Smart and Skilled How To's

How to enrol in a Smart & Skill Course

To enrol in a government-subsidised Smart and Skilled course, just follow these steps:

  1. Check whether you may be eligible for government-subsidised training.
  2. Go to our Courses page to find a suitable course and and to get an estimate of the course fee.
  3. Contact the training providers that offer the course to ask initial questions – this helps you determine which training provider is best for you.
  4. Choose your preferred training provider.
  5. Contact them to enrol.

 

What to ask when you enquire

Ask us about the course details (e.g. where and how is it delivered), the enrolment process, your eligibility, your fees (including any concessions or exemptions), and any additional support that we provide.

 

How much will your Smart and Skilled training cost you?

If you're eligible for subsidised training under Smart and Skilled, you pay only a portion of the training cost. The rest is subsidised by the NSW Government. In 2015 the Government pays an average 55-90 per cent of the cost of each course.

You can determine your eligibility for Smart and Skilled training in the Eligibility Checker. You can then get an estimate of the fee for your preferred course in the Course Finder.

 

How your fees are determined

Smart and Skilled introduces a simpler, fairer system for calculating fees and subsidies. You only pay one fee for the whole qualification, rather than year-by-year. This means you'll know, upfront, the total cost of your training. (Check the arrangements for paying this fee with your preferred training provider. For example, you may be able to pay by instalments.) Read more

 

Exemptions and concessions

If you're an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, a student with a disability or a Commonwealth welfare recipient, you and your dependants may be eligible for fee exemptions or concessions when enrolling in a Smart and Skilled course. Read more

 

Are student loans available for Smart and Skilled training?

If you enrol in a Diploma, an Advanced Diploma or, in some cases, a Certificate IV qualification, you may be eligible for a VET FEE-HELP loan. Read more

 

What other financial support is available for Smart and Skilled training?

Additional financial support may be available for apprentices and trainees who do Smart and Skilled training.

 

Create your Unique Student Identifier (USI)

USIs are free for all students

 

The USI scheme is free. The USI Office does not charge a fee for individuals creating their USI and maintaining their USI account, which will bring together their records of nationally recognised training completed after 1 January 2015. 

Individuals can create their USI for free by themselves. It is a quick and easy process and will only take a few minutes of your time by following the steps below:.

 

Step 1: Get at least one form of ID from the list below ready:

 

IMPORTANT: The details you enter when you create your USI must match exactly with those shown on the form of ID used.

If you have no form of ID from the list above, please contact your training organisation or the training organisation you intend to study with.

 

Step 2 Click on ‘Create your USI’.

 

Step 3 Agree to the terms and conditions. 

 

Step 4 Fill in your personal and contact details.

 

Step 5 Enter the requested details as shown on your form of ID (see list above).

 

Step 6 Set your USI account password and questions for security.

 

Step 7 Your USI will now be displayed on the screen.

 

Step 8 You should write down your USI somewhere safe or enter it into your phone for safe keeping.

 

Step 9 Your USI will also be sent to you by either your email, phone or by mailing address (which ever you choose as your preferred contact method when creating your USI).

 

Step 10 Be sure to bring your USI with you each time you enrol in VET.

And remember creating your USI is free.

 

Duplicate USI

When you create your USI the system will check existing accounts and advise if there is a USI account already established.  If you or your training organisation become aware of the possibility of you having two USIs, either party should report the issue to the USI Office. The USI Office will work with the relevant parties to resolve the issue and advise you of the outcome.

 

Forgotten USI

If you forget or lose your USI you can retrieve it online. You will need to enter a few details to verify who you are to display your USI. The details must be the same as those you entered when you applied for a USI or, if you did so, when you last updated your USI account. 

 

Help

Visit for further help. 

Steps to create your USI: http://usi.gov.au/Students/Pages/steps-to-create-your-USI.aspx

Student Help: http://usi.gov.au/help-centre/student-help/Pages/default.aspx

Cancellation Policy

Participants may cancel their enrolment within three days of the course commencing. ASTC will refund any paid fee minus an $20 administration fee.  Transfers between courses within three days of the course commencing will incur an $20 administration fee.   If ASTC does not receive notice of non-attendance at least the day prior to the course commencing (or Friday for a Sunday course), during business hours, the full fee will be non-refundable and there will be no transfers.  A participant is not eligible for a refund after their course begins.  In certain circumstances, credit to a later course may be available.

 

Levying of fees are calculated in accordance with the Australian Government incentives which may vary and change from time to time depending on government policy,

 

http://www.training.com.au/pages/menuitem7c2d47829a6d7590f9fa5a1017a62dbc.aspx

http://www.aatinfo.com.au/STP-Details/20790/137/Financial -Development-Officer-CPP40609/?view=contact&s=nsw&i=608)

http://www.training.nsw.gov.au/smartandskilled/

 

Debt recovery for outstanding fees will to be undertaken as follows:

 

Commencing legal proceedings

 

Once instructions are received to proceed with legal action against a student for unpaid fees, ASTC has already exhausted their efforts in recovering the fees.  ASTC shall begin by:

  1. Sending students a letter demanding payment of the fees in full or make an offer to accept instalment payments;
  2. File and serve a Statement of Claim on a student if there is no reply to the letter of demand; and
  3. Seek Default Judgment if a Defence to the Statement of Claim is not filed within 28 days of service on the students or if no offer to pay has been made.

An option open to ASTC is to accept a students’ offer to pay outstanding fees by instalments if a reasonable offer is made.

 

Enforcing a judgment

 

If little is known about the judgment debtor’s financial resources or place of employment, an Examination Notice (Notice) is served on the judgment debtor.

 

The Notice contains a series of questions directed at the judgment debtor’s financial circumstances and the Notice must specify the period (not less than 28 days) within which its requirements must be complied with, typically involving completion and forwarding supporting financial information to ASTC.

 

If the Notice is not returned to ASTC or is not satisfactorily completed, a court order for examination of the judgment debtor is sought, which basically compels the judgment debtor to attend court and provide their financial details.

The Examination Order must be served on the judgment debtor 14 days prior to the examination hearing and a Notice of Motion for an Examination Order must be sent to the registry within 30 km of the debtor’s residence (or nearest registry)

If the judgment debtor fails to attend the examination, the Court may issue an arrest warrant to compel the judgment debtor to attend court.

 

Instalment agreements

 

A judgment debtor may at any stage make an offer to pay by instalments.  An instalment agreement may be confirmed by letter or made an order of the court by filing it with the court.  The effect of an instalment order is that NSW law provides a stay of execution of the judgment while an instalment order is in place.

 

RPL (Recognition Prior Learning)

 

The recognition of prior learning [RPL] process conducted by us is an assessment process, which provides acknowledgement of all skills and knowledge gained through life experiences, work experience, previous training and formal education.

For more detail, refer to "RPL How To's" under menu "Support", or click here.