More microcredential courses upskilling teachers, nurses and engineers

The Albanese Government is delivering more than $10.7 million to higher education providers to provide microcredential courses in priority areas such as teaching, nursing, IT and engineering.

Forty-eight courses have been funded and will support over 2,500 students to equip the workforce with the technical skills and know-how we need.

Microcredentials are short courses designed to upskill and reskill workers. Most of the new courses will be available online or a mix of online and face-to-face at 25 providers across Australia.

This is the second round of the Microcredentials Pilot for Higher Education. Combined with round one, today’s announcement means a total of 76 microcredential courses will be funded, making it possible for more than 4,000 Australians to upskill in areas where we need them most.

Microcredentials offer students increased flexibility to mix and match studies across the higher education sector to enable them to find a new job or get ahead in their current field.

Pilot funding helps expand university and industry collaboration and improve the higher education sector’s ability to respond to industry needs.

This initiative forms part of our efforts to promote lifelong learning, which is a key reform in the Employment White Paper and the Universities Accord Final Report.

The Pilot has received strong engagement from the sector with 146 applications received for the second round. 

To view all the successful recipients: Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education - Department of Education, Australian Government

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“In the years ahead more jobs will require more skills. 

“Microcredentials can help Australians prepare for the jobs of the future and upskill or reskill throughout their careers.

“This investment means more Australians can get the skills in areas we need, such as teaching, nursing, and engineering.”

Funding to deliver the 76 courses is going to all states and territories including: 

• 19 courses in New South Wales
• 14 in Queensland
• 14 in Victoria
• 12 in Western Australia
• 6 in Tasmania
• 6 in South Australia
• 4 in the Australian Capital Territory 
• 1 in the Northern Territory. 

Microcredentials Pilot in Higher Education – Round 2 recipients