Additional Free Vocational Training Places in NSW

An additional 70,000 people will receive fee-free training as part of a plan by the NSW Government to aid the State’s skills-led recovery and help more people get the skills they need for the jobs they want.

Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman explained that the 2022-23 NSW Budget would invest $82.7 million over four years to help people unlock opportunities for jobs.

“This is a great opportunity for people looking for their first job, a new job or a better job, to get skilled and work in rewarding careers,” Mrs Tuckerman said.

“It will remove financial barriers for people wanting to undertake vocational education and training and turbocharge the take-up of skills to help grow the economy.”

This new investment is on top of 100,000 fee-free apprenticeships and 70,000 fee-free traineeships already being delivered by the NSW Government.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the Budget would continue accelerating the skills boom and helping to deliver the lowest state-wide unemployment rate on record at 3.5 per cent.

“This investment will deliver tens of thousands of new apprentices, trainees and full qualifications to help people get skilled for in demand jobs,” Mr Kean said.

“The NSW Government’s strong economic management means we can deliver fee-free training which is helping people boost their budget and ensure a brighter future for them and their family.”

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is the organisation with responsibility for collecting, managing, analysing and communicating research and statistics on the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector.

NCVER’s latest report on vocational trainees, “Apprentices and Trainees: September 2021” reports that in NSW there were 107, 845 students in vocational training, which is an increase of 29 per cent from 30 September 2020 numbers. However, NCVER is quick to say that apprentice and trainee numbers have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and that caution should be used when comparing the latest data with historical figures.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the NSW Government is leading the nation in supporting people to get skilled for jobs to help grow the economy.

“This Budget cements the golden era for skills and training in NSW – there has never been a better time to get the skills you need to unlock a first job, a new job or a better job,” Mr Henskens said.

For more details on training available, visit https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw.

• Topics:

• Employment & Training