NSW Smart and Skilled

A Smart and Skilled traineeship allows you to combine paid work with structured training while gaining a nationally recognised qualification.

Traineeships:

• Support job‑ready skill development
• Allow you to earn while you learn
• Typically take 1–2 years to complete

Depending on the qualification and your circumstances, traineeships may be undertaken as either:

• a standard traineeship, or
• a school‑based traineeship (SBAT)

You can still enquire about NSW Smart and Skilled traineeships even if you don’t currently have an employer.

Foundation Education can:

• Help you understand available traineeship pathways
• Support you to explore employer opportunities, where available
• Guide you through the next steps once employment is secured

A formal NSW traineeship training contract must be in place before training can commence.

The following qualifications are available through NSW Smart and Skilled funding at Foundation Education, subject to eligibility and an approved training contract.

Standard Traineeships

These qualifications are approved to be delivered as standard traineeships under NSW Smart and Skilled.

• BSB30120 Certificate III in Business
• BSB40120 Certificate IV in Business
• BSB50120 Diploma of Business
• BSB50320 Diploma of Human Resources Management - intake currently on hold
• BSB50420 Diploma of Leadership and Management - intake currently on hold
• BSB50820 Diploma of Project Management - intake currently on hold
• CHC30121 Certificate III ECEC
• CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support
• CHC50121 Diploma of ECEC
• CHC30221 Certificate III School Based Education Support
• CHC40221 Certificate IV School Based Education Support
• HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance
• HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting
• HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
• HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting
• HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration - intake currently on hold
• HLT33115 Certificate III Health Services Assistance

School‑Based Traineeships (SBAT)

Some NSW Smart and Skilled qualifications may also be delivered as school‑based traineeships, allowing eligible secondary school students to combine school, paid work and training.

The following qualifications are approved for school‑based delivery where eligibility and training contract arrangements are met:

• BSB30120 Certificate III in Business
• CHC30121 Certificate III of ECEC
• CHC30221 Certificate III School Based Education Support
• HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting

Availability of school‑based delivery depends on student eligibility, school approval and employer participation.

Eligibility for NSW Smart and Skilled training is determined by the NSW Government.

You may be eligible if you:

• Are 15 years of age or over
• Are no longer in secondary school,
  (unless undertaking a school‑based traineeship)
• Live or work in New South Wales,
  or are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in a defined NSW border area
• Are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder, or New Zealand citizen
• Are enrolled in a qualification listed,
  and the holder of a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) or an applicant for one.

Eligibility is assessed in line with NSW Government Smart and Skilled requirements.

Eligible NSW Smart and Skilled traineeships delivered by Foundation Education are fee‑free, with training costs fully subsidised by the NSW Government, subject to eligibility.

Fee‑free training applies only if training commences before 30 June 2027.
Initiative limits apply.

As a trainee, you are responsible for meeting the requirements of your training contract, actively participating in paid employment, completing all training and assessment activities, and complying with NSW Smart and Skilled program conditions. Continued eligibility for fee‑free training is subject to meeting these requirements.