Have you heard about Skills Stores?

Skills Stores is a Victorian Government service designed to make Victoria’s vocational education and training system more accessible and easier to understand. Skills Stores can help you gain recognition for current skills and provide advice about how best to update or improve your qualifications.

Skills Stores are located in the community in places like shopping centres, libraries and, by arrangement, workplaces. Mobile services are also available.

To find out more go to the Skill Stores website.

Where to get information:

General

Skills Victoria (formerly The Office of Training and Tertiary Education)
Information about higher education and vocational education and training, such as apprenticeships, traineeships, TAFE and other available courses.

Adult Education

Adult Community and Further Education
A wide variety of courses, including informal and formal accredited programs. Accredited programs offer a certificate or recognised qualification upon completion.

Short courses

Short Courses Victoria
Allows you to search for the course you want and find a course provider that is conveniently located near your home or work. There are thousands of short courses listed and the site will give you a brief overview of the course as well as the contact details necessary to find out more.

Tertiary and Further Education

TAFEs
The TAFE Courses Directory gives you an up-to-date listing of more than 1400 accredited courses on offer from TAFE Institutes and other training providers across Victoria. You can also call the TAFE Course Line on 131 823 (local call) or (03) 9637 2222.

Traineeships and apprenticeships

Australian Apprenticeships
A way to re-train for the career you have always wanted. They combine time at work with training and can be full-time or part-time. Apprenticeships give you a nationally recognised qualification and the experience you need to get the job you want.

JobSearch – Australian Training
You can search for courses by occupation, region or institution, and find details about courses and education and training providers (including universities, TAFE and registered training organisations).

Training.com.au
A single point of access to the vast range of vocational education and training information, products and services in Australia. The site includes information on training organisations and their courses, traineeships and apprenticeships.

National Training Information Service
This database contains detailed information about Australian vocational training, training courses, qualifications and competency standards.

Volunteering and community work

Australian Volunteersearch – Community Work
Community Work is voluntary work with an approved volunteer organisation. Anyone on an income support payment is eligible for Community Work. You can receive a Passport to Employment and earn a Training Credit of up to $800. Your Passport to Employment will provide you with support and training to get a job. Your Training Credit will pay for competency-based and accredited training which is recognised Australia-wide by employers, State and Territory Governments and education institutions.

Go Volunteer
Provides you with all the information you might need to find out about volunteering and volunteer opportunities in your area.

Volunteer work
Provides information about volunteering and other community work.

Occupations and related skills

DEEWR training and skills
The Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations provides an extensive list of links related to career training and skills.

JobSearch – Job Explorer
You can explore skills, knowledge, abilities, job environment and other useful characteristics associated with a selected occupation.

Workplace.gov.au
Offers information about how to develop skills that best equip you for the work you want to do.

On the job training opportunities

Business Victoria’s My Business My People
This program includes employee training support – if your employer is eligible they can get a subsidy for any job-related training that you complete.

Mature age employment and training

JobWise
Promotes and supports mature age employment with information about job training, workshops and self help groups.

Work experience and Work for the Dole programs

Work Experience Placement Programme
Information about work experience – it's worth noting that the Australian Government will pay the insurance costs of job seekers undertaking work experience.

Work for the Dole (WFD)
Provides work experience placements for job seekers in approved activities that provide facilities and services to local communities.