Smart and Skilled
NSW Funding
Government subsidised training in NSW, delivered through traineeships
Approved Smart and Skilled provider | RTO 41462
Approved Smart and Skilled provider | RTO 41462
Funding through traineeships
The National Skills Training Institute is an approved Smart and Skilled training provider in New South Wales. In NSW, the government funded training we deliver is available through traineeships only.
That means to access NSW funding with us you need to be employed as a trainee under a registered training contract. You work paid hours for an employer and complete your nationally recognised qualification with us at the same time, with the NSW Government subsidising the training cost.
If you are not in a traineeship, our NSW courses are available on a full fee basis with payment plans, and Queensland residents may be able to access separate funding under Career Start.
Are you eligible?
To access NSW funding with us you need to meet the Smart and Skilled criteria and be employed as a trainee under a registered training contract. Eligibility is set by the NSW Government and confirmed during enrolment.
Employed as a trainee
NSW funding with us is available through traineeships, so you need a registered training contract with an employer
15 years or older
and no longer at school
Living or working in NSW
you must live or work in New South Wales
Citizenship or visa
Australian citizen, permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
On the NSW Skills List
your qualification must be approved for subsidy under Smart and Skilled
Fee exemptions and concessions
Smart and Skilled includes support for students who face barriers to training. Fee exemptions may apply to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and students with disability, and concession rates and scholarships are available in some circumstances. Ask us and we will check what applies to you.
Not doing a traineeship?
NSW funding through us applies to traineeships only. You can still study any of our qualifications on a full fee basis with weekly payment plans or instalments — see the course pages for current fees. If you live in Queensland, separate government funding may be available through Career Start. If you are still at school, look at NSW school based traineeships.
How Smart and Skilled works
What is the Smart and Skilled Program
The Smart and Skilled program is a New South Wales Government initiative that helps people gain the skills and qualifications they need to find a job and advance their careers. It provides eligible students with fee subsidies, making nationally recognised training more affordable and accessible across a wide range of industries, including animal care and grooming.
As an approved Smart and Skilled training provider, National Skills Training Institute (NSTI) can deliver subsidised qualifications and traineeships in NSW. This means students and employers can access high-quality, nationally recognised training with significantly reduced fees, ensuring more people have the opportunity to learn, upskill, and achieve their career goals.
NSTI is also approved to deliver traineeships under Smart and Skilled, allowing students to learn while working in the industry. Traineeships combine formal study with valuable hands-on experience, giving learners the chance to build real-world skills and knowledge while being supported by both their employer and our expert trainers.
NSW Funding Eligibility
- Be 15 years or older.
- Not be enrolled as a school student.
- Living or Working in NSW
- Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
What Qualifications are Funded?
Under the NSW Government’s Smart and Skilled program, eligible students can complete their traineeship with heavily subsidised training fees. This program makes it easier to gain a nationally recognised qualification while you learn on the job and develop practical, real-world skills.
Funded Qualifications Available at NSTI:
- ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
- ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services
- ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services – Pet Grooming
- ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training (dog trainer)
These traineeships combine workplace learning with professional training and support, giving you the confidence, skills, and qualifications to succeed in the animal care and pet services industry.
NSW Traineeship Locations
National Skills Training Institute offers traineeships across NSW. These include the following areas:
- Sydney
- Central Coast
- Hunter Valley
- Newcastle
- Illawarra
- Mid North Coast
- Illawarra
- Mid North Coast
- Murray
- New England and North West
- Newcastle and Lake Macquarie
- Richmond – Tweed
- Riverina
- Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven
Additional information
How to find a course and enrol
Use Skills Compare / the NSW course finder tools to check your eligibility, compare courses, providers, and estimate fees. – Course Finder
Check whether your preferred course and provider are approved under Smart and Skilled (see the Smart and Skilled Provider List) – Course Provider
Contact the provider to confirm eligibility, fees, availability, and any exemptions or support you may be eligible for. – Enrolling into the Smart and Skilled Program
Submit enrolment — your provider will verify evidence (eligibility documentation, USI, etc.) before final admission.
Fees and Charges
Each course has varying subsidies that NSW Smart and Skilled funding provides. A quick way to find the fees for a trainee is to visit the course page to find the smart and skilled fees based upon the trainee’s circumstances:
1. Visit the NSW Skills Website – CLICK HERE
2. Search for your course and include your location
3. Select the Traineeship program type
4. Check Eligibility (this will provide an estimate of any fees for the course)
Support for disadvantaged students & exemptions
Smart and Skilled includes several supports for students who may face barriers:
Fee exemptions: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with disability, dependents of certain DSSP recipients, etc.
government subsidised scholarships: Available for training up to Certificate IV for eligible students (e.g. those who’ve experienced domestic violence, been in out-of-home care, etc.).
Concession fees: If you are a recipient (or dependent) of certain Commonwealth benefits, you might pay a lower student fee.
Smart and Skilled Policies
NSW Smart and Skilled Website – https://skills.education.nsw.gov.au/
NSW Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy – Fee Administration Policy
NSW Smart and Skilled Student Eligibility Policy – Student Eligibility Policy
NSW Smart and Skilled Consumer Protection Strategy – Consumer Protection Strategy
Funded qualifications
These qualifications are funded in NSW when completed as a traineeship. Each course page shows the full fee and payment plans if you are not doing a traineeship.
ACM20121
Certificate II in Animal Care
ACM30122
Certificate III in Animal Care Services
ACM30122
Certificate III — Pet Grooming
Interested in a NSW traineeship?
Whether you already have an employer or are still looking, tell us where you are up to and we will explain how a funded NSW traineeship would work for you.