Chapter 25. Education and training

Supporting Documents for this Chapter:

• Education and training in Workforce Australia Participant fact sheetsign-in required (sign-in required)

25.1. Chapter OverviewCopy citation · §25.1

This Chapter outlines the Education and training options available for Participants to learn skills and gain qualifications that will improve their employment prospects.

25.2. Eligible Education and training coursesCopy citation · §25.2

Education and training benefits Participants to increase their skills and complete courses and/or gain a qualification that will enhance their ability to gain secure and meaningful employment.

Participants can undertake an Education or training course, of less than 12 months:

• by selecting an eligible course that is listed on Your Career as either:

  • a Fee-Free TAFE course, or

  • subsidised by a state or territory government

• where the Provider approves that course for the Participant, they can do so by selecting a course not subsidised or not listed on Your Career. Refer to Approval of a course of study for more information on the approval process.

Participants undertaking an eligible Education and training course will earn points towards their Points Target under the PBAS. The Participant can choose to undertake these courses at any time during their Points Reporting Period. The Provider should guide the choice but unless specified by these Guidelines, does not need to approve the Participant to undertake these courses.

Note: Participants undertaking an eligible Education and training course over 15 hours per week, for less than 12 months duration, will not be required to complete a Job Search Requirement.

• System step — Providers must reduce the Job Search Requirement to zero in the Department’s IT Systems for these Participants.

• System step — Where a Participant's Points Target is 100 points, Providers must reduce a Participant’s Points Target by applying a 20 point Activity bonus credit where they are undertaking Education and training courses over 15 hours per week.

Education and training may be undertaken where the Participant would otherwise have Work for the Dole as a Mandatory Activity Requirement. Refer to the Job Plan and Mutual Obligation Requirements Chapter for more information.

The TCF will not apply for non-attendance in Education and training, however, it will apply if Participants fail to meet their Points Requirement.

Fee-Free TAFE courses can vary between different states and territories. Participants should check their eligibility when selecting a course and can find this information under 'Enrol now in your state or territory' on the Fee-Free TAFE | Your Career website.

25.2.1. Allowable breaks while undertaking an Education and training courseCopy citation · §25.2.1

Where a Participant has a break, such as a semester break, that is of less than or equal to a period of 4 consecutive weeks while undertaking an eligible Education or training course which is contributing to their Points Target, there is no need to adjust a Participant’s requirements. Points relating to the ongoing Education and training course should continue to be credited for the duration of the break.

If the break is greater than 4 weeks, the Participant must do other requirements, such as Job Search or other Activities to meet their Points Target, for the period of the break.

25.3. Approval of a course of studyCopy citation · §25.3

Participants can study a course not listed as eligible on Your Career or is non-accredited if the course is less than 12 months in duration and the Provider determines that the course is appropriate to the Participant and improves their employment prospects.

Courses considered to improve a Participant’s employment prospects include:

• courses that will lead to qualifications in an in-demand area of identified skill needs

• courses that will address a skills gap of the individual necessary for them to find work

• courses that will lead directly to employment for the Participant

• courses that are year 12 or an equivalent level for Early School Leavers.

Areas of identified skills needs may include:

• identified on the Skills Priority List as in shortage and/or of high to moderate future demand (Skills Priority List | Jobs and Skills Australia);

• a higher education short course listed on the www.courseseeker.edu.au/courses, or

• information sources relevant to the local area.

Any course approved by a Provider must be a Certificate I course or higher (but not a Masters or Doctorate course, except in the circumstances listed at section Approval of courses of 12 months or longer in duration, or certain non-accredited courses as outlined below).

Note: Non-accredited courses do not need to be a Certificate I or higher, but the course must be in the best interest of the Participant and will allow the Participant to develop skills that will enhance their employability or enable them to undertake further study in accredited Education and training courses.

People undertaking full-time Education and training that is longer than 12 months in duration should generally be placed on a student allowance. Providers should refer full-time students to Services Australia for an Income Support Payment eligibility check.

Early School Leavers should generally be required to participate in Education and training/or other suitable Activities for 25 hours per week until they have achieved year 12 or an equivalent level qualification (15 hours for Principal Carer Parents/ those with a Partial Capacity to Work).

Specific courses and qualifications may have their own eligibility criteria and Providers should discuss these with the Participant to ensure that the Participant meets any prerequisite requirements before approving any Education and training.

25.3.1. Approval of courses of 12 months or longer in durationCopy citation · §25.3.1

Providers must not approve full-time courses of 12 months (2 semesters) or longer in duration, or Masters or Doctorate courses, except in the following specific circumstances.

• Participants in receipt of Special Benefit (Nominated visa holder - NVH) who have not attained a Year 12 or equivalent qualification may undertake full-time study in a school institution up to Year 12. These Participants will still be required to attend Provider appointments and have a Job Search Requirement, where appropriate for their circumstances.

• Participants in receipt of Youth Allowance (other) can continue to study in a course which is longer than 12 months in duration if they have exceeded the allowable time for their course under Youth Allowance (student) but have less than 12 months of study remaining to complete their course.

• The Participant is a single Principal Carer Parent who has been granted Pensioner Education Supplement (PES) for an academic course or course longer than 12 months. Where an eligible course for which PES is granted is being undertaken full-time or for at least 30 hours per fortnight, this will fully meet requirements, and the single principal carer will not be required to undertake additional Activities.

• The Participant is in receipt of Parenting Payment Single.

• The Participant is a Parenting Payment recipient who transferred to JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (other) or, in some limited instances, where a Participant was granted the Disability Support Pension and then transferred to JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance (other). They are able to continue their studies in the same course they commenced while receiving the previous Income Support Payment type for which they receive PES.

• Services Australia has approved participation in a full-time course for Participants prior to entering employment services if the Participant has been identified as requiring training under the SEE Program or AMEP.

• Services Australia can also approve participation in a full-time course for any Participant prior to entering employment services or another relevant Provider's program if:

  • the Participant has an offer of employment, confirmed by a letter from the potential employer, contingent upon their completing the course

  • the course has a clear vocational application, and

  • the Participant is prepared to meet any additional expenses involved.

25.4. Role of ProvidersCopy citation · §25.4

The Provider should:

• encourage Participants to build on their existing skill sets and help them to access appropriate and targeted skills and training opportunities and increase their ability to find work

• become familiar with, and promote, flexible Education and training including courses subsidised by Commonwealth, state and territory governments

• monitor Participants undertaking Education or training, and support them to complete their course

• support Participant to update their résumé and profile to reflect the new qualification.

Providers are required to obtain copies of any qualifications or statements of attainment from the Participant.

The Provider may also consider supporting costs associated with studying in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Employment Fund Chapter.

• Documentary evidence — Where study is undertaken online, Providers can request Documentary Evidence from Participants of the online hours that they complete.

• Documentary evidence — The Provider must retain evidence (either hard copy or soft copy) of timesheets or other records of attendance. Where Participants are recording their own attendance, Documentary Evidence is not required to be kept by the Provider.

• Documentary evidence — The Provider must retain evidence (either hard copy or soft copy) of qualifications, statements of attainment or similar where relevant.

(Deed Reference(s): Clauses 89, 90, 91, 120)

25.5. PaymentsCopy citation · §25.5

Progress Payments may be available to claim when the Participant’s circumstances have been changed during participation in Workforce Australia Services such that they are more prepared to gain and maintain Employment. Providers must refer to and comply with the requirements specified in the Provider Payments and Vacancies Chapter.