Smart and Skilled NSW

Fee-free traineeships in early childhood education and care

KKTC Education is an approved Smart and Skilled training provider in NSW. Under our Smart and Skilled contract we deliver fee-free training for new entrant trainees in:

CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care
CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

If you’ve recently started — or are about to start — working in a NSW early childhood service and your employer signs you up to a NSW traineeship, your training with KKTC could be fee-free under the NSW Fee-Free Traineeships Initiative. School-based traineeships (SBATs) are also available for CHC30125 Cert III — see below for details.

What is a NSW traineeship?

A traineeship combines paid work in an early childhood service with formal training towards a nationally recognised qualification. You’re employed by an early childhood service and paid award wages, and you study with KKTC at the same time as part of your job.

Your traineeship is governed by an approved NSW Training Contract that’s signed by you and your employer and processed through an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP). Once the Training Contract is approved by NSW Training Services, KKTC develops your Training Plan with you and your employer.

A “new entrant trainee” — the only category of trainee KKTC delivers Smart and Skilled training to. A new entrant trainee is someone starting fresh in their role, not someone who’s already been employed by the same employer in the same role for a sustained period.

Are you a new entrant trainee or an existing worker?

You’re classified as an Existing Worker Trainee if you’ve been employed by your current employer continuously for more than 3 months full-time, or more than 12 months casual or part-time averaging more than 30 hours per week (or a combination), immediately before your Training Contract is signed. Existing Worker Trainees are not eligible for Smart and Skilled subsidy in the qualification associated with their Training Contract. KKTC offers Fee-for-Service for Existing Worker Trainees.

School-based traineeships (SBATs)

If you’re still at school, you can start your training in early childhood education and care while completing the HSC through a NSW School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT).

KKTC delivers SBATs in NSW for CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care only. SBATs are not available for the CHC50125 Diploma.

To start an SBAT with KKTC, you need to:

As an SBAT, you typically work and train one day per week (or equivalent) during school terms, with KKTC adjusting the Training Plan and assessment schedule to fit alongside your school commitments. Your traineeship continues seamlessly when you finish school.

SBATs are fee-free for school-based trainees on the same basis as standard new entrant traineeships, under the NSW Fee-Free Traineeships Initiative.

Are you eligible for fee-free training?

To enrol in fee-free Smart and Skilled training with KKTC, you need to:

Be a New Entrant Trainee with an approved NSW Training Contract for CHC30125 or CHC50125
Have started Smart and Skilled training on or after 1 January 2020
Live or work in NSW (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students living in defined NSW border areas may also qualify)
Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or eligible humanitarian or partner visa holder
Be 15 years or older
No longer be at school — except if you are a school-based trainee with an approved School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT) Training Contract for CHC30125, or a registered home-school student through NESA
Hold (or be applying for) a Unique Student Identifier (USI)

Each student is eligible for a maximum of three fee-free traineeship commencements under the NSW Fee-Free Traineeships Initiative.

I previously commenced Smart and Skilled traineeship training before 1 January 2020

If you previously commenced before 1 January 2020 and are returning to a traineeship after that date, you may still be eligible for fee-free training for the remainder of your training if your traineeship course or employer has changed. KKTC will assess this with you at enrolment.

For the most up-to-date eligibility rules, use the official NSW Government Smart and Skilled eligibility checker at https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational/funding.

What you'll pay

Smart and Skilled fees are set by the NSW Government — KKTC cannot vary them. The exact fee that applies to you is confirmed when KKTC enters your details into the Provider Calculator at enrolment.

Your situation	What you pay with KKTC
New Entrant Trainee in CHC30125 or CHC50125, with an approved NSW Training Contract that started Smart and Skilled training on or after 1 January 2020	$0 — fee-free under the NSW Fee-Free Traineeships Initiative
Existing Worker Trainee	Not eligible for Smart and Skilled subsidy. Fee-for-Service available with KKTC — see below.
Studying without a traineeship (no Training Contract)	Smart and Skilled at KKTC is for new entrant trainees only. Fee-for-Service available with KKTC — see below.

There are no hidden costs beyond your student fee. Any optional resources will be disclosed before you pay anything.

You can use the official Smart and Skilled fee estimator at https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational/funding to check your indicative fee.

How to start your traineeship

Here’s the sequence from getting a job in childcare to starting your fee-free training with KKTC:

Find an employer. Get a job at a NSW early childhood service that's willing to take on a trainee, or talk to your current employer about converting your role to a traineeship. (If you've been with your current employer longer than the new-entrant thresholds above, you'll be classified as an existing worker.
Contact an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP). The ANP handles the Training Contract paperwork. You can nominate KKTC as your Registered Training Organisation.
Sign your Training Contract. The ANP submits it to NSW Training Services for approval.
KKTC contacts you. Once the Training Contract is approved, KKTC reaches out to you and your employer to develop your Training Plan.
Complete the Notification of Enrolment with KKTC. KKTC enters your details, confirms your eligibility, and you sign the Schedule 1 consent and prospective student declaration. KKTC also runs a brief Pre-Training Review and Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) assessment to make sure the qualification fits and identify any support needs.
Start training. You train at your workplace and through KKTC's online and blended delivery, with a KKTC trainer assigned to you.

KKTC will give you a written Schedule of Fees and Charges (which will show $0 if you’re fee-free), the KKTC Domestic Student Handbook has further information and access to all the relevant policies before you commence.

If you are starting an SBAT, the same sequence applies, with two additions: your school principal must approve your traineeship and confirm how you’ll balance training with your school timetable, and your parent or guardian must consent if you’re under 18.

Reasonable adjustments and student support

KKTC supports all students to succeed and applies a generalised approach to support — you don’t need to disclose a specific status to access help. Where you do have specific needs, we’ll work with you on what’s possible.

Available support includes:

Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital (LLND) support and Pre-Training Review
Reasonable adjustments to training and assessment for students with disability, in line with the Disability Standards for Education 2005
Cultural support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Support for students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including interpreter access on request
Help with workplace and Training Plan adjustments where needed
Mentoring and assistance balancing training with work and family

KKTC welcomes students from any background. We pay particular attention to the needs of:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
People with disability and their dependants
People who are or have been long-term unemployed
Students living outside metropolitan areas, including in regional and remote NSW
Students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Refugees and asylum seekers
Young people who are or have been in out-of-home care
Students experiencing or affected by domestic and family violence
Disengaged youth re-entering training

If you’d like to discuss your support needs before enrolling, contact us.

Working with Children Check

You’ll need a cleared NSW Working with Children Check (WWCC) to start work as a trainee in an early childhood service. The “No Card, No Start” rule applies in NSW — your employer cannot place you in child-related work, and KKTC cannot assess workplace tasks, until you hold a valid check.

Apply at https://wwccheck.ocg.nsw.gov.au/

Withdrawal, deferral, and discontinuation

Things change. Here’s what happens if you can’t continue:

Cancelling your traineeship. If you stop working as a trainee, your Training Contract is the governing document. Talk to your employer and your ANP. Because new entrant trainees pay no Smart and Skilled student fee, withdrawal-with-no-penalty is largely about ending the Training Contract, not refunding fees.
Deferral. With your employer's agreement, you can defer training for up to 12 months from the date you give us notice. You must start training within 12 months of enrolment regardless.
Changing employer. If you change employer mid-traineeship, KKTC will support the transition. Your new employer's ANP will update the Training Contract and KKTC will continue training where you left off.
Discontinuation. KKTC will issue a Statement of Attainment for any units you've completed within 30 days, notify NSW Training Services within 14 days, and work with you on what happens next — including whether you can transfer to another Smart and Skilled provider.

Full details are in your enrolment pack, the KKTC Refund Policy, and the KKTC Student Handbook.

Consumer protection and complaints

You have rights as a Smart and Skilled student. If you have a question, concern, or complaint:

Step 1. Contact KKTC's Consumer Protection Officer

Step 2. If we can't resolve it, contact NSW Training Services

Step 3. External avenues

You may also contact:

NSW Fair Trading — 13 32 20 (especially for refund disputes)
Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) — for training quality matters
National Training Complaints Hotline — 1800 000 674
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) — for privacy matters
Australian Human Rights Commission — for discrimination matters
Fair Work Ombudsman — for workplace and traineeship pay disputes

KKTC’s full Consumer Protection Policy is available on request.

Useful links

NSW Smart and Skilled — official site: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational/funding
Apprenticeship Network Providers — find your nearest ANP: https://www.apprenticeshipsupport.com.au/
NSW Working with Children Check: https://wwccheck.ocg.nsw.gov.au/
Unique Student Identifier (USI): https://www.usi.gov.au
Smart and Skilled Consumer Protection: https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational/funding/consumer-protection-smartskilled

We recognise the Ongoing Custodians of the lands and waterways where we work and learn. We pay respect to Elders past and present as ongoing teachers of knowledge, songlines, and stories. KKTC is committed to supporting every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learner to achieve their potential through education.

This training is subsidised by the NSW Government.