Policy initiatives > Program delivery > Skills lists
Skills lists, known by different titles in each jurisdiction, indicate the training that will be subsidised by the governments in a given period and occupations that are in demand or experiencing a shortage of skilled workers. Links to the current lists are provided, plus superseded lists beginning at 2018 can be downloaded from VOCEDplus.
National
The Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System focuses on priority occupations, which are identified on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List (AAPL). The APPL replaced the National Skills Needs List (NSNL) from 1 July 2022 following a review.
The responsibilities of Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) include producing the annual Occupation Shortage List (OSL), a point-in time assessment of the labour market that provides a detailed view of occupations in shortage nationally and by each state and territory. The OSL was formerly the Skills Priority List (SPL), and was previously produced by National Skills Commission (NSC).
New South Wales
Training Services NSW produces two lists:
- The NSW Skills List which identifies the qualifications eligible for a government subsidy under Smart and Skilled. The list is reviewed twice a year and updated regularly.
- Pre-qualified list – qualifications not on the NSW Skills list but are able to return to the list through an expedited additions process.
More information is available about qualification prices and student fees and subsidies for students, and about the compilation of the skills list in the NSW Skills List Management Policy.
Victoria
The Training Needs List (TNL) combines and replaces the Funded Course and Funded Skill Sets lists. It also replaces the regional Jobs and Training Needs Reports. The TNL reports the courses and skill sets subsidised by the Victorian Government under Skills First. A copy of the TNL can be downloaded from the Training Needs Portal. The Funded Programs Report, available from the funding information section of the Skills Victoria Training System (SVTS) homepage, lists the subsidy, concession and waiver rates for all funded programs, including continuing students.
Queensland
The Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training Priority Skills List outlines the subsidies available for delivery of:
- foundation skills courses and lower-level vocational qualifications, which are funded to support the Certificate 3 Guarantee qualifications
- Certificate 3 Guarantee qualifications
- qualifications available for VET in Schools (VETiS)
- qualifications available for Free TAFE
- qualifications and skills sets within the Higher Level Skills Program (AQF Level IV and higher).
The Priority Skills List fact sheet provides further information about the subsidy.
The apprenticeships and traineeships that attract government funding are included on User Choice qualification and price list.
South Australia
The Skills SA Subsidised Training List shows courses that may be subsidised in South Australia:
- the Subsidised Traineeship and Apprenticeship List (STAL) displays the courses the Department for Education will fund through training contracts
- the Training Priority List (TPL) outlines the courses subsidised by the South Australian Government available outside of training contract arrangements
- the VET for School Students List (VSSL) includes the courses the Department of Education will subsidise as a part of the VET for School Students initiative.
- Local Skills Sets have also been introduced to support additional training opportunities for young people and job seekers.
More information about eligibility for subsidised training for students is available from TAFE SA.
Western Australia
Jobs and Skills WA lists ten categories of subsidised training:
- fee-free courses under the Skills Ready program
- Lower fees, local skills – reduced course fees
- apprenticeships and traineeships
- pre-apprenticeships
- priority industry qualifications
- general industry training courses
- foundation skills courses
- equity courses
- existing worker traineeships
- higher level courses.
Some courses will appear on multiple lists. Further information about eligibility requirements is available from the Department of Training and Workforce Development VET fees and charges policy.
Tasmania
The Skills Tasmania Qualifications approved and funded in Tasmania informs which qualifications are currently subsidised by the Tasmanian Government, and includes:
- qualifications approved for delivery as an apprenticeship or traineeship
- RTOs funded to deliver qualifications as an apprenticeship or traineeship
- RTOs funded to deliver qualifications to non-apprentices and trainees
- Training Packages with approved nominal hours.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory Government Hard to fill jobs in NT page includes the NT skilled occupation priority list (NTSOPL) which identifies jobs in high demand or that are critical to the local economy and industry. The list includes:
- high priority occupations
- priority occupations
- industry priority occupations.
The Northern Territory skilled occupation priority list information paper outlines the methodology underpinning the NTSOPL.
Qualifications available for apprenticeship and traineeship delivery in the NT are listed on the NT apprenticeships and traineeships database. The list can be filtered to on code, type, school based, funded, and duration.
Australian Capital Territory
The ACT Skills Needs List informs the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) funding priorities at a qualification level for vocational education and training, and subsidy levels for the ACT Australian Apprenticeships (User Choice) program. The most up-to-date source for ACT Government's investment in skills, subsidies and other related information is the ACT Qualifications Register.
Skilled Capital is an ACT Government funded training initiative offering training to fill critical skills needs areas across a range of industries such as community services, information technology, health and construction. Courses available through Skilled Capital range from certificate II to diploma qualifications. Skills sets which are shorter training courses comprising 1 or more units of competency linked to a licensing requirement or an industry need, are also offered under Skilled Capital. Places in Skilled Capital are allocated to registered training organisations (RTOs) through an Expression of Interest process.
The ACT Australian Apprenticeships (User Choice) qualification subsidy list, ACT Skills Needs List, and Skilled Capital Qualifications List can also be accessed from the publications section of the ACT Government Skills website.
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