Training in Western Australia
Whether you’re still at school and considering your options, looking for the right course or training provider, seeking recognition for skills and experience you already have, considering an apprenticeship or traineeship, or wanting to study in Western Australia, we can help. In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to have the right skills and qualifications. Training gives you practical skills which employers are looking for, giving you a greater competitive edge over others.
For all information about vocational education and training (VET) courses in WA; including assistance choosing a training course and/or a training provider, a search facility for over 3,000 publicly funded VET courses and qualifications, information about apprenticeships and traineeships, how to apply and enrol, course fees, training pathways and the support and assistance programs available to help people get into training, please go to the Jobs and Skills WA website.
Visit the Jobs and Skills WA website
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The Department's role
The Department of Training and Workforce Development is the government agency responsible for managing vocational education and training in Western Australia. We do this by:
- managing public resources in the State vocational education and training (VET) system;
- planning, funding and monitoring publicly funded training;
- administering the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Western Australia through Apprenticeship Office; and
- providing advice on curriculum.
Key reforms recently implemented by the Department include:
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Lower fees, local skills — Reduced course fees
How would you like to get a qualification directly aligned with Western Australia's industry areas where the jobs are today, and into the future?
Through the Lower fees, local skills program, you can now choose from over 180 qualifications and enjoy half-price course fees capped to an annual total of $400 for concession students and youth (ages 15—24), and $1,200 for non-concession students.
The Western Australian Government and the Department of Training and Workforce Development, through Jobs and Skills WA, want to help build a skilled workforce for WA's future growth and prosperity. This two-year initiative aims to stimulate training in job growth areas and support industry sectors that are important to the diversification of the WA economy.
Future jobs will be in areas such as aged and disability care, Metronet, defence, hospitality and tourism, allied health and social assistance, science, technology and education, and on big projects like Metronet. These jobs will require specialist skills, and the best way to get those is through a vocational education and training (VET) course.
VET is a great way to learn — it's hands on, and it's focused on practical skills and knowledge... the kind that employers want. Your qualification is awarded when you can demonstrate your competency, rather than through tests and exams. And whether your course is at a WA TAFE college or a private training provider, you can be sure that you're learning from industry experts.
We want to make VET more accessible for everyone, particularly for those who may find the cost of training difficult to manage. By reducing the cost of these targetted qualifications, many more people will be able to get into training.
We also want to help people find a job when they finish their VET qualification or course, especially in the allied health and social assistance areas such as aged care and disability support where employers look for particular skills and abilities to suit their clients' needs, and the WA Jobs and Skills Centres will be directly supporting this goal through the advice and support they provide to jobseekers.
Last but not least, we want to make it easier for people in regional areas of Western Australia to access training and find employment. We also know that some areas of WA have high youth unemployment, so we want to see younger people get into VET and set themselves up for a successful future.
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Vocational education and training
The vocational education and training (VET) sector is important to Western Australia's economy for the development of the State's workforce. It enables students to gain qualifications for all types of employment, and specific skills to help them in the workplace.
Providers of VET include TAFE colleges, private providers, community organisations, industry skill centres, and enterprise training providers working together.
Jobs and Skills WA – Subsidised training for priority areas
As our economy grows and diversifies, the future outlook for jobs is constantly changing. Jobs and Skills WA is the way the State Government, through the Department, prioritises its investment in training to focus on courses that help people to take up jobs that are, or will be, in high demand. Priorities include apprenticeships, traineeships and priority industry qualifications, but many other important industry qualifications and courses are also subsidised under Jobs and Skills WA including general industry training courses and foundation skills and equity courses.
To find out more about priority areas and what courses are subsidised, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website
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VET courses
VET courses in Western Australia are focused on the development of skills and knowledge that are based on business and industry needs.
VET is generally very practical in nature – focusing on ‘how to’. This means you’re job-ready once your course is completed, with the valuable hands-on experience that employers look for.
VET courses provide nationally recognised qualifications from entry-level through to Graduate Diploma, offering something for everyone.
Apprenticeships and traineeships provide opportunities to earn while you learn in industry areas such as building and construction, information technology, hospitality and business.
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Quality for VET
Australian Skills Quality Authority
ASQA is the national regulator for Australia’s VET sector. It seeks to make sure that quality standards are maintained through the regulation of training providers and accredited courses.
Visit the ASQA website to find out more
Training Accreditation Council
TAC is the State regulator for the VET sector in WA. It registers training providers in accordance with required national standards, and accredits VET courses.
Visit the TAC website to find out more
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Apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships are an excellent way to combine training with work, enabling you to have a job while you complete training towards a nationally recognised qualification. They are available to anyone of working age. You can do an apprenticeship or traineeship if you are a school-leaver, re-entering the workforce or as an adult worker simply wishing to change careers. You can even begin your apprenticeship or traineeship while you're still at school in years 11 and 12.
When you finish your apprenticeship or traineeship you will have a nationally recognised qualification that's held in high regard in many overseas countries as well.
For information about apprenticeships and traineeships, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website
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Learning support and assistance (Participation program)
The Department funds a range of support services for students through its Participation program courses. Registered training providers who are approved to deliver courses in this program may offer support and services such as mentoring, counselling, assistance with meals, transport, child care, language and literacy to help people access and attend training. The program also assists with support for job seeking, resumé writing and work experience for eligible students.
We have invited selected Government and community organisations, which assist people in a range of life or work issues, to be participation referral agents to help us promote this training. A referral from an agent will assist students in getting access to additional support. Students can self-nominate if they meet the eligibility requirements.
For information about learning support and assistance, and the Participation program, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website
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Foundation skills and equity courses
The State Government is committed to supporting students of all ages and backgrounds to develop language, communication, literacy and numeracy skills that will help to build confidence and improve their ability to be successful in both study and employment. This support is provided through two key strategies:
- foundation skills courses that focus on language, literacy and numeracy, and employability skills such as teamwork, problem solving, self-management, digital literacy and using technology – all key skills requirements for success in both training and the workplace; and
- equity courses that support people with disability and people seeking courses that are aligned with their culture; for example, a qualification specialising in Indigenous Australian tourism.
Through Jobs and Skills WA, these courses are subsidised by the State Government so that you pay only a small fee.
For information about foundation skills and equity courses, please visit the Jobs and Skills WA website
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Awards and competitions
WA Training Awards
The WA Training Awards recognise and reward outstanding achievements of apprentices, trainees and vocational students, and the contribution to training made by trainers, training organisations and employers.
To find out more about how you could win a share in more than $80 000 in cash and prizes and the chance to represent WA at the Australian Training Awards, please visit the WA Training Awards website.
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WorldSkills WA
WorldSkills competitions aim to develop and nurture the skills of young Australians aged 23 and under. Their purpose is to promote and build a skills culture by inspiring young people, celebrating skills excellence and providing them with an opportunity to showcase their trade and skill talent.
In WA, competitions are held across five regions in over 40 skills areas, including VET in Schools, and winners may progress to national and international level.
To find out more, please visit the WorldSkills WA web page.
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Scholarships
The Department provides and/or supports scholarship programs that provide opportunities for people to engage with vocational education and training.
Information and updates about scholarship programs, when they are available will be provided here.
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Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance student scholarship program
Applications for the 2023 scholarship program are now open!
The ability displayed by a number of individuals with autism for extreme attention to detail, appreciation of predictability and capacity to focus is valuable to the ICT industry, particularly for software development, testing and cybersecurity.
The Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance, the Autism Association of Western Australia and the Department of Training and Workforce Development are working together to deliver a scholarship program to harness the unique skills of people on the Autism spectrum or with related conditions.
Up to $5,000 per recipient, funded by the Department, is available to cover the fees of eligible students to study IT, programming, cybersecurity or software development courses at Certificate IV and Diploma levels. The scholarship will meet the cost of course fees up to $5,000 per student. Further information about the scholarship and eligibility requirements, and a form to apply, is in the information flyer.
Applications for the 2023 scholarship close on 2 December 2022.
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Student satisfaction survey
The Student satisfaction survey is used to measure the quality of service provided by Western Australia's TAFEs and to gain a better understanding of their customers and their needs. In 2022, the Department has commissioned Wallis Social Research to conduct this survey.
The latest (2021) survey shows 87.3% of students were satisfied with their training. Students experienced the highest levels of satisfaction with the:
- physical safety and security measures (92.0%);
- quality of trainers / instructors (87.7%); and
- how likely it is that the course will lead to a job/career (85.5%).
Satisfaction with the cost of the course (75.5%) was significantly higher in 2021, when compared to 2020 (71%).
To request reports from previous years, please use our online enquiry form.
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Statistics and the WA data standard
The Department collects and reports a range of statistical information to track engagement and measure the outcomes of vocational education and training in Western Australia. Funded training providers are required to report enrolment activity according to the rules of the Western Australian VET enrolment data standard, which incorporates the full national standard (AVETMISS for providers) plus additional State requirements.
For current reporting, view the technical specifications of the VET enrolment data standard version 8.0.C13
VET enrolment data
The Key VET enrolment statistics report shows a summary of all training funded by or through the Department, including funding categories, age group, disability status, level of education and training provider. Please note that VET enrolment data is not directly comparable with the apprenticeship and traineeship contracts data available below – the two different data sources are not statistically compatible and should not be combined. If you would like to see the statistics presented in infographic format, please download the following documents.
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Apprentice and trainee contract data and reports
Apprenticeship and traineeship statistical reports are prepared in December, March, June and September of each year, and will be published on this website once noted by the Minister for Education and Training.
If you would like to see reports from previous years or periods, please email your request to programs.data.requests@dtwd.wa.gov.au.
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Apprenticeship/traineeship infographics
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Page last updated February 28, 2023
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