There's never been a better time to get into training!

From 1 January 2023, Job Ready skill sets will be 100% fee-free for everyone*. All fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government, so that there is no cost to you.

From 1 January 2023, course fees for selected qualifications will also be free for everyone*. There may be some additional fees that apply for these qualifications — please see the FAQs below about fees.

*Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training from 1 January 2023. Please refer to the information under Who can access subsidised training such as the free or reduced-fee qualifications? 

• If you commenced units in a course or skill set prior to it becoming free from 1 January 2023, you will pay the regular course fee rate for those units until 31 December 2022. Training will become fee-free from 1 January 2023.
   
• If you commence units in a course or skill set on or after 1 January 2023, you will be eligible for a refund if you paid fees previous to that date. If you think you may have overpaid for your course, please contact your TAFE college or training provider to request a review of your payment and a refund if applicable.

Yes! Up until 31 December 2022, some of the Job Ready skill sets are still totally free for everyone eligible students*!

Where it says a Job Ready skill set is “free for everyone”, you do not have to be aged 15—24, or on a concession — all fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government, through Jobs and Skills WA, so that there is no cost to you.

Where it says a Job Ready skill set is "free for eligible students", you need to meet the eligibility conditions for free training. 

From 1 January 2023, all of the Job Ready skill sets will be 100% fee-free for everyone*.

*Please note: Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training. Please refer to the information under Who can access subsidised training such as the free or reduced-fee qualifications? 

This will depend on the qualification or course that you chose.

Free Job Ready skill sets from 1 January 2023

All of the Job Ready skill sets are 100% FEE-FREE from 1 January 2023, for all* students.
You will pay no course fees, resource fees, or any other fees.

Free qualifications from 1 January 2023

For the free qualifications starting from 1 January 2023, there is no course fee cost*. Other fees; such as for resources, may apply.

Lower fees, local skills qualifications

Other fees; such as resource fees, may apply to some of the Lower fees, local skills qualifications.

What are resource fees?
Resource fees cover materials purchased by the TAFE or training provider that are required for and used during your training; such as workshop materials, workbooks and essential uniforms. For example; you may need to use timber for a course in carpentry — you would pay a resource fee to cover this cost.

*Please note: Some eligibility conditions apply for the free and/or subsidised training. Please refer to the information under Who can access subsidised training such as the free or reduced-fee qualifications?

The WA State Government, through Jobs and Skills WA, subsidises vocational education and training (VET) courses in priority areas, to reduce or remove the fees and make training more accessible to all Western Australians.

From 1 January 2023, the following eligibility criteria apply.

To be eligible for free training, reduced-fee qualifications or a subsidised training place; you must have left school*, have your primary place of residence in Western Australia, and are either:

• an Australian citizen; or
• a permanent visa holder or holder of visa subclass 309, 444, 449, 785, 786, 790, or 820; or
• a dependent or spouse of the primary holder of a visa subclass 457 or 482**; or
• a bridging visa holder who has made a valid application for a visa subclass 866; or
• a bridging visa E holder (subclasses 050 and 051) who has made a valid application for a visa subclass 785 or 790.

*In 2023, Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 23 October 2023.

**From 1 January 2023, the spouses and dependants of primary 457 or 482 visa holders will be also able to access subsidised training in WA. These skilled migrant families will be further supported by waiving public school fees for their children during 2023.

First Nations people, young people, people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, people with disability, and women facing economic insecurity are particularly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity for fee free training.

Please note that existing worker trainees are not eligible for the fee-free arrangements.

The following eligibility criteria are in place up to 31 December 2022

Through to 31 December 2022, the Job Ready skill sets available under Skills Ready are fee-free to the following concession-eligible residents of Western Australia.

• Persons aged 15—24 years at the time of enrolment (excluding students enrolled at school*)
• Persons and dependents of persons in receipt of services from Commonwealth support or employment services programs Workforce Australia, or ParentsNext
• Persons and dependents of persons receiving the Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY
• Persons and dependents of persons holding a pensioner concession card or Health Care Card; or a Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs
• Dependents of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution

*In 2022, Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 24 October 2022.

Yes — the free training courses and Lower fees, local skills qualifications are available at Western Australian TAFE colleges, and some are also available from selected approved private training providers.

The Skills Ready course list includes information about which TAFE colleges and private training providers are offering free training and Lower fees, local skills qualifications. Please note that availability for some courses may be subject to an available training place.

Your local Jobs and Skills Centre can help you choose a training provider. For further information on approved providers, see Choosing a training provider on this website, or call your local Jobs and Skills Centre on  13 64 64.

Once you have decided how you're going to get skilled, and found a training provider that you’re happy with, the next step is to apply and/or enrol.

It’s a good idea to contact your TAFE college or training provider directly or check their website for any eligibility requirements you need to meet, and to get the dates and other details for enrolling.  For some qualifications, you may be required to apply for a place. Each of the WA TAFE colleges provides this information on their website, as do most private training providers. 

General information about applying and enrolling is available here. If you would like some advice or assistance to apply for a course, your local Jobs and Skills Centre can help.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) — the national regulator for vocational education and training (VET) — defines a skill set as follows.

In VET, a qualification or course is made up of a number of units of competency, and each of those units has defined learning outcomes based on the skills and knowledge it covers. A skill set is developed by choosing individual units of competency that target a specific set of skills and knowledge, to meet the needs of industry or a particular job role.

Skill sets are also used to upskill workers — for example; if cleaning staff at a hospital needed to learn about infection control, or if office workers needed to learn some management skills — in situations where a full qualification is not required.

Because skill sets are based on nationally accredited units of competency, when you successfully complete a skills set short course those units can count towards a full qualification if you decide to do further study. 

A vocational education and training (VET) qualification is made up of a number of units of competency, and each of those units has defined learning outcomes based on the skills and knowledge it covers. Each unit of competency has a set number of "nominal hours" ie the indicative hours required to deliver and assess the unit. 

Some people choose to complete individual units, to pick up specific skills when they need to. For example, you may work as a fitter and machinist but you want to move into plant mechanics — you could complete some units from the Certificate III in Engineering Plant Mechanic qualification to gain the skills and knowledge you need for that.

Individual units of competency are also used to develop skill sets or short courses, that target a specific skills area. 

Because the skill sets are not a full qualification, you will not receive a certificate.

You will receive a Statement of Attainment that lists all of the units of competency you completed in the skill set. This statement is recognised nationally as an official record. It verifies that you have completed those units, so you can receive credit for them should you continue on to further study. 

Yes! Completing a skill set is a great way to find out whether this is the industry area for you, and decide if you want to do further study and gain a full qualification. 

The Job Ready skill sets contain units of competency taken from nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualifications. This means they work perfectly as a pathway to further study.

The Statement of Attainment you receive on completion of a skill set verifies that you have completed those units, so you will receive credit for them should you continue on to further study. 

The Lower fees, local skills program commenced on 1 January 2020, with half price course fees to be in place for eligible courses.

A full list of all qualifications on the Lower fees, local skills program can be found here on the Lower fees, local skills course list document (select the Lower fees, local skills tab).

For the Lower fees, local skills program; new qualifications have been added at different stages.

• If you commenced units in a qualification prior to the date it was included in the program, you will pay the regular course fee rate for those units.
• If you commenced units on or after the date that a qualification was included in the program, the Lower fees, local skills fee rates and annual course fee caps will apply to those units only.  For these units, you will be eligible for a refund.

A full list of all qualifications in the Lower fees, local skills program can be found here on the Lower fees, local skills course list document (select the Lower fees, local skills tab).

Should you have any queries, your TAFE college or training provider can confirm the date your course was included in the Lower fees, local skills program.

If you think you may have overpaid for your Lower fees, local skills course, please contact your TAFE college or training provider to request an adjustment to your invoice and a refund of the difference.

The "annual fees cap" means that regardless of how much your annual course fees actually are, under Lower fees, local skills you will not pay more than the capped amount. There are two course fee caps, which one you pay depends on whether you are entitled to receive a concession rate or are aged at least 15 years of age but have not reached the end of the year in which you turn 25.

• The concession rate annual course fee cap for Lower fees, local skills qualifications is $400, from the date the new fee applied.
• The non-concession rate annual course fee cap for Lower fees, local skills qualifications is $1,200, from the date the new fee applied.

A full list of all qualifications on the Lower fees, local skills program can be found here on the Lower fees, local skills course list document (select the Lower fees, local skills tab). Please check with your TAFE college or training provider for details. 

 The following people will be entitled to a concession rate course fees cap of $400.
 

• Persons aged 15—24 years and have left school*
• Persons and dependents of persons in receipt of services from one of the following Commonwealth support or employment services programs:
  • Workforce Australia; or
  • ParentsNext
• Persons and dependents of persons receiving the Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY
• Persons and dependents of persons holding:
  • a pensioner concession card or  Health Care Card; or
  • a Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs
• Dependents of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution

*In 2022, Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 24 October 2022.

The annual course fee caps under Lower fees, local skills are applied at qualification/course level for the calendar year.

For example; if you complete two courses in one year, the course fees will be capped for each course.

Please note: Course fees are reduced for the Lower fees, local skills qualifications, however you may be required to pay other fees such as for resources that are specifically needed for your course.

Under Lower fees, local skills the $400 course fee cap applies to units of competency that are commenced by concession students, and by people aged between 15 and 24 years.

Please note: Course fees are half price for the Lower fees, local skills qualifications, however you may be required to pay other fees such as for resources that are specifically needed for your course. 

The Lower fees, local skills qualifications are available whether you study full time, part time or even online (where available).

Yes! Some of the Lower fees, local skills half price qualifications are available as an apprenticeship or traineeship, which means as an apprentice or trainee you or your employer would be eligible for the half price course fees and annual course fee caps. 

Pre-apprenticeships and pre-traineeships courses are also available under Lower fees, local skills; to help you prepare to get an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Please note: In addition to course fees, you may be required to pay other fees for resources that are specifically needed for your course. Please check with your TAFE college or training provider for details.  

If you re-commence units that form part of one of the Lower fees, local skills qualifications between the date the new fee applied and 31 December 2025, you will still be eligible for the half price course fee rates and fee caps.

If you have to withdraw from the course, you are entitled to a refund of the course fee and 50% of the resource fee for units that you withdraw from, before the unit withdrawal date (which is set by your TAFE college or training provider). Please check with your TAFE or training provider for information about refunds.  

The Australian Government offers VET Student Loans (VSL) only for courses at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level. If your Lower fees, local skills qualification is at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level, you may be eligible for VSL.

What are VET student loans?

Eligible students can apply to get a loan to pay for their fees through the Australian Government’s VET Student Loans scheme (VSL). Under this scheme, once you’re employed and your income exceeds a set level, you start repaying the loan through the tax system. For more information contact your training provider, visit the Australian Government's VET Student Loans website or contact the student hotline on 1800 020 108.  

Learning online can be a great way to get skilled — whether your life doesn't have room for going to classes, or you like the idea of a more flexible pace of learning. And with online courses, you can get skilled from anywhere — it doesn't have to be your local TAFE, so you can choose from a wide range of courses. 

You'll be provided with all the information and resources needed for your course, help to get you set up, and support when you need it. All you need is a computer, an internet connection and a comfy chair! 

Doing an online course doesn't mean you'll sitting reading a screen all by yourself, with nobody to talk to and no lecturer to help you — online courses take place in a virtual classroom and can include a range of activities including discussions, online chats, journals and blogs, social media, quizzes, web quests and project activities to keep things interesting. You'll be able to interact with your classmates, and your lecturer. 

Yes, some of the courses on the list can be done completely online. However some of the courses require a practical component which can't be done online, or some may be a mix of online and face to face learning. If that's the case for your course, your TAFE or training provider will tell you what's required such as whether you'll need to attend any training on campus.

You may also need to attend TAFE when it's time for an assessment of competency to get your qualification or Statement of Attainment. 

Your TAFE college is following all current health advice, including physical distancing and cleaning, to ensure your safety if you need to attend training at this time. 

You will need a computer that can browse the internet, and basic programs such as Microsoft Word and email to do your work. You may also need to download programs such as Zoom so that you can take part in class meetings.

If you are concerned that your computer is not suitable, please contact the TAFE college or training provider and they will be able to advise you on the exact requirements for your course.