Courses during a career break
Gain skills and qualifications without upending your life, by doing a short course with a trusted institution.
University short courses
Open Universities Australia (OUA) is a partnership between many Australian universities. It offers a wide range of:
- professional development courses, which can be completed in less than half a day
- single subject units, which generally run from 3 to 13 weeks.
Single subject units cover diverse industries, including:
- arts and humanities
- business
- education
- health
- information technology
- law and justice
- science and engineering.
Most OUA single unit subjects have no entry requirements and can be paid for with a HELP loan.
Learn more about single-subject study and online short courses at Open Universities Australia.
Micro-credentials
More than professional development courses, micro-credentials are mini qualifications and learning experiences designed to continually expand an employee's skill set. They can be:
- developed in-house or by an agency for a specific employer
- offered by private and tertiary education providers.
Micro-credentials can be a single module of study or form part of an extended learning pathway. Duration could be from a few days spread over a month, to a semester, and beyond.
Many semester-length, single unit subjects could be classed as micro-credentials.
Assessment varies, but might include a combination of:
- formal assignments
- attending lectures, webinars or conferences
- practical tests or a workplace demonstration.
Check out the range of micro-credentials at TAFE NSW.
Community and continuing education colleges
The community and continuing education sector has a unique focus on making learning affordable and accessible. Its wide variety of courses, locations and flexible timetables can help you:
- improve or expand existing skills
- gain new training in preparation for a career change
- explore a personal interest for individual growth or development.
Classes are often scheduled across multiple weeks and can be held during the day, evening and on weekends.
An increasing number of courses are offered online as adult and community education (ACE) providers:
- update courses with a greater mix of digital content
- develop their technical and teaching resources to improve online delivery.
TAFE NSW Digital
TAFE NSW is the largest online education provider in Australia. In addition to its in-class vocational programs, TAFE NSW Digital has developed over 250 online courses:
- offering flexible learning options so you can adapt study around your family commitments and lifestyle
- that range from short courses and certificates, to Diploma and Advanced Diploma level, and Degrees
- conducted in real-time with teachers and fellow students via live virtual classrooms, forums and chat bots.
Not all courses have entry criteria but some have mandatory conditions such as licensing or regulatory requirements.
Courses range across numerous industry sectors, including, but not limited to:
- environmental studies
- arts, design and media
- business, information and technology
- community services and health care.
Learn more about the full range of online learning opportunities at TAFE NSW Digital.