Fee-free and subsidised training in WA (2026), explained
Last updated: October 2026. This page explains the Western Australian Government’s 2026 training subsidies in plain language, with the official fee rates and the list status of the qualifications TrainSmart Australia delivers. Rules change each year; the sources are listed at the end so you can check the current version.
Western Australia subsidises vocational training more heavily than most states. Through the Jobs and Skills WA “Skills Ready” program, eligible WA residents can study more than 130 courses and skill sets with no course fees, and around 160 further qualifications at half price or less, with annual fee caps. The scheme is popular but widely misunderstood, so here is how it actually works in 2026.
The three offers under Skills Ready
Fee Free. Course fees are set at $0.00 per nominal hour for every student category. The 2026 Fee Free list covers more than 130 qualifications and skill sets, chosen because they lead to jobs in shortage or support priority groups. Fee Free is funded jointly by the WA and Commonwealth Governments under the national Fee-Free TAFE agreement, but in WA it is delivered through both TAFE colleges and contracted private registered training organisations, so “fee-free” does not mean “TAFE only”.
Lower Fees, Local Skills. Course fees on around 160 qualifications are reduced by half or more, some by up to 72%, and capped at $1,200 a year for most students or $400 a year for concession students and people aged 15 to 24. This is the category that covers most diplomas in counselling, community services, mental health and youth work.
Job Ready skill sets. Short, free skill sets leading to a Statement of Attainment, with no course fees and no resource fees, designed to get people into work quickly or refresh skills.
Together these three offers are what the department calls Skills Ready. There is no separate “Skills Ready course list”; a course is either on the Fee Free list, on the Lower Fees, Local Skills list, or on neither, in which case standard subsidised fees apply.
2026 fee rates and caps
The Department of Training and Workforce Development’s VET Fees and Charges Policy 2026 sets a fee per “nominal hour” for each category of course. Nominal hours are the department’s standard duration for each unit, not the hours you spend studying.
| Category (2026) | Course fee per nominal hour | Annual cap |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Free courses (Category 6) | $0.00 | Not applicable |
| Lower Fees, Local Skills (Category 5), non-concession | $1.62 | $1,200 per course per year |
| Lower Fees, Local Skills (Category 5), concession or aged 15–24 | $0.48 | $400 per course per year |
| Diploma or Advanced Diploma not on either list (Category 1) | $5.79 | Maximum $7,860 in 2026 |
| Other subsidised Certificate II–IV courses (Category 3), general | $4.88 ($1.47 concession) | Not applicable |
| Apprenticeships, traineeships and priority Certificate II–IV (Category 2) | $3.25 ($0.97 concession) | Not applicable |
Two details matter in practice. First, the policy states that diploma and advanced diploma qualifications are charged at the $5.79 rate “regardless of priority status”, but it excludes diplomas that are on the Fee Free or Lower Fees, Local Skills lists, so a listed diploma such as the Diploma of Counselling takes the $1,200 or $400 cap, not the $7,860 maximum. Second, caps apply per course: TAFE WA’s own guidance says you can complete more than one course in a year and each is capped separately.
Resource fees are separate from course fees. Fee Free skill sets cannot be charged resource fees, but for Fee Free full qualifications and all Lower Fees, Local Skills courses, providers may charge a resource fee for materials, with any increase capped at Perth CPI (2.6% for 2026). Always ask the provider for both figures in writing.
Which qualifications are on the 2026 lists
The table shows the 2026 list status of the qualifications TrainSmart Australia delivers. “Fee Free” means no course fees; “Lower Fees, Local Skills” means the reduced rate and annual cap above; “not listed” means the course is subsidised at the standard Category 1 or Category 3 rate.
| Code | Qualification | 2026 list status |
|---|---|---|
| CHC32015 | Certificate III in Community Services | Lower Fees, Local Skills |
| CHC42021 | Certificate IV in Community Services | Fee Free |
| CHC43215 | Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs | Fee Free |
| CHC43315 | Certificate IV in Mental Health | Fee Free |
| CHC50425 | Diploma of Youth Work | Lower Fees, Local Skills |
| CHC51015 | Diploma of Counselling | Lower Fees, Local Skills |
| CHC52025 | Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) | Lower Fees, Local Skills |
| CHC53215 | Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs | Not listed (standard diploma rate) |
| CHC53315 | Diploma of Mental Health | Lower Fees, Local Skills |
| HLT52021 | Diploma of Remedial Massage | Lower Fees, Local Skills |
| BSB50120 | Diploma of Business | Not listed |
| BSB50420 | Diploma of Leadership and Management | Not listed |
| BSB50820 | Diploma of Project Management | Lower Fees, Local Skills |
| ICT50220 | Diploma of Information Technology | Fee Free |
List status is set by the WA Government, not by the training provider, and the department reviews replacement qualifications monthly. Being on a list does not guarantee a subsidised place with every provider: each provider has a contracted allocation, and subsidised places are generally classroom-based in WA. Check the course page or ask us whether a subsidised place is currently available for the course you want.
Who is eligible
To access any WA subsidised place, including Fee Free and Lower Fees, Local Skills, you must have left school, have your primary place of residence in Western Australia, and be an Australian citizen, a permanent visa holder, or hold one of the temporary visa subclasses specified in section 6.3.7 of the VET Fees and Charges Policy (these include subclasses 300, 309, 444, 445, 449, 461, 785, 786, 790 and 820, and certain bridging visas). People living interstate pay fee-for-service rates.
There is no age limit and no requirement to be unemployed. The department particularly encourages First Nations people, young people, people out of work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, people with disability and women facing economic insecurity to apply, but anyone who meets the residency rules can enrol. Year 12 leavers can take up a subsidised place from late October in the year they finish school.
One important exclusion: existing-worker trainees, meaning people enrolled in a traineeship with their current employer, are not eligible for the Fee Free arrangements and are charged the standard rate.
Concession rates
You qualify for the concession rate ($0.48 per nominal hour and the $400 cap on Lower Fees, Local Skills courses) if you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, a Repatriation Health Benefits Card or a Health Care Card, are a Workforce Australia or Parent Pathways participant, receive AUSTUDY, ABSTUDY or Youth Allowance, or are a dependant of someone in those categories. The $400 cap also applies to anyone aged 15 to 24 regardless of concession status.
Common misunderstandings
“Fee-free means only TAFE.” No. WA’s Fee Free and Lower Fees, Local Skills places are delivered by TAFE colleges and by contracted private providers. What matters is whether the provider holds a Jobs and Skills WA contract for that qualification.
“You can only ever do one fee-free course.” We could not find any such rule in the 2026 policy or on the Jobs and Skills WA site. Caps and fee rates are applied per course. If a provider tells you otherwise, ask them to point to the clause.
“Fee-free means completely free.” Course fees are zero, but resource fees for materials can still apply to full qualifications, and you may have costs such as a police clearance or Working with Children Check for placement.
“Diplomas cost thousands.” An unlisted diploma can cost up to $7,860 in 2026 at the subsidised rate, but a diploma on the Lower Fees, Local Skills list is capped at $1,200 a year ($400 concession or under 25). For a Diploma of Counselling or Diploma of Mental Health that difference is substantial.
“The lists are fixed.” They are not. The 2026 Fee Free list is already at version 2 and the Lower Fees, Local Skills list at version 3. Check the current PDF on the Jobs and Skills WA site before you rely on a figure you saw months ago.
How to enrol in a subsidised course
Find the course on the Jobs and Skills WA course search, open the provider’s course page and follow the application instructions, or contact the provider directly. Jobs and Skills Centres offer free, independent advice on eligibility and courses on 13 64 64. All questions about course fees and resource fees for a specific enrolment should go to the provider, who will confirm your eligibility and the fee before you commit.
If you are considering one of the TrainSmart courses above, our enrolment team can tell you whether a subsidised place is available in the current intake and what the total fees would be for your circumstances. Call 1300 855 517 or use the enquiry form on the course page.
If you are weighing up whether a community services or mental health qualification is worth it, our companion page Mental health and community services jobs in Western Australia sets out the official workforce, shortage and pay figures for the state.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Diploma of Counselling fee-free in WA in 2026?
No. CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling is on the Lower Fees, Local Skills list, which means course fees are reduced and capped at $1,200 a year, or $400 a year for concession students and people aged 15 to 24.
Is the Certificate IV in Mental Health fee-free in WA in 2026?
Yes. CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health is on the 2026 Fee Free list, so there are no course fees for eligible WA residents. Resource fees may apply.
Can I study online and still get the subsidy?
Subsidised places in WA are generally classroom-based, and providers must deliver them under their state contract. Ask the provider which delivery modes are covered for the course you want.
What is the difference between Fee Free in WA and Free TAFE nationally?
Free TAFE is the Commonwealth program, made permanent by the Free TAFE Act 2025, which funds at least 100,000 places a year from 2027 in partnership with states and territories. WA’s Fee Free offer is the state’s implementation of that agreement, with its own course list and its own eligibility rules, and it is delivered through TAFE and private providers.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills WA, Fee Free course list 2026, version 2, effective 29 May 2026. jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/fee-free-low-fee
- Jobs and Skills WA, Lower Fees, Local Skills course list 2026, version 3, effective 25 May 2026. jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/fee-free-low-fee
- Jobs and Skills WA, Skills Ready and Training pages. jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/skillsready
- Department of Training and Workforce Development, VET Fees and Charges Policy 2026, version 1.0, effective 1 January 2026. wa.gov.au/government/publications/dtwd-vet-fees-and-charges-policy
- TAFE WA, Fee free and low fee courses. tafe.wa.edu.au/fee-free-and-low-fee-courses
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Free TAFE. dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe
This page is general information about government fee arrangements as published at the date above and is not financial advice. Fees and eligibility are confirmed by the provider at enrolment.
