Smart and Skilled Subsidised Training
- Apprenticeships and Traineeships

A person who is eligible to receive subsidised training in all Smart and Skilled Programs (except

Smart and Skilled Entitlement Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program) is a person who, at

the time of enrolment in a qualification or course on the NSW Skills List or a “short course” with

a Smart and Skilled provider:

(a) lives or works in NSW (determined by postcode of the usual place of residence or

place of work); or

(b) an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student who does not live or work in NSW

but lives in specific defined interstate NSW border areas.

(c) is:

(i) an Australian citizen; or

(ii) a permanent Australian resident; or

(iii) a New Zealand citizen; or

(iv) a humanitarian visa holder or a partner visa holder whose sponsor is a

humanitarian visa holder. This includes:

• Permanent visas
• Emergency rescue visa (Subclass 203)
• Global special humanitarian programme visa (Subclass 202)
• In-country special humanitarian programme visa (Subclass 201)
• Protection visa (Subclass 866)
• Refugee visa (Subclass 200)
• Woman at Risk visa (Subclass 204)
• Temporary visas
• Bridging Visa A (BVA)
• Bridging Visa B (BVB)
• Bridging Visa C (BVC)
• Bridging Visa D (BVD)
• Bridging Visa E (BVE)
• Safe Haven Enterprise visa (Subclass 790)
• Temporary Humanitarian Concern visa (Subclass 786)
• Temporary Humanitarian Stay visa (Subclass 449)
• Temporary Protection visa (Subclass 785)
• Partner Visa
• Partner (Provisional and Migrant) visa (subclass 309 100)
• Partner visa (subclass 820 801)

(d) is aged 15 years or older; and

(e) is no longer in secondary education – except for registered home school students

(f) Permanent residency

For some programs under Smart and Skilled subsidised training, the student may also need to meet the following criteria:

• Job seeker. This includes someone who is unemployed, on income support payments or expected to become unemployed 
• Young person (including school leaver) aged 16-24, regardless of employment status 
• NSW veteran and their recognised partner or spouse 

Talk to SIIT to discuss your situation and we will be able to help work out your eligibility for subsidised training.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

An apprenticeship or traineeship will give you the skills employers need while you’re being paid to get a nationally-recognised qualification.

Gain skills, experience and training

Apprenticeships and traineeships open the door to gaining essential skills, experience and training. You’ll gain more independence while learning skills that will set you up for life, kickstarting your career. You can even begin your apprenticeship or traineeship while you’re at school.

What are the benefits?

• a pathway from school to work
• hands-on training valued by employers
• you get paid while you train
• conditions, like sick leave and holiday pay
• full-time or part-time options available
• if you have prior experience, you may qualify as an apprentice or trainee more quickly

Apprentice or trainee – what’s the difference?

As an apprentice, you’ll spend three to four years learning a traditional trade such as building and construction, automotive, cooking, engineering, hairdressing or manufacturing. You’ll graduate as a qualified tradesperson. As a trainee, you’ll spend one to three years, depending on your industry and qualification, learning a vocation in areas such as agriculture, information technology, hospitality, business, digital media or financial services.

How do I become an apprentice or trainee?

Find a career you love

Apprenticeships and traineeships are available in over 500 careers so there’ll be one that sparks your passion. Here at SIIT we deliver traineeship courses in Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking FNS40821 and Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice CPP41419

Find an employer

Search job vacancy ads in your local paper and online. Talk to friends and family to see if they know of any opportunities. Apply for a job through a Group Training Organisation. Group Training Organisations employ apprentices and trainees and place them with host employers. It’s a great way to experience a variety of workplaces.

Make contact

Speak to employers in the industry you’d like to work in. Remember, approaching a business with an up-to-date resume shows initiative.

Earn while you learn

There’s no substitute for learning on the job. Instead of paying to learn future job skills, you’ll do a real job for a real employer and earn a real wage.

You may be eligible for a fee-free apprenticeship or fee-free traineeship through our Smart and Skilled program.

Pre-apprenticeships and pre-traineeships

Thinking about taking up an apprenticeship or traineeship but not sure if it’s right for you? Why not enrol in a fee-free pre-apprenticeship or pre-traineeship course and see if it suits?

Under a pre-apprenticeship or pre-traineeship, you’ll undertake an introductory unit allowing you to get a taste of the trade or industry. If you decide it’s for you, then you are already on your way to studying for your full qualification.

Trainee

You’ll spend one to three years, depending on your industry and qualification, learning a vocation in areas such as:

• financial services
• information technology
• business
• digital media

Apprentice

You’ll spend three to four years learning a traditional trade in industries that require apprenticeships to enter the industry, such as:

• building and construction, automotive, cooking, engineering, hairdressing or manufacturing

You’ll graduate as a qualified tradesperson.

Gain experience and skills while you get paid

An apprenticeship or traineeship means you learn practical skills with an employer as well as formal learning with an approved provider and get a nationally recognised qualification you can use anywhere.

You may not have much experience when you start an apprenticeship or traineeship, but will learn skills that will set you up for life.

You can even begin your apprenticeship or traineeship while you’re at school, after you have been employed or as a young or mature aged person wanting to improve your skills.

Employers all over Australia hold apprenticeships and traineeships in high regard. They know you’ve completed a structured program designed by industry experts.

What are the benefits?

• A pathway from school to work
• You get paid while you train
• Get quality, hands-on training valued by employers
• Available for anyone who has finished Year 10 with some exemptions
• You don’t need your HSC
• You can study full-time or part-time
• Gain a nationally recognised qualification
• Excellent career opportunities
• When you study you benefit from the same conditions as other employees, like sick leave and holiday pay
• Depending on your skill level, you may progress through your apprenticeship or traineeship more quickly
• When you graduate, you won’t be worrying about a big debt
• Work alongside highly experienced and skilled industry professionals
• You may be eligible for a Fee Free Apprenticeship or Fee Free Traineeship through our Smart and Skilled program.

What you get from Apprenticeships and traineeships

• Paid employment under an industrial arrangement
• A training contract between you and your employer
• Structured workplace training
• Formal study and skills development through a registered training organisation which may take place on their campus or at your workplace
• A nationally recognised qualification
• Issue of a Certificate of Proficiency on completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship that’s held in high regard by many employers nationally

Government offers incentives and subsidies to employers who hire trainees or apprentices.

The benefits to the employer may include wage subsidies, Payroll Tax Rebates, Workers’ Compensation Insurance – Apprenticeship Incentive Scheme, Commonwealth Government Apprenticeships Incentives  

These subsidies can change from time to time and different subsidy programs are offered to target certain priority industries. Your Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) will advise you on the latest subsidies available to employers.

The training delivered to your trainee is delivered fee-free by a professional and reputable Registered Training Organisation. An employer does not need to pay for the training delivered to your Trainee.

Your Trainee will become more skilled and be more valuable to the company, over time as they progress through the traineeship.

How to Employ a Trainee

If you are an employer and want to hire a trainee, or place one of your current employees into a traineeship, you can follow some easy steps to get them started.

1. Search for training candidates to hire. This may also be a current employee that you want to train to a higher level and can be a person of any working age.
2. Contact an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP). This is a free service.

Your ANP will advise you on:  

• The right type of apprenticeship or traineeship for your business 
• Paperwork and administration for establishing and maintaining the apprenticeship or traineeship.
• Eligibility and how to apply for government incentive payments. 

3. Find a Registered Training Organisation to deliver training to your new Trainee. The RTO will develop the Training Plan with you and the Trainee and deliver the training. At SIIT, we deliver traineeships in:
   1. Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking FNS40821
   2. Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice CPP41419
4. Training Contract

Your Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) will work with you and your apprentice/trainee to complete a Training Contract.  It includes:

• Your details and the details of your apprentice or trainee.
• The term of the Training Contract.
• The vocation, qualification title and qualification level.

5. Training Plan

The RTO will contact you and your  apprentice/trainee to complete a Training Plan. This describes the formal and workplace training and assessment for the apprentice or trainee. It includes: 

• the vocation, qualification title and qualification level
• the time frame for each unit of competency to be completed for the qualification
• the mode of training delivery

6. Register the traineeship

Your ANP will submit the Training Contract to Training Services NSW for approval. 

Training Services NSW will send you a letter after the apprenticeship/traineeship is approved.

The training contract is binding from either:  

• the approval date indicated  

• OR the end of the probationary period, whichever is later.  

An initial probation period applies to apprenticeships (up to 3 months) and traineeships (up to 2 months) depending on the term of the contract.

Once the probation period is over, you and your apprentice or trainee are contracted to each other for the length of the contract. 

For more information about employing a Trainee, you can go here:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/apprentices-and-trainees/employers/how-to-employ