Practical skills with Skill Sets

The WA State Government, through Jobs and Skills WA, subsidises vocational education and training (VET) courses in priority areas, to reduce or remove the fees and make training more accessible to all Western Australians.

Through to 31 December 2022, Job Ready skill sets available under Skills Ready are fee-free to the following concession - eligible residents of Western Australia.

• Persons aged 15 — 24 years at the time of enrolment (excluding students enrolled at school*)
• Persons and dependents of persons in receipt of services from Commonwealth support or employment services programs Workforce Australia, or ParentsNext
• Persons and dependents of persons receiving the Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY
• Persons and dependents of persons holding a pensioner concession card or Health Care Card; or a Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans' Affairs
• Dependents of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution

*In 2022, Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 24 October 2022.

From 1 January 2023, the Job Ready skill sets are all 100% fee-free to people who have left school*, have their primary place of residence in Western Australia, and are either:

• an Australian citizen; or
• a permanent visa holder or holder of visa subclass 309, 444, 449, 785, 786, 790, or 820; or
• a dependent or spouse of the primary holder of a visa subclass 457 or 482; or
• a bridging visa holder who has made a valid application for a visa subclass 866; or
• a Bridging Visa E holder (subclasses 050 and 051) who has made a valid application for a visa subclass 785 or 790.

* In 2023, Year 12 school students who are leaving school can access a subsidised training place from 23 October 2023.

*Please note Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training. Please refer t o the information under Who can access subsidised training such as the free or reduced - fee qualifications?

The Department of Training and Workforce Development’s VET Fees and charges policy(opens in a new tab)  outlines eligibility for subsidised training in WA

Yes! Up until 31 December 2022, some of the Job Ready skill sets are totally free for eligible students*!  Where it says a Job Ready skill set is “free for everyone”, you do not have to be aged 15—24, or on a concession — all fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government, through Jobs and Skills WA, so that there is no cost to you .

From 1 January 2023 , all of the Job Ready skill sets will be 100% fee - free for everyone*.

*Please note: Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training. Please refer to the information under Who can access subsidised training such as the free or reduced - fee qualifications? below.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) — the national regulator for vocational education and training (VET) — defines a skill set as follows.

"A single unit of competency or a combination of units of competency from a training package which link to a licensing or regulatory requirement, or a defined industry need."

In VET, a qualification or course is made up of a number of units of competency, and each of those units has defined learning outcomes based on the skills and knowledge it covers. A skill set is developed by choosing individual units of competency that target a specific set of skills and knowledge, to meet the needs of industry or a particular job role.

Skill sets are also used to upskill workers — for example; if cleaning staff at a hospital needed to learn about infection control, or if office workers needed to learn some management skills — in situations where a full qualification is not required.

Because skill sets are based on nationally accredited units of competency, when you successfully complete a skill set short course those units can count towards a full qualification if you decide to do further study. 

A vocational education and training (VET) qualification is made up of a number of units of competency, and each of those units has defined learning outcomes based on the skills and knowledge it covers. Each unit of competency has a set number of "nominal hours" i.e. the indicative hours required to deliver and assess the unit. 

Individual units of competency are also used to develop skill sets or short courses that target a specific skills area.

Because the skill sets are not a full qualification, you will not receive a certificate.

You will receive a Statement of Attainment that lists all of the units of competency you completed in the skill set. This statement is recognised nationally as an official record. It verifies that you have completed those units, so you can receive credit for them should you continue on to further study.

Yes, completing a skill set is a great way to find out whether this is the industry area for you, and decide if you want to do further study and gain a full qualification. 

The Skills Ready skill sets contain units of competency taken from nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualifications. This means they work perfectly as a pathway to further study.

The Statement of Attainment you receive on completion of a skill set verifies that you have completed those units, so you will receive credit for them should you continue on to further study.

Yes, subject to practical study load factors, there is no limit to the number of fee free skill sets that can be undertaken by a student.

Where a particular unit is in more than one skill set (e.g. ‘HLTINFCOV001 — Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures’), a student can only do the unit once under the fee free arrangements. Credit will be given where the same unit has been successfully completed under a different skill set. If an employer or student requests the unit to be repeated in a different context, the unit can be repeated at the cost of the employer or student.

The Australian Government offers VET Student Loans (VSL) only for courses at Diploma or Advanced Diploma level.

If your Lower fees, local skills qualification is at Diploma level, you may be eligible for VSL.

Because the job ready skill sets are not full qualifications, they are not eligible for VSL.