Ten TAFE NSW courses are now available free of charge to eligible residents across the state as part of the Government’s plan to build skills during the pandemic.

The COVID rapid response courses offer people the opportunity to upskill in several industries including mental health, digital security, business administration and construction.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the fee-free training in employment growth areas was just one of the ways the NSW Government was supporting the community through the lockdown.

“Whether you are in lockdown in Greater Sydney, or in a regional community, I urge NSW residents to take advantage of the free training options available that will help build the skills needed to get a head start in a post-COVID economy,” Mr Lee said.

Training can be delivered through either online, self-paced learning or teacher-led virtual classrooms, meaning people can upskill from their own home.

The courses are high quality, accredited TAFE training and usually come with a hefty price tag.

Minister Lee said the courses “also link to further training pathways, enabling students to get a head-start towards a full qualification should they wish to continue studying down the track.”

The TAFE NSW short courses are in addition to other fee-free training programs implemented by the NSW Government, for those who meet the criteria, such as Mature Aged Workers Scholarships, Women in Business, and the JobTrainer program.

If you are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, aged 15 years or older, no longer at school or living or working in NSW, you may be eligible for the COVID rapid response courses.

The 10 fee-free short courses include:

· Reading plans for builders

· Construction materials and work, health and safety

· Digital security basics

· Medical terminology

· Business administration skills

· Business skills for supervisors

· Producing documents and spreadsheets

· Food handling

· Mental health

· Alcohol and other drug work

For more information and to see if you are eligible, visit https://www.tafensw.edu.au/fee-free-short-courses or call 131 601.