These webpages provide information about free training courses.
ASC is not responsible for the courses but can assist you to understand information and make decisions about whether the training courses are the right choice for you.
We can also help you to complete enrolment forms.
Please read our information sheet for more details.
NB. To enrol in training you will need to have study/training rights on your visa and be able to show that you have applied for a protection visa.
You will also need to provide your Unique Student Identifier (USI) number. You can check https://www.usi.gov.au/students/find-your-usi to see if you already have a USI.
SEE Program provides provides job-related training in language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills you need to prepare for work or further study.
SEE at Navitas (Auburn, Bankstown, Cabramatta, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Parramatta)
SEE at MTC (Auburn, Bankstown, Blacktown, Burwood, Cabramatta, Campbelltown, Campsie, Fairfield, Liverpool, Marrickville, Miller, Parramatta, Westmead + more)
English for Professionals - Intermediate + - Online (Zoom)
Industry-Specific English
TAFE has hundreds of courses available in all industries ranging from short training courses through Certificates to Diplomas. Not all training at TAFE is free or subsidised, so keep an eye out for labels that say "Fee Free" or "Fees from $0" or "Subsidised prices".
To search for a course
Click on the search here button to go to the webpage called Browse course areas
Start exploring courses by scrolling through the industry tiles and clicking on the industry you are interested in
Either scroll through the page or use the left-hand box with industry sub-categories to navigate
Click on the View Course button for the course you are interested in, for example Certificate III in Guiding, to get some more information about the course
Click on the blue Find a Location to Enrol button for a list of TAFE campuses that run the course
Click on the Enrolment Open/Enquire now/Register Interest button next to the campus you are interested in - the same campus might be listed more than once so take notice of any differences and compare the results: the differences are usually about whether the course is full- or part- time and how it is delivered, for example, face-to-face, combination, on-line
Read carefully, make notes using our checklist, and make use of the Ask a Question button or Download course brochure link
Important information to look for as you explore TAFE courses
watch out for Enrol/apply now and Enquire now buttons - Enrol/apply now will only show if TAFE is getting ready to start a new course, but Enquire now will always show and you should use it to get on the mailing list and ask any questions. You might also see Register interest - clicking on this button will also get you on the mailing list
is there an information session coming up?
The NSW Government subsidises the cost of almost 900 full courses ranging from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma under the Smart and Skilled program at many private and community colleges . For asylum seekers, courses up to and including Certificate IV can be subsidised to 100% meaning that they do not pay any training fees (although there may still be some costs for equipment, textbooks, etc.). Asylum seekers who start Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in 2024 may also be able to have their course fully subsidised.
To search for a course
Click on the search here button
Start exploring careers by industry by expanding the list. This information gives a quick idea of the types of jobs qualified people can do and some of the most popular courses
Click the red View courses button next to the industry sub-category you are interested in - be patient, the website can take a little while to load the list
When the list is loaded take a moment to add a location filter so that you are just seeing courses that are in your area
Click the Open Filters button
Start typing in your suburb and select it from the list. We also suggest putting a 25km area around your suburb
Scroll down to find and click the red Apply Filters button
When you see a course you are interested in, expand the list to read the course overview and see which colleges are approved to run the course in your area
Click View details to see more location details about a college - they may be approved to run the course in more than one area
Click on a location to see more details about the college - there may be a website, an email address and a phone number
We recommend you click on the college website to look for more information about the course and/or call to ask for more information. Make sure to say you are looking for subsidised training and explain you are eligible as someone on a bridging visa who has applied for protection
Make notes using our checklist
The NSW Government 'Smart and Skilled' program includes some English and Foundation Skills courses that focus on language, literacy, numeracy and employability skills development.
These courses support learners with English language, literacy, numeracy and computer skills to help them find a job or enter vocational training.
The courses include Certificate I, Certificate II and Certificate III qualifications in these areas:
Certificate I in Access to Vocational Pathways
Certificate I in Access to Work and Training
Certificate I in Fundamental English for Speakers of Other Languages
Certificate I in General Education for Adults
Certificate I in General Education for Adults (Introductory)
Certificate I in Preparation for Work and Training
Certificate I in Skills for Vocational Pathways
Certificate I in Work Education
Certificate II in Basic English for Speakers of Other Languages
Certificate II in Career Preparation
Certificate II in Further Study Skills
Certificate II in General Education for Adults
Certificate II in Routine English for Speakers of Other Languages
Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
Certificate III in Advanced English for Further Study
Certificate III in Career Advancement
Certificate III in English for Further Study
Certificate III in Pathways to Further Study
These courses are run by TAFE and some Adult and Community Education (ACE) colleges.
Click on the search here button
Start typing the name of one of the courses in the list above in the Select course box and select it from the list
Start typing in your suburb in the Location box and select it from the list
Click the red Search button
Expand the list to read the course overview and see which colleges are approved to run the course in your area
Click View details to see more location details about a college - they may be approved to run the course in more than one area
Click on a location to see more details about the college - there may be a website, an email address and a phone number
We recommend you click on the college website to look for more information about the course and/or call to ask for more information. Make sure to say you are looking for subsidised training and explain you are eligible as someone on a bridging visa who has applied for protection
Please note:
You can also go straight to the TAFE NSW website to search for these courses - look for the Study and Career Pathways tile and follow the steps on Study at TAFE NSW.
For help with English literacy, numeracy and digital skills take a look at the list of courses at TAFE NSW under Work Study and Vocational Skills. Many of these courses may be available for free.
Not sure what is the right course to get qualified for a job?
This link goes through to the Your Career webpages. This will give you an alphabetical listing of job names that you can explore to learn more about
what things the job does
what training you would need to do with the names of some courses to search for (you can follow the link or just use the course name to explore the TAFE NSW website)
the skills that employers are looking for in workers
the names of some related occupations and what you and could get paid (when qualified)
To search for a job name
Click on the search here button
Enter the name of a job area of interest in Keywords, for example, "retail" or "nurse"
Look through the list of related jobs and click on the job titles for more information
TAFE NSW offers free help to future students when they are trying to decide on the right course for them. TAFE counsellors can help you to:
clarify your career goals
find a course that meets your needs
identify obstacles you may be facing – and help you to deal with them
develop skills to manage your career into the future
Hint: you will need to choose a region and a campus when searching for a TAFE counsellor.
South Western Sydney
Granville
Bankstown
Lidcombe
Padstow
Campbelltown
Liverpool
Miller
Macquarie Fields
Wetherill Park
Western Sydney
Baulkham Hills/Castle Hill
Kingswood
Mount Druitt
Blacktown
Nirimba
Richmond
Katoomba
Sydney
Design Centre Enmore
Eora
Petersham
Randwick
St George
Loftus
Gymea
Ultimo
Northern Sydney
St Leonards
Meadowbank
Northern Beaches
Ryde
Hornsby
Digital
Digital Campus
To make it easier for the thousands of workers in NSW whose first language isn’t English, SafeWork NSW has translated a large amount of its workplace health and safety resources into 16 different languages.
There are videos, factsheets, instructional guides and posters in Arabic, Assyrian, Chinese, Dari, Filipino, French, German, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Malay, Nepali, Punjabi, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.