Free Foundation Skills training for millions more Australians

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering on a $436 million commitment to give millions more Australians the opportunity to improve their reading, writing, numeracy and digital literacy – also known as foundation skills. 

Around one in five Australian adults – or about 3 million people – have low literacy and/or numeracy skills.

As of 1 July 2024, the Skills for Education and Employment program – which provides free language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills (LLND) training - has been redesigned and expanded to include all Australians over the age of 15.

Importantly, we have removed the requirement to be a registered job seeker, making it easier for millions of working Australians to access the training.

The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program now includes two distinct and complementary delivery streams:

• General SEE delivery, where contracted providers deliver training to individuals. This stream will offer accredited and non-accredited training, provide more support for learners and include workplace-based training options.
• SEE First Nations, a new stream dedicated to whole of community training for First Nations people. It will be designed and delivered in partnership between First Nations community organisations and training providers. Grant applications are now open.

Training will continue to be available across metropolitan, regional and remote areas of Australia.

The program was redesigned following in depth consultation with stakeholders to better reflect and incorporate their detailed knowledge of different community needs.

The Albanese Government is also developing a national foundation skills strategy with States and Territories to encourage more people to come forward to seek the help we are making available. 

For more information about SEE, visit www.dewr.gov.au/see

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP:

“Between 2014 and 2018, the Coalition slashed $429 million from foundation skills and only offered training to registered job seekers, despite the fact that most people who need help are working.

“The Albanese Government is delivering on our commitment to improve access to training for anyone who needs to develop these essential life skills.

“Coming forward to seek assistance with literacy and numeracy can be hard, but when people do the impact can be enormous. 

“Removing barriers, like the requirement to be a jobseeker, means millions of working Australians can access foundation skills training.

“Not only are these skills core to education and work, they are fundamental to life. These are the skills most of us take for granted like reading a note sent home from school, putting together a shopping list, or paying a bill online.”