THOSE out of work due to lockdown restrictions or classed as non-essential workers can use their time at home wisely with a number of free courses now available to upskill during this time.

The NSW Government has announced an additional 3000 training places for people across NSW to skill up at home during lockdown.

An extra 60 short courses are now on offer to study for free including business skills, mental health, marketing, finance, cyber security, leadership and IT skill sets.

NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the courses are an expansion of the ten free skillsets recently announced by TAFE NSW.

“We know there is great demand for training at the moment, which is why we have added additional free courses and more training places so people can come out of lockdown with skills they can take with them into the workplace,” Mr Lee said.

“The free courses are available to anyone across the State who is unable to work due to public health orders.

“We have specifically targeted those LGA’s and suburbs in lockdown and are working with local communities and industry to understand what skills are in demand and where shortages exist.”

Mr Lee said there has never been a more crucial time to upskill or reskill.

“This isn’t just about upskilling though,” he said.

“In these difficult times, the opportunities provided by these courses can have a hugely beneficial impact on the well-being of participants.”

Training will be funded through the JobTrainer program, which has already seen more than 120,000 people in NSW upskill since it was announced in October 2020.

For more information and to see full eligibility visit https://bit.ly/37DYSvq.