Not all jobs need a full qualification, and maybe you don't either.
Our skill sets can help you get ready for your first job, or re-skill quickly for jobs that are available as WA's economy recovers.
FAQs
The free training is available to residents of Western Australia.
- Persons aged 15—24 years at the time of enrolment (excluding students enrolled at school)
- Persons and dependents of persons receiving JobKeeper payment
- Persons and dependents of persons in receipt of services from one of the following Commonwealth support or employment services programs:
- Jobactive
- Online Employment Services
- 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.
Who is not eligible
- Persons living outside of Western Australia, or Australia, are not eligible.
- International students and people on a student visa are not eligible.
- Students who are still at school are not eligible and cannot enrol in the free skill sets.
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.
Enquiries regarding course fees can be made by calling us.
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.Â
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.Â
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.
Skill sets list
Business Ready Skill Set
Almost every business has an office — and there's no shortage of job opportunities here
This skill set will give you the skills and knowledge required to deliver all aspects of customer service including how to create a relationship with customers, identify their needs, deliver services or products and process customer feedback.Almost every business has an office — and there's no shortage of job opportunities here
From administration work through to customer service, using business technology, dealing with accounts and finances through to digital marketing — you just need to be skills ready.
The Business Ready Skill Set will give you the skills and knowledge required to deliver all aspects of customer service including how to create a relationship with customers, identify their needs, deliver services or products and process customer feedback. You'll also learn how to use business technology and produce business documents, follow work health and safety (WHS) and emergency procedures and instructions, and use computer software and organise electronic information and data.
Commercial Kitchen Skill Set
How would you like to be part of a team producing beautiful food in one of WA's restaurants, cafes, bars, resorts or hotels?
This skill set covers how to follow organisational infection prevention and control procedures, including implementing standard and transmission-based precautions and responding to infection risks to ensure you're working safely.How would you like to be part of a team producing beautiful food in one of WA's restaurants, cafes, bars, resorts or hotels?
This skill set covers all the 'must know' skills that employers are looking for, so you'll be skills ready and job ready. It covers how to follow organisational infection prevention and control procedures, including implementing standard and transmission-based precautions and responding to infection risks to ensure you're working safely.
In the Commercial Kitchen skill set, you'll learn about the safe use of commercial kitchen equipment, how to clean food preparation areas, storage areas, and equipment efficiently and minimising negative environmental impacts, preventing food contamination including how to identify and control food hazards, and gain general kitchen and food preparation skills.
Jobs that could lead from this skill set includes cooks, chefs, caterers, kitchen stewards, kitchen hands, and bar and food and beverage servers and attendants.
Cross-Sector Infection Control Skill Set
Help reduce the risk of transmission of infection in the workplace
Designed to equip workers with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk and transmission of infection.Help reduce the risk of transmission of infection in the workplace
This skill set is designed to equip workers from all industries with the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk and transmission of infection while carrying out routine work activities.
This training is suited to a wide range of workplaces including small, medium and large organisations; business environments; and where workers use shared facilities and interact with clients.
This online course allows you to undertake studies within your own timeframe to help you gain the skills and knowledge to reduce the risk and transmission of infection while carrying out routine work activities.
Customer Service Skill Set
Retail, finance, pharmacy, hospitality, business, tourism... what industry doesn't have customers?
Good customer service and communication skills are highly valued by employers in many different industries and areas of work, and this skill set will get you job ready with exactly the skills you need.Retail, finance, pharmacy, hospitality, business, tourism... what industry doesn't have customers?
Good customer service and communication skills are highly valued by employers in many different industries and areas of work, and this skill set will get you job ready with exactly the skills you need. This skill set includes following infection prevention and control policies and procedures, implementing standard and transmission-based precautions and responding to infection risks in the workplace within a customer service context to ensure you're working safely.
You'll learn to communicate effectively and provide quality service to both internal and external customers, and how to deal effectively with people from a range of social and cultural groups with respect and sensitivity. You'll also gain negotiation, conflict management and problem solving skills.
Entry into Care Roles Skill Set
This skill set is free for everyone
This skill set will give you the skills and knowledge required to provide entry level support and basic client care for a range of roles and purposes within the aged care and disability support sectors.This skill set is free for everyone
The CHCSS00114 Entry Into Care Roles skill set addresses the skills and knowledge required to provide entry level support and basic client care for a range of roles and purposes within the aged care and disability support sectors.
The support provided in client care will be predominantly non-direct. The skill set is comprised of the following units.
- HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
- CHCCCS015 Provide individualised support
- HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care
Hospitality Service Skill Set
With restrictions easing across WA, our hospitality industry is getting back into busy mode and the jobs are out there
If you're keen to work in a restaurant, hotel, resort, club, bar or cafe environment, the Hospitality Service skill set is for you.With restrictions easing across WA, our hospitality industry is getting back into busy mode and the jobs are out there
If you're keen to work in a restaurant, hotel, resort, club, bar or cafe environment, the Hospitality Service skill set is for you.
You'll learn about responsible service of alcohol (RSA), get some barista skills to use commercial machines and make a perfect espresso, communicating effectively and providing quality service to customers including the how to establish rapport with customers and determine and address customer needs, and responding and managing complaints. You'll also learn how to process cash and other payments using business technology, and reconcile takings at the end of the service period or day. This course also includes infection control and prevention procedures and food safety to ensure you're working safely.
Infection control Skill Set
Protect yourself and others in the community from infectious diseases
Gain an understanding of how infections are spread, ways of preventing the spread of infection and how to protect yourself and others from infection. This skill set is most suited for those that are working in the health care sector, or those that would like to acquire a new skill before returning to employment.Protect yourself and others in the community from infectious diseases
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of building the capacity and understanding of the workforce to practice safe infection control procedures. This skill set will provide you with the skills and knowledge to assist in protecting yourself and others in the community from infectious diseases.Â
You will understand how infections are spread, ways of preventing the spread of infection and how to protect yourself and others from infection. It is most suited for those that are working in the health care sector, or those that would like to acquire a new skill before returning to employment.
This online course allows you to undertake studies within your own timeframe. You will receive a short induction and ongoing support from your lecturer. Once you have completed the online study component you will be required to book into a four hour practical lab session at our Mount Lawley campus where you will practice skills and undertake a workplace assessment.
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Infection control Skill Set (Food Handling)
Protect yourself and others in the hospitality sector from infectious diseases
Gain an understanding of how infections are spread, ways of preventing the spread of infection and how to protect yourself and others from infection. This skill set is most suited for those that are working in the hospitality sector.Protect yourself and others in the hospitality sector from infectious diseases
The pandemic has highlighted the importance of building the capacity and understanding of the workforce to practice safe infection control procedures. This skill set will provide you with the skills and knowledge to assist in protecting yourself and others in the community from infectious diseases.Â
You will understand how infections are spread, ways of preventing the spread of infection and how to protect yourself and others from infection. It is most suited for those that are working in the hospitality sector.
This online course allows you to undertake studies within your own timeframe. You will receive a short inducton and ongoing support from your lecturer. Once you have completed the online study component you will be required to book into a four hour practical lab session at our Mount Lawley campus where you will practice skills and undertake a workplace assessment.
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Infrastructure Ready Skill Set
Build your future with skills in infrastructure
Gain the skills to prepare for a career in infrastructure projects, and pick up your White Card along the way!Build your future with skills in infrastructure
Gain the skills to prepare for a career in infrastructure projects, and pick up your White Card along the way!
You will learn the knowledge and skills to work safely in the civil construction industry, communicate effectively on work sites and plan work in relation to infrastructure activities.
This introduction is suitable for students who wish to enter the industry with no or limited experience.
Introduction to Cybersecurity Skill Set
Cyber security is a key jobs growth area, so this is a great place to start
The Introduction to Cyber Security skill set covers critical skills and knowledge to get you job ready and give your career a good kickstart.Cyber security is a key jobs growth area, so this is a great place to start
Introduction to cyber security, sounds cool, right? That's because it is. COVID-19 has changed the way we live and work, with so many things now being done online, which has led to the need for skilled workers to protect our online safety and security.
The Introduction to Cyber Security skill set covers critical skills and knowledge to get you job ready and give your career a good kickstart. You'll learn about professional and ethical conduct in an ICT workplace, how to manage personal and sensitive data and information in a confidential and professional manner, recognising and identifying cybersecurity needs in an organisation, how to undertake security fundamentals in relation to personal and networked computers.
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Job Ready Basics Skill Set
A little extra support and a confidence boost to get into a job
This skill set is perfect if you feel that you need a little extra support and a confidence boost to get into a job. It focuses on health, wellbeing and personal development.The Job Ready Basics skill set is perfect if you feel that you need a little extra support and a confidence boost to get into a job.
It focuses on health, wellbeing and personal development. Follow this up with a visit to your local Jobs and Skills Centre, where you can get free advice and support to with your CV and writing job applications, and you'll be job ready!
This skill set provides a pathway to further study in the following Lower fees, local skills half-price course fees qualifications.
Operating a Small Business Skill Set
If you've ever wanted to set up your own small business this free skill set will give you the skills you need
You'll gain the skills you need to be business or job ready in any field of small business.This skill set is free for everyone
If you're currently operating or thinking about starting up a small business, or would like to get job ready for an administrative support position in a small business operation, this is the skill set for you!Â
The Operating a Small Business Skill Set offers a fantastic range of skills and knowledge to get you job ready. You'll learn how to design and produce business documents and publications, digitally design and develop text-based documents,  develop spreadsheets through the use of both cloud-based and non-cloud based applications, identify financial requirements of a business including profit targets, cash flow projections and strategies to garner financial support, and understand workplace health and safety (WHS) legislation and its application to safe work practices. It even covers how to create and build a social networking presence using social media tools and applications.Â
Work in Hospitality Skill Set
WA has a large and vibrant hospitality industry — from bars and cafes through to world class restaurants and venues, hotels and resorts.
Hospitality offers a range of both entry-level jobs and career development opportunities, and the Work in Hospitality skill set is the perfect introduction to the industry, giving you the critical skills employers are looking for.WA has a large and vibrant hospitality industry — from bars and cafes through to world class restaurants and venues, hotels and resorts.
Hospitality offers a range of both entry-level jobs and career development opportunities, and the Work in Hospitality skill set is the perfect introduction to the industry, giving you the critical skills employers are looking for. To get you job ready, you'll learn about areas of health and wellbeing and personal development, how to use workplace technology and business systems, and responsible service of alcohol (RSA). It also includes infection control and prevention procedures and food safety to ensure you're working safely.