Eligibility

You are eligible for a fee exemption if:

• you have a disability and you receive the Commonwealth Government Disability Support Pension; or
• you have a disability and can provide a supporting written statement - from a medical practitioner, a Government agency (such as Veteran’s Affairs) or specialist allied health professional - of a clear additional need; or
• you are the dependant of a Disability Support Pension recipient.

Your training provider will ask for evidence that you meet one of the above disability eligibility criteria when you enrol.

Your approved Smart and Skilled training provider can give you further information on the eligibility and evidence requirements. The evidence requirements are also in the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy.

Additional support

All approved Smart and Skilled training providers delivering training to students with disabilities receive additional funding to provide extra support to these students. Ask your approved Smart and Skilled training provider what additional support they can provide to you.

TAFE NSW also receives additional Community Service Obligation funding to provide support services, specialist staff and equipment for students with disabilities.

All approved Smart and Skilled training providers offer reasonable training access to students with disabilities, as required by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

Go to Skills Compare to choose the right course and training provider for you.

What are reasonable adjustments?

Reasonable adjustments are practical changes to education and training designed to allow students with disability to access and participate on the same basis as students without a disability. They must be done in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005 .

Reasonable adjustments take into consideration the individual needs of the student with disability. Some examples of reasonable adjustments could include (but are not limited to):

• providing access to classroom and assessment materials through assistive technologies such as screen readers or services such as an Auslan interpreter
• adapting the physical environment to make it more accessible (e.g. with ramps),
• modifying the training and assessments (e.g. allowing a student to answer assessments orally or through the use of a computer).

Plain English and “easy-read” information on reasonable adjustments and the Disability Standards for Education are available here.

How should I discuss reasonable adjustments with my training provider?

Training providers are required to provide reasonable adjustments to students with disability in accordance with the Disability Standards for Education 2005 . However, there are some useful strategies that students with disability, their parents or carers can use to help make conversations on reasonable adjustments as effective as possible.

These include (but are not limited to):

• do your research to identify the types of reasonable adjustments and supports that are already on offer by a training provider
• gather evidence on the types of adjustments you think you will need
• meet with your training provider – and bring a support person along if needed
• follow up what was agreed after the meeting
• change or renew your adjustments as needed in the future.

Resources – such as Action Plans - to help you have these conversations are available here.