Government Funded Training (WA Jobs & Skills)

WAIFS is a preferred panel provider for the State Government’s Jobs & Skills Initiative in 2022 for the following programs:

• *Priority Industry Training (PIT)
• *Traineeships
• *Jobseekers (JS)
• *Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)

*Eligibility and funding criteria apply.

Courses that are available at WAIFS under the jobs and skills initiative & indicative fees can be available on request.

Please email marketing@waifs.wa.edu.au for more information.

Tuition Fees and Resource Fees 

Fees are made up of tuition and resource fees which will vary according to the type of course you are studying.

1. Tuition fees are fees that have been set by the State Government of Western Australia’s Department of Training and Workforce Development.
2. In 2021, Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses will have an annual fee cap per course of $7,860 per year.
3. In addition, for students of secondary school age* not enrolled at school, the maximum course fee chargeable in 2021 is $420. The maximum is the total fee for all courses the student is enrolled in (some resource fees may apply).

*These are people who have reached 15 years of age but have not reached the end of the calendar year in which their compulsory education period expires, as defined in the School Education Act 1999. For 2021, persons born on or after 1 July 2003, who are at least 15 years old and who undertake training that is not part of the VET in Schools program.

Note: Existing workers^ pay $5.79 per nominal hour of study (Excludes existing worker traineeships and targeted fee relief apprenticeships and traineeships).

^An existing worker is defined as a person employed with the same employer continuously for more than three months full time or 12 months casual or part time, or a combination of both, immediately prior to the commencement date of the training contract.

Fees and Concession fees may vary depending on the program of funding which can be accessed by the student applicant.

Fees are for 2021 only and Fees are known to change each year, fees may change during the year. Students will be charged applicable 2021 unit fees for all units commenced in 2021. This may mean that an amended invoice needs to be issued.

Where a course is reclassified into a different category during the year, the reclassification does not affect fees payable for units of the course commenced prior to the reclassification date. If a course is reclassified as targeted fee relief, then the targeted fee relief course fee caps only apply to units commenced on or after the date of reclassification. Amended invoices will be issued and refunds will be paid (if applicable). 

Concession Fees Eligibility
The following students are entitled to the concession rate on course fees:

• Secondary school-aged persons, not enrolled at school i.e. The student applicant is a person who has reached 15 years of age but has not reached the end of the calendar year in which their compulsory education period expires, as defined in the School Education Act 1999.
• Persons and dependants of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution.
• Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of the Youth Allowance.
• Persons and dependants of persons in receipt of AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY.
• Persons and dependants of persons holding
  • A Pensioner Concession Card.
  • A Repatriation Health Benefits Card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
  • A Health Care Card.
• If the concession is valid for the full enrolment period, then all eligible units commenced within that period attract the concession rate. If the concession is valid for part of the enrolment period, then only eligible units commenced on or after the start date and prior to the expiry of the concession attract the concession rate.
• Concession fees are not available for existing worker traineeships except courses specified on the concession-eligible Diploma and Advanced Diploma list.

Fee Waiver
WAIFS may waive all fees for student applicants who can prove severe financial hardship. WAIFS will require information from you to prove your severe financial hardship claim.

A person is considered to be in severe financial hardship only where they are unable to provide food, accommodation, clothing, medical treatment, or other basic necessities for themselves and/or their dependents. Forms of entertainment or recreation are not basic necessities.

To find our Financial Hardship Funded Programmes Fee Waiver Application Form click here.

The student tuition fees are indicative only and are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional fees may apply such as student service and resource fees.   

Eligibility for Subsidised training
You are eligible for a subsidised training place if you have left school, your primary place of residence is in Western Australia and you are:

• an Australian citizen; or
• a permanent visa holder or holder of visa subclass 309, 444, 785, 790, 820 or 826;
• a dependent or spouse of the primary holder of a visa subclass 457; or
• a Bridging Visa E holder (subclasses 050 and 051) and you have made a valid application for a visa of subclass 785 or 790.

Interstate apprentices and trainees may be eligible for publicly funded training in WA. You can find more information about eligibility requirements in the Department’s VET fees and charges policy.

Please note that access to subsidised training is subject to availability.

Eligibility for Traineeships
Traineeships are available for anyone of working age to train, study and earn an income in a wide range of occupations while they remain employed. Traineeships fall into two categories:

1. New Worker – A new worker trainee is a person who starts their employment with an employer under a training contract, or has been employed with the same employer for less than 3 months full-time or less than 12 months part-time employment.
2. Existing Worker – An existing worker trainee is defined as a person employed with the same employer continuously for more than 3 months full-time or 12 months casual or part-time or a combination of both, immediately prior to starting their training contract.

I’m an employer – Why would I bother training my staff, they work for me anyway? 

Employing an Australian Apprentice or Trainee is a smart investment in the future of your business. Investing in training through this program can provide your business with real benefits and contribute to your bottom line. A range of financial incentives may be available to you when you employ an eligible Australian Apprentice/Trainee. Additionally:

• If your employees knew just a bit more they could be much better at their jobs – whether that is better customer service or finding faster ways of doing things.
• Your workers will love you for it – an employer who invests in training and professional development is worth working for!

Australian Apprenticeships/Traineeships offer opportunities for anyone of working age to train, study and earn an income in a wide range of occupations and trades.  Available in more than 500 occupations at levels up to Advanced Diploma, they provide nationally recognised quality training developed by industry for industry.

Employers hiring Australian Apprentices may be eligible to receive incentive payments under the Jobs and skills WA employer incentive. Incentives are subject to eligibility criteria, waiting periods and time limits being met. Your Apprenticeship Network provider will assess your eligibility for incentives.

Incentives payments are made when Australian Apprentices commence, recommence and complete their training. Tens of thousands of employers of Australian Apprentices receive incentives payments from the Australian Government every year.

Further information can be found on the Australian Apprenticeships Website

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) 
If you are from a CaLD background*, you may be eligible for support to help you access training.

To be eligible, you must be born overseas** and hold the following documentation that may include but is not limited to:

• a humanitarian visa;
• other documentation showing you originated from a country defined as CaLD such as a passport, travel documents or a birth certificate; or
• a referral from a participation referral agent for CaLD people.

To access this support, contact us for the  course you’re interested in, check the list of referral agents here or talk to your local Jobs and Skills Centre.

^{*Refers to groups and individuals who differ according to religion, race, language and ethnicity except those whose ancestry is Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Celtic, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
**The CaLD definition excludes those born in the following countries; Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, the United States and Wales.}

Job Seeker
If you hold a health care card or pension card and are unemployed you may be eligible for support to help you access training.

To access this support, contact us for the course you’re interested in, or you can contact your local Job Active Provider  or talk to your local Jobs and Skills Centre about getting a referral.

For more information on eligibility, please refer to the Department of Training and Workforce Development Website and the VET Fees and Charges Policy. 

 Academic Entrance Requirements – All Courses

Specific Pre-requisite Course Requirements
Some courses delivered by WAIFS have specific pre-requisite entrance requirements in addition to the above. Information will be provided at enrolment.

English Language Requirements (N/A for Native Speakers)
All of WAIFS courses have minimum English requirements which vary based on the level of the course. E.g. a Diploma or Advanced Diploma at WAIFS requires a minimum 5.5 IELTS overall (or equivalent). Further information is provided at enrolment. This is only applicable for students where English is not their first language. 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a way of using your existing skills, knowledge and experience to get a formal qualification.

RPL considers all relevant skills, knowledge and experience that you have regardless of the way you got them. This includes experience and training you have gained through paid work, volunteer work and previous training and/or life experiences.

If you undertake an RPL assessment with WAIFS, you may be able to gain a complete qualification or, if you have gaps in your knowledge, parts of a qualification which you can then complete with additional training.

Why RPL?

• You can attain a formal, nationally recognised qualification in a shorter period of time and at a significantly lower cost.
• Your career and education options may be increased through formally recognised skills and knowledge.
• You do not have to repeat or waste time learning what you already know.
• You could finally “get that piece of paper” that says you are skilled without having to attend class.

Apply for RPL

• Contact WAIFS – either contact your trainer at WAIFS or discuss the possibility of RPL with WAIFS at enrolment.
• Evidence Requirements – Our Assessor will contact you and work with you during the RPL process to determine exactly what evidence is required.
• RPL Assessment Undertaken  – WAIFS’ assessor will review your skills and knowledge based on the evidence you provide and match them to units within a qualification.
• Outcome Notified -Your WAIFS’ assessor will give you information about the skills and knowledge that have been recognised and whether you have gained the full qualification.

IF THIS SEEMS LIKE THE RIGHT DECISION – WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU

How do I apply?

1. Call 08 6200 6200 and ask to speak with the Marketing Department.
2. OR email marketing@waifs.wa.edu.au

It is important to note that WAIFS cannot guarantee your entrance into any of the funded programs. Jobs & Skills WA has both enrolment and funding criteria. Completion of an Application Form does not guarantee your enrolment request will be successful. WAIFS will ensure the process is explained to you fully and completed as quickly as possible. Enrolment is dependent on funding being confirmed and a student’s ability to meet the eligibility criteria.