GOVT Funded Courses NSW

Funded Courses:

  1. Cert III in Early Childhood Education & Care
  2. Diploma in Early Childhood Education & Care
  3. Cert IV in Disability
  4. Diploma of Community Service
  5. Cert IV in School Based Education Support
  6. Cert II in Applied Digital Technologies
  7. Diploma in Information Technology (Cyber security)

What is Smart and Skilled?

Smart and Skilled is the NSW Government’s reform of vocational education and training across the state. Its purpose is to assist people in NSW to acquire the skills they need to find jobs that offer opportunities for growth in the future, by giving more students access to government-subsidised training in priority industry areas. Under Smart and Skilled, the NSW Government will pay part of the student fee on your behalf and all you need to do is pay the balance, which is less than the real price of the qualification.

Courses provided by ACSE under Smart and Skilled:

  • Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Diploma in Community Services
  • Certificate IV in Disability
  • Cert II in Applied Digital Technologies
  • Cert IV in School Based Education Support
  • Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security)

Are you eligible for Smart and Skilled training?

For new students, you are eligible for training under Smart and Skilled if you are:
  • An Australian or New Zealand citizen, permanent resident or humanitarian visa holder
  • Aged 15 years or older and no longer at school
  • Living or working in New South Wales
  • You can check your eligibility by clicking here.
If you meet the above personal eligibility criteria, you can undertake a course offered by ACSE, regardless of any previous qualifications you may hold.

Eligibility exceptions:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students living or working in specified interstate regions closely bordering NSW may also be eligible for training under Smart and Skilled. Refugees and asylum seekers may have eligibility requirements specific to them. Please refer to the Smart and Skilled website here.

How much will I pay?

Fees for Smart and Skilled courses have been set by the NSW Government and will be the same for all NSW training organisations offering government-subsidised courses. The actual amount you will pay will be determined by factors such as the course you choose, your previous post-school qualifications, whether you are a trainee, and whether you are eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning or credit transfer. Please click here for Smart & Skilled Admin Policy.

Exemptions and concessions:

Students with a disability or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their dependents may be eligible for fee exemptions when they enrol in Smart and Skilled government subsidised training. Students receiving welfare benefits and the dependents of welfare recipients may be eligible for concession fees for courses up to Certificate IV. See the Smart and Skilled website for fee Exemptions & concessions.  

How to create a USI

A USI stands for Unique Student Identifier and is a way for the government to issue certifications and qualifications specifically to you.

About the USI

The Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a national government requirement for all students from 1st January 2015. Creating a USI gives you access to your online USI account, which will contain all of your nationally recognised training records and results completed from 1st January 2015 onwards. This will assist when you are commencing employment with a new employer or if you are commencing study with a new registered training organisation (RTO). Under government legislation, training organisations can only issue certification when they have received your USI.

Do I need a USI?

From January 1, 2015, if you are undertaking nationally recognised training, you need to have a USI. This includes studying for a nationally recognised qualification with an RTO, completing an apprenticeship or traineeship, or completing a skill set where you will be issued with an accredited certificate.

How do I apply for a USI?

Creating a Unique Student Identifier (USI) is an easy and free online process. The application process should only take a few minutes to complete. Please follow the steps below to create a USI on this link here :
  1. Choose the evidence of identity document (ID) you will be using to create your USI. Refer to the types of ID you can use .
  2. Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your form of ID.
  3. Select whether you have a first name and a family name or if you only have one name.
  4. Enter your name(s).
  5. Enter, and confirm your date of birth.
  6. Enter your gender.
  7. Enter your country and place of birth.
Your USI will now be displayed on the screen and will have been sent to you by either email, SMS, or via the post. Please keep a record of this number as this USI is yours for life! It is important to record your USI somewhere safe when you have received it as you will be required to provide it for all nationally accredited training that you complete in the future. If you are enrolling in training, your training organisation will need to collect and verify your USI. To help your training organisation to do this, you may want to print or email your USI verification details. You can also set up access for organisations to view and/or update your USI account. You can also set up access for organisations to view your transcript. Providing access to your USI account and your transcript may assist your training organisation to process your enrolment.

Policies:

  1. Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy.
  2. Cancellation and refund policy

Traineeships

What is Traineeship?

Traineeships are a great opportunity to be paid whilst working within an industry. It enables each person to gain knowledge and skills and work towards a qualification. The training contracts combine work-based training with an employer and formal training with ACSE Accredited. ACSE offers traineeships under all the qualifications we train in, including Early Childhood Education and Care, Disability Specialisation, IT courses, and Community Services. They can be completed under full-time or part-time employment contracts. Not all learners enjoy sitting classroom-style delivery, so why not try the hands-on industry experience you will receive as a traineeship student.

What does the day-to-day life look like?

As a trainee, your daily life will consist of full-time or part-time work as per normal with the inclusion of paid study hours (minimum of 3 hours per week). Individually, your daily routine will differentiate depending on what qualification you are studying. Here at ACSE, we offer the following courses:
  • Community Services
  • IT specialisation
  • Disability Specialisation
  • Early Childhood Education and Care

Roles and responsibilities:

During your traineeship period, you have the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge within your role, under the guidance of qualified staff. You can do this by:
  • Accepting and completing instructions given by your manager or supervisor
  • Attending scheduled training delivered by your registered training organisation
  • Completing assessments and other tasks set by your training organisation
  • Maintaining the daily reports or work evidence guide if you have been provided one
  • Always notifying your supervisor if you are running late or unable to come to work
  • Contacting Training Services NSW if there are changes to your personal details or if you have any concerns about completing your apprenticeship or traineeship

Eligibility Checklist:

  • Must be working full-time or part-time – not casual.
  • Australian citizen, permanent resident, or on a Visa. Please be advised only specific Visas are eligible. Contact us to find out if your Visa is eligible for the traineeship program.
New entrants and existing workers have different eligibility criteria for traineeships. Contact your Apprenticeship Support Network Provider to enquire about your eligibility.

Obligations of the trainee:

Your traineeship will be in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001, Vocational Training Guideline. You and your employer will be provided with updates on the progress of your training along with a Training Plan which you will be responsible for working with in order to successfully complete your training.

What is a Training Plan?

The training plan provides what will be undertaken during your training, who will be conducting the training, along with how, when, and where the training will take place. As a trainee, you have the right to choose which RTO you receive your training from and the units of competence you will receive.

Is a traineeship for me?

Ask yourself these questions before taking part in a traineeship program:
  • Are you determined?
  • Can you manage multiple tasks or requirements?
  • Can you juggle both work and study?
  • Do you have good time management skills?
  • Please visit this link for more details here.