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What is Smart & Skilled?

Smart and Skilled is a reform of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. It helps people in NSW get the skills they need to find a job and advance their careers.

 

The Smart and Skilled program provides eligible learners 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.

 

From 2015, Smart and Skilled introduces new prices and fee arrangements for government-subsidised courses. The NSW Government contributes to the cost of each course and the learner pays the balance. Fees are for the whole course, rather than year-by-year. Fee exemptions and concessions are also available for disadvantaged learners.

Who is eligible for Smart and Skilled

Are you:

 

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

 

If you answered ‘Yes’ to all four questions, then you’re eligible to enrol in a government-subsidised course with an approved Smart and Skilled training provider.

Are you eligible for Smart and Skilled?

Unique Student Identifier (USI)

Everyone undertaking a nationally-recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualification in Australia needs a Unique Student Identifier (USI). Anyone who is thinking about doing a VET course can also get a USI.

WHAT'S A USI?

A USI is like an account number with 10 numbers and letters. It looks something like this: 3AW88YH9U5.

 

It allows you to access a transcript of records for all the vocational education and training qualifications that you achieve from 1 January 2015 onwards. This is useful if you’re asked to provide your training records when applying for a job or enrolling in other courses.

 

You only need one USI, and it’s yours for life.

DO I NEED A USI FOR SMART AND SKILLED TRAINING?

Under Smart and Skilled, you will need to give your USI to us when you enrol in your Smart and Skilled course.

 

We will also ask for your consent to give State Training Services (STS) access to your USI. This enables STS to view your training profile to validate your eligibility for Smart and Skilled training and your fees. You will have to go to your USI account at the USI Registry to do this.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A USI?

If you do not already have a USI when you enrol into training with METS, we will assist you by applying for a USI on your behalf!

Apply Here

If you’re not eligible for Smart and Skilled training, we offer other training options, including fee-for-service traineeships and self-funded study.

Want to learn how METS can assist you?