Within the community there are many training programmes available for people of all abilities and ages. However, some people feel they can't take advantage of the courses or facilities because of their lack of confidence or of the perceived expense. Certainly there are expenses associated with training but there are also funds available to assist those that need it the most. These funds are largely administered by the Dept. of Employment, Education,Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) in conjunction with the Dept. of Social Security (DSS) and the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES). Schemes for which funding is available include:

* AUSTUDY: Provides financial help, on an income and assets- tested basis, to students who are 16 years or over and who are studying approved full-time secondary and tertiary studies. Never assume you are not eligible as this is determined only from an application form.

* ABSTUDY: Provides financial living assistance to students who identify and are identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. Travel and other special assistance is available.

* JOBTRAIN: Provides opportunities for long-term unemployed people or others considered especially disadvantaged to and the needs of the local labour market. It is aimed at people 16 to 64 years of age with assessment of eligibility conducted by the CES.

* JOBSTART: Is a general wage subsidy program designed to provide access to employment for job seekers, who because of long-term unemployment are disadvantaged in the labour market. Conducted through the CES.

* SKILLSHARE: Assists people with disabilities, youth, people over 55, long-term unemployed and those likely to benefit from a community based approach to employment related training. It operates as a partnership between the Commonwealth Government and community groups in providing supportive and informal training programmes and services. It is administered by DEETYA.

There is assistance with apprenticeships for employers to encourage them to employ apprentices so as to maintain the number of appropriately skilled tradespeople. Further The Australian Traineeship Scheme (ATS) aims to improve the long term employment prospects for young people in a diverse choice of careers. Seek advice through the CES if interested in any of these schemes as they are available to help.