In today’s competitive market, having the right skills and qualifications is important. Vocational education and training (VET) provides practical skills and knowledge aligned with the needs of industry and business, through nationally recognised qualifications.
As Western Australia's economy grows and diversifies, the outlook for jobs is constantly changing. Jobs and Skills WA is the way the State Government prioritises its investment in training to focus on courses that equip people to take up jobs that are or will be in high demand, and in the services provided to support people to achieve successful training and employment outcomes.
Your local Jobs and Skills Centre is your one-stop-shop for information, advice and support about vocational education and training.
Subsidised training
A range of training options and courses are available and subsidised under Jobs and Skills WA. Priority training areas include apprenticeships, eligible traineeships, and priority industry qualifications. Many other important industry qualifications are also subsidised under Jobs and Skills WA, including pre-apprenticeships, general industry training courses, and foundation and equity courses.
The following information provides an overview of the subsidised training, and a list of eligible qualifications and courses. Please note that some courses are included on more than one list. To find out more about your study options and which training providers offer these courses, please use the course search.
Under the Skills Ready program, which launched on 3 July 2020, a number of fee-free skill set short courses were launched to make training affordable and accessible so you can boost your skills and be job ready.
Fee-free course list 2024
(v2: effective February 2024)
Through the Lower fees, local skills program, you can now choose from a selection of over 180 qualifications and enjoy half-price course fees capped to an annual total of $400 for unemployed and concession students and youth (ages 15—24), and $1,200 for non-concession students.
The Western Australian Government and the Department of Training and Workforce Development, through Jobs and Skills WA, want to help build a skilled workforce for WA's future growth and prosperity. Lower fees, local skills aims to stimulate training in job growth areas and support industry sectors that are important to the diversification of the WA economy.
Lower fees, local skills list 2024
(v2: effective March 2024)
Find out more about the Lower fees, local skills program and view the available courses
All apprenticeships and traineeships for new entrants in priority industry areas are subsidised through Jobs and Skills WA. There are more than 500 apprenticeships and traineeships to choose from, in a broad range of industries.
Apprenticeships list 2024
(v1: effective January 2024)
Eligible traineeships list 2024
(v3: effective February 2024)
Pre-apprenticeship and pre-traineeship programs are designed to provide entry level job-ready skills, to help make you more competitive when applying for an apprenticeship or traineeship.
There are many pre-apprenticeship courses on offer in priority industry areas, and subsidised through Jobs and Skills WA. The following lists include pre-apprenticeships and pre-traineeships in schools.
- View the list of pre-apprenticeship courses
(Effective March 2024) - View the list of pre-traineeship courses
(Effective January 2022)
Find out more about pre-apprenticeships and pre-traineeships here
Priority industry qualifications equip students to take up jobs in skilled occupations that are in high demand across Western Australia. The Priority industry qualifications list (PIQL) is updated each year to reflect changes in the WA economy.
Where a job aligns to a priority industry qualification that is no longer in highest demand, the qualification is labelled transitional. Students enrolled in a transitional priority industry qualification in 2020 are advised that the course may be reclassified as a general industry training course in 2021. Where this occurs, any units commenced in 2021 will attract the higher course fee rate that applies to general industry training courses. The transitional qualifications are identified separately in the PIQL.
Priority industry qualifications list 2024
(v1: effective January 2024)
The State Government subsidises courses for many important industry qualifications that fall outside of the priority training courses; these are called general industry training courses. This recognises the benefits training brings to students, to industry and to the State as a whole.
If you would like to study a State Government subsidised general industry training course, please look at the Choosing a training provider information on this website to find out more about courses offered at WA TAFE colleges. Some preferred private training providers also offer a range of general industry training courses to individuals who require additional assistance to access training.
Please note that specific student eligibility requirements apply.
The State Government is committed to supporting students in developing language, literacy, numeracy and employability skills. Employability skills are the skills required for participation in the workplace such as collaboration, problem solving, self-management, digital literacy and technology skills. Around 99% of course costs are subsidised by the State Government, for over 30 foundation skills courses.
The Course in Applied Vocational Study Skills (CAVSS) and the Underpinning Skills for Industry Qualifications (USIQ) course are both delivered free of charge. The Foundation skills course list outlines all the courses that are currently eligible to receive a government subsidy, subject to available budget.
Foundation skills list 2024
(v1: effective January 2024)
Equity courses promote equality of opportunity in gaining access to vocational education and training (VET), or employment. Like foundation skills courses, students pay a relatively small fee for equity courses with around 99% of the course subsidised by the State Government.
The list of equity courses identifies those that are currently eligible to receive a government subsidy, subject to the available budget.
Equity skills list 2024
(v1: effective January 2024)
An existing worker is defined as a person employed with the same employer continuously for more than three months full time or 12 months casual or part time or a combination of both, immediately prior to the commencement date of the training contract.
Eligible existing workers may be subsidised to undertake traineeships at Certificate IV and above level courses that are aligned to state priority occupations.
Existing worker traineeships list 2024
(v2: effective February 2024)
Select Existing worker traineeships list 2024
(v2: effective February 2024)
The WA State Government subsidises a range of courses at diploma and advanced diploma level. These include priority industry qualifications, and general industry training courses.
Many of these courses are also eligible for the Australian Government VET Student Loans program, which provides students with access to loans to help cover training fees.
Higher level course list 2024
(v1: effective January 2024)
Eligibility for subsidised training
You are eligible for a subsidised training place if you have left school, your primary place of residence is in Western Australia and you are:
- an Australian citizen; or
- a permanent visa holder or holder of visa subclass 309, 444, 785, 790, 820 or 826;
- a dependent or spouse of the primary holder of a visa subclass 457; or
- a Bridging Visa E holder (subclasses 050 and 051) and you have made a valid application for a visa of subclass 785 or 790.
Interstate apprentices and trainees may be eligible for publicly funded training in WA.
You can find more information about eligibility requirements in the Department's VET fees and charges policy.
Please contact your TAFE college or private training provider, for further information about eligibility and fees.
Training statistics and reports
The Department of Training and Workforce Development collects and reports a range of statistical information to measure the engagement with, and outcomes of, vocational education and training in the State.
The Department also engages an independent annual Student satisfaction survey annually, to measure the quality of service provided by Western Australia's TAFE colleges.
Find out more about VET statistics and the Student satisfaction survey here
Awards, competitions and scholarships
The Department of Training and Workforce Development provides and/or supports scholarship programs that offer opportunities for people to engage with vocational education and training (VET) in Western Australia. Information about scholarships is available on the Department's website.
WA Training Awards promote Western Australia’s outstanding achievements in vocational education and training (VET). The Awards, held annually, recognise the achievements of a diverse range of people, and a range of award categories are available for students, apprentices, trainees, trainers, organisations and training providers.
WorldSkills WA promotes and develops the skills and talents of VET students aged 23 and under, through competitions that celebrate excellence in different industry areas. State winners can go on to the national competitions, and even on to the international competition to test their skills against the world's best.