A New South Wales Government initiative.
DATS is proud to be a Smart and Skilled approved provider.
NSW Fee-Free training
Skills NSW provides fully subsidised training to gain skills in Australia's growing industries.
NSW Fee Free improves access to training for young people, job seekers, First Nations People, unpaid carers, women undertaking study in non-traditional trades and certain categories of visa holders.
It does this by offering full and part qualification courses delivered by Smart and Skilled contracted training provider such as DATS.
Who is eligible?
Under Skills NSW, you may be able to study a fee-free course if you are:
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15 years old or over
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no longer at school
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living or working in NSW
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an Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen.
Other eligibility conditions
Your eligibility is not affected if you have completed a vocational education and training (VET) course, including a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, as part of your high school education. There are some exceptions to the eligibility conditions described above, such as for Aboriginal people.
Explore hundreds of qualifications here - https://skills.education.nsw.gov.au/nsw-fee-free
Smart & Skilled
NSW Fee-Free Apprenticeships
Dickens Assessment and Training Services is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) providing quality assured and nationally recognised training within the Civil Construction Industry. We are an approved provider of Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations under the NSW Government Smart and Skilled program.
Smart and Skilled is a reform of the NSW Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. It's helping people in NSW get the skills they need to find a job and advance their careers.
Apprenticeships and traineeships combine work-based training with an employer and formal training from a training provider. They are established under training contracts between the employer and the apprentice or trainee and are regulated by government. They're a great way to be paid for work, learn and earn a qualification.
Smart and Skilled provides eligible students with an entitlement to government-subsidised training up to and including Certificate III. Prospective students must meet the below criteria to be eligible for this funded training:
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15 years old or over
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no longer at school
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living or working in NSW
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an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
DATS tailor our apprenticeship program to suit the needs of the individual trainees and employers using a combination of on-the-job and face-to-face training and recognises the role of skilled operators working within the civil construction industry throughout NSW. Onsite training means minimal loss of productivity.
Under the NSW Government fee-free apprenticeship initiative, NSW apprentices that commence their training on or after 1 July 2018 may be eligible for fee-free training. These funds contribute towards the cost of the training that Australian employers or the employee would otherwise have to pay.
Employer Incentives
Employers may be eligible for wage subsidies, payroll tax exemptions and workers compensation exemptions for the term of their employees apprenticeship. For more information on the Australian Apprenticeship Incentives Program visit -https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/AAIP%20summary%20Final.pdf
Training Services NSW in the NSW Department of Education, is responsible for Smart and Skilled and leads policy, planning, funding, regulation and advice on VET and employment in NSW. Additional information can be found at smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au or contact us on 1300 014 415.
Getting Started
Dickens Assessment and Training Services (DATS) will make contact with potential apprentices/employers onsite to establish their needs. Once this process is completed we can move to the sign-up stage.
Sign Up:
Once the employer and trainees are in agreement to commence training, DATS will notify an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network to conduct the sign-up process, whereby the Training Contract will be completed and signed. (For more information on the signup process performed by an approved Australia Apprenticeship Support Centre, please refer to https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search-aasn)
During this time an Enrolment Pack will be completed and all required enrolment paperwork is processed and completed by DATS. The Training Contract is then submitted for approval and a Commitment ID is issued to access the Smart and Skilled subsidised funding. Training can commence.
Commencement of Training:
On our first visit, the trainer will go through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process with the apprentice.
This process ensures the apprentice can obtain credit for any achievement gained through relevant prior learning. e.g. Workplace Health and Safety Excavator Ticket can form evidence for the “RII Conduct Excavator Operations" unit of competency.
RPL Evidence which may be collected may include but not limited to:
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Copy of trainee's resume
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Copy of any tickets or licences held
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Copy of any courses/certificates previously completed or partially
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Third party references and /or referees
All future visits, after the RPL process is completed, will be formal and work-based training in the remaining units to fulfil qualification requirements.
You will receive all required training resources and once the Apprentice has received formal training, all workplace tasks can be recorded in the training record book which will be supplied by DATS. The workplace supervisor will need to sign off on all tasks. This will then assist the assessor in determining when the assessment can take place.
Our trainers will contact the Workplace Supervisor(s) prior to the commencement of training and arrange a suitable time to meet with the apprentice.
On completion of all required units of competency, the apprentice will receive:
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A Nationally Recognised Qualification from Dickens Assessment and Training Services
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A wallet sized card specifying any RII Units of Competency for Plant which have been completed
Download our apprenticeship information flyer here.
Trade Pathways
ENROLMENTS NOW CLOSED
The NSW Government is aiming to increase the number of qualified tradespeople in NSW to address labour and skills shortages. Shortages of qualified labour in the building and construction industries are creating increased pressure on the economy through higher costs and lower levels of productivity.
The Trade Pathways Program – Construction Industries will assist in the advancement of experienced, unqualified trades workers by assessing their skills and experience. This will be done through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Fee-free gap training to enable them the opportunity to gain a trade qualification.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible, a student must meet the following criteria:
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be an Australian or New Zealand Citizen, Humanitarian Visa holder or Australian Permanent Resident; and
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be over 21 years of age; and
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be resident of NSW or working in NSW; and
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have at least 2 years of work experience in the trade that they will be undertaking training in; and
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be currently working in the construction industry, or have worked in the industry within the last five years; and
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not be a current apprentice or trainee; or if a cancelled apprentice, cancellation must be greater than 6 months; and
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not be enrolled in any related Smart and Skilled subsidised training; and
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no longer attending school; and
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assessed as capable of a minimum three (3) UoCs as an RPL outcome.
How to access funding
In order to apply for funding, DATS are required to submit a Training Needs Identification (TNI) application for approval by TSNSW. Applications require a Letter of Support/reference from the employer on a company letter head, to be signed and dated, outlining the following:
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Potential student’s name/s, age and current employment status (unemployed / casual / full time etc.)
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Details of the nature of trade work and the duration of employment, procedures applied, and tools and equipment used which are consistent with the trade.
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Which course they are seeking to undertake (must reference the applicable qualification code and title, e.g. RII30820 Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations)
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What the benefits are to the student, the employer and the industry by undertaking the training
This will also need to be accompanied by a copy of the applicants resume.
The applicant will need to contact DATS to discuss potential class dates in order to allocate a time frame for the funding to be applied.
Please note: It can take up to 21 days to receive a funding outcome. Approval is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of Training Services NSW. Please note that a representative from Training Services NSW may contact the applicant to discuss their training needs.
Qualification must be completed by 30th May 2024.
For more information please phone 02 6652 9946 or email coffs@datservices.com.au or download our flyer here.
Targeted Priorities Prevocational &
Part Qualification Program
The Smart and Skilled Targeted Priorities Prevocational and Part Qualifications (TPPQ) Program is administered and managed by Training Services NSW (the Department).
The Program supports the future of work that is rapidly changing. The rate of automation and innovation affecting the current workforce and the demands that workers attain transferable skills sets is more apparent than ever before. Education and training systems need to keep pace and make a proactive investment in partnership with industry to develop and keep skilled talent.
The Program is designed to enable industry and training organisations to respond rapidly to skills needs. The training/skills sets can improve the capability of workers and those moving into work to maintain relevance as jobs evolve through technology. They should be demand driven and negotiated with industries and employers.
The Program is a vehicle that focuses on training to help people develop the skills they need to:
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get a job
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make a more informed decision about undertaking a full qualification
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transition and/or gain new employment
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remain in employment and reduce the risk of redundancy
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up skill into new processes or technology to maintain employment
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gain more work hours and/or experience
The Targeted Skills Program covers a broad range of vocational training to address the needs of industries and priority groups and assist individuals to gain the skills they need. This training can include:
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Nationally recognised vocational short courses
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Vocational Skills Sets as defined in Training Packages
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Skills Groups - Sets of Units of Competency determined by industry or the Provider (not necessarily from the one Qualification).
Licencing UoCs
TNIs that include individual UoCs that may be referred to as ‘licencing’ requirements may be approved at the discretion of the Regional Office. Licencing UoCs may be more likely to be approved if the student is a job seeker or under the ISLP, e.g. where the student requires upskilling to secure employment. Regional Offices will consider the likelihood of job outcomes and the opportunity to retain/increase/change work as a result of the training.
Target Groups and Priority Industries
Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria for students must be met regardless of their priority group. The Department is committed to supporting vulnerable communities and under-represented groups. Below are some of the target groups and priority industries available:
Target groups:
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Long term unemployed
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People living in rural or remote areas
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Job seekers
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Mature aged workers returning to the workforce (as defined - 40 years or over)
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Retrenched workers and those at risk of retrenchment (employer identified or self-identified)
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School leavers (not at school, must be 17 or over)
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People with disability
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
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Disadvantaged youth or youth at risk (17 – 24 year olds)
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National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Workforce (This applies for existing workers, under-employed workers and those seeking work in this sector.
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Humanitarian visa holders
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Inmates in NSW Correctional Centres
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Volunteers - to support pathways into employment and/or community service
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Existing workers (emerging industries, needs and technologies)
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General public
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Out-of-home-care (15-17 year olds and 18-30 year olds who have previously been in or out of home care)
How the Program Works
Smart and Skilled Providers work with an employer to identify training needs for target groups and priority industries, as well as work experience linked to training and job opportunities. A training need should be identified by the Provider and:
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Local employer(s)
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Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITABS), Industry Skills Councils, industry associations and/or a local/regional association
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Community organisations
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the Department
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Other government agencies (e.g., local government), and
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Individuals (e.g., prospective students)
Funding approval is at the Department’s absolute discretion. Training Services NSW Regional Offices should be contacted to discuss identified training needs. Please note multiple applications from the same employer for the same student may be declined.
Who is eligible?
Prospective students must meet the below criteria to be eligible for this funded training:
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15 years old or over
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no longer at school
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living or working in NSW
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an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
How to access funding
In order to apply for funding, DATS are required to submit a Training Needs Identification (TNI) application for approval by TSNSW. Applications require a Letter of Support/reference from the employer on a company letter head, to be signed and dated, outlining the following:
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Potential student’s name/s, age and current employment status (unemployed / casual / full time etc.)
-
Details of the nature of trade work and the duration of employment, procedures applied, and tools and equipment used which are consistent with the trade.
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Which course they are seeking to undertake (must reference the applicable qualification code and title, e.g. RIISAM203E Use hand and power tools)
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What the benefits are to the student, the employer and the industry by undertaking the training
The applicant will need to contact DATS to discuss potential class dates in order to allocate a time frame for the funding to be applied.
Please note: It can take up to 21 days to receive a funding outcome. Approval is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of Training Services NSW. Please note that a representative from Training Services NSW may contact the applicant to discuss their training needs.
