you enrol in Smart and Skilled training.
If you’re receiving a Commonwealth Government benefit or are the dependant of a Commonwealth Government benefit recipients, you may be eligible for concession fees when you enrol in Smart and Skilled training.
Students with disabilities
If you meet the disability eligibility criteria, you and your dependants won’t pay fees for your training under Smart and Skilled.
Commonwealth Government Benefit recipients
If you’re eligible for Smart and Skilled and you receive a Commonwealth Government benefit, you can qualify for a concession fee when you enrol in a Smart and Skilled course. View Smart and Skilled training for benefit recipients.
If you’re an eligible students and the dependant of a benefit recipient, you may be exempt from paying a fee or may qualify for a concession fee. For more information, see the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration PolicyExternal link.
Asylum seekers
If you are an asylum seeker and undertaking a Smart and Skilled course (Certificate I to Certificate IV), you may be eligible for fee-free training under Smart and Skilled.
This now includes eligible partners of humanitarian visa holders, for any training that commences from 1 July 2021 onwards.
Smart and Skilled training for students with disabilities
Smart and Skilled training for students with disabilities
Smart and Skilled provides additional support to people with disabilities to access training.
Eligible students with a disability and eligible students who are dependants of Disability Support Pension recipients are exempt from fees for any Smart and Skilled training they undertake.
View Are you eligible? for details on who is eligible for Smart and Skilled.
Eligibility
You are eligible for a fee exemption if:
- you have a disability and you receive the Commonwealth Government Disability Support Pension; or
- you have a disability and can provide a supporting written statement – from a medical practitioner, a Government agency (such as Veteran’s Affairs) or specialist allied health professional – of a clear additional need; or
- you are the dependant of a Disability Support Pension recipient.
Your training provider will ask for evidence that you meet one of the above disability eligibility criteria when you enrol.
Your approved Smart and Skilled training provider can give you further information on the eligibility and evidence requirements. The evidence requirements are also in the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration PolicyExternal link.
Additional support
As an approved Smart and Skilled training providers delivering training to students with disabilities, we receive additional funding to provide extra support to these students. Talk to us what additional support we can provide to you.
What are reasonable adjustments?
Reasonable adjustments are practical changes to education and training designed to allow students with disability to access and participate on the same basis as students without a disability. They must be done in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005 External link.
Testimonials
Great Experience – I highly recommend the program. Gives great insight to Mental Illness and how to manage it in certain situations.
The stand-out aspect of the program was the information and detail. The facilitator showed respect with all questions we asked and explained in detail if we were stuck or needed more clarification. The pictures and graphs used were perfect and content was amazing.
I highly recommend the program. It was a great weekend in a relaxed, supportive environment (considering the topics covered). The stand-out aspect of the program was learning deeper about depression and anxiety. The trainer was an excellent presenter, he was very knowledgeable about the subject.
I have spent my weekend completing a course in Mental Health First Aid and I would recommend it to everyone, whilst I’m no expert, I’ve learned a lot about human behavior and recognition in my life (and will continue to learn more) but I got so much out of this weekend.
I highly recommend the program, its a very worthwhile course. The stand-out aspect of the program was outlining the importance of communication and asking direct honest questions particularly about the mental state of the person.
The trainer was very knowledgeable and experienced, but also someone who is passionate about helping people. This is a very worthwhile course which gives a greater understanding of mental health issues and my ability to provide assistance.
