Training information
Vocational education and training (VET) in Australia is mainly funded by commonwealth and state governments.
It is underpinned by
- high standards of training
- strategically targeted funding
- industry developed training packages
So how does the vocational training industry operate in NSW?
On this page:
Your training partners
Partners are an essential part of the development and support of NSW vocational education and training (VET).
State Training Services - we have managers and staff experienced in industry engagement to give you information and advice on workforce development and training options, and bring together experts from other sources into an effective partnership.
Industry Training Advisory Bodies and peak associations - industry experts who have a critical role in the development of apprenticeship and traineeship training to meet industry specific needs. They provide information and advice on VET to the NSW Government.
Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) - experts in training and assessing. State Training Services subsidises RTOs to provide training in apprenticeships and traineeships, approved short courses, green skills and energy efficiency. They can assist with customisation of courses to meet industry and employer needs.
Other Government departments like Trade and Investment NSW and Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH)
Partnerships at work: Retrenched Workers Assistance program is a good example of partnering between Commonwealth and State Government departments and community, training and industrial organisations coming together to provide a wide range of employment related and personal support services to this vunerable group of workers.
The Training Market
State Training Services' role in the NSW training market is to manage government funded vocational and educational training through the following actions:
- purchasing training from registered training organisations (RTOs) who have successfully tendered for a place on the Approved Providers List (APL)
- ensuring that there are qualified training organisations available to provide the range, quality and quantity of training needed
- targeting training at industry, regions and occupations which are of importance to the NSW economy
- focusing on both jobseekers and existing workers, and targeting of people with special needs
- only contracting with registered training organisations accredited by the national regulator, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
Strategically funded training
The Strategic Skills Program (SSP) has been developed to provide a flexible approach to the provision of vocational training in NSW. Training must meet the economic needs of NSW and is target to specific industries and occupations. It allows for
- vocational training of
- individuals
- groups of people
- jobseekers and existing worker
- people with special needs
- customisation of training for a specific company, a business sector or groups of employers
- full or part qualifications
Ongoing strategies under SSP include:
Find approved apprenticeships and traineeships and a suitable RTO through this search.
Contact your local State Training Services office for advice on participating in the above or if you have identified a vocational training need in your industry or community.
Find a registered training organisation
The Training Fact Finder provides information on RTOs approved to deliver training for a particular vocation in NSW.
You can also view the list of courses a particular RTO has been approved to deliver.
Training Packages
Training Packages are a collection of reference materials that define the national standards and qualifications for recognising and assessing people's skills in specific vocations. They include:
- competency units
- listing of qualifications
- assessment guidelines
- recognised training resources and links to the original supplier/vendor
While a Training Package states what competencies need to be achieved it does not prescribe how an individual should be trained. It is the responsibility of the RTO, through its trainers, to develop teaching strategies and assessment methods to meet the needs, abilities and circumstances of learners.
