Building your skills

Building your skills and expanding your knowledge can help you find your next role in the civilian workforce and advance your career. You can build your skills and knowledge through:

• vocational education and training (VET)
• microcredentials courses (for example, a cybersecurity fundamentals course for IT professionals)
• tertiary education
• online learning
• on-the-job training
• volunteering

For more information, visit the DVA Veteran Employment Program website.

Skills Tasmania

Skills Tasmania develops and manages the Tasmanian training and workforce development system in partnership with industry, the vocational education and training sector, and the wider community.

Their goal is to ensure all Tasmanians have access to vocational education and training (VET) that leads to jobs, opportunities and economic growth that all Tasmanians can find their own exciting future and opportunity through VET.

VET provides hundreds of courses for you to choose from to give you the skills and knowledge that employers want.

VET includes courses across a range of industries, including:

• Apprenticeships and traineeships
• Certificate I, II, III, and IV
• Diplomas
• Advanced Diplomas
• Graduate Certificates / Diplomas

Find VET courses and training providers

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

What is it?

The skills, knowledge, and experience gained through the Australian Defence Force (ADF) can be formally recognised through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). This process ensures that competencies and qualifications align with nationally legislated standards, regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and the Australian Qualifications Framework.

These qualifications are widely applicable across various industry sectors, helping ADF members transition into the civilian workforce by having their expertise acknowledged through nationally recognised qualifications.

Who does it?

ADF Transition and Civil Recognition offers transitioning ADF members the opportunity to have their skills formally recognised through RPL and accredited where applicable.

If you're leaving the ADF, you can get recognition for the skills and training you’ve completed. This includes microcredentials for certain ADF courses and a program that links unaccredited ADF training to university programs, allowing you to receive credit towards a degree. Best of all, the Defence Registered Training Organisation (RTO) offers this service for free to ADF members who are transitioning to civilian life. For more details, visit the ADF Transition and Civil Recognition Project website.

The College for Law Education and Training (CLET) is another service that offers free recognition of prior learning (RPL) for former and current military personnel to help with transition from service.

RPL is also available through other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs); however, these may charge a fee. Additionally, if you plan to pursue further education, RPL may apply to specific courses or entry programs offered by universities and TAFEs. Your chosen training organisation or university can provide guidance on available RPL options and the application process.

Higher education and short courses