Here are five no-cost education and training resources to upskill your team and help your small business thrive.
Investing in education and training is one of the most effective ways to keep a business competitive, foster growth and support a team’s development. The good news is there are some great no-cost resources available if you know where to look.
Here are five tips that can help build the skills and capability of a business. The programs are all free and accessible online, making it easy for you and your employees to upskill without impacting your bottom line.
1. AI Skills for Business
This series of free courses comes from the National AI Centre and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The course aims to help businesses understand and adopt AI responsibly, while helping employers and employees develop practical AI knowledge that can help improve efficiency and support new ways of working.
The courses focus on three key areas:
* Understanding AI foundations;
* applying generative AI in business contexts; and
* implementing responsible AI practices.
The courses are short, self-paced and delivered online so they can be completed whenever time is available.
Learn more at industry.gov.au.
2. Cyber Wardens
The Cyber Wardens program is designed to make cyber security simple for small businesses. Through easy-to-follow training, it shows how to protect a business from online threats, safeguard customer data, and reduce the risk of cyberattacks – no technical expertise required.
The program is made for busy small-business owners and employees, so the courses are short, jargon-free and available in a range of formats to suit different learning styles and schedules.
Visit cyberwardens.com.au.
3. Skills for Education and Employment Program
The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations helps employers and employees improve language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills. It provides no-cost, tailored training that can help a team adapt to changing workplace demands.
For employers, industry associations and unions, the SEE Program offers Workplace-Based Training Projects. These projects allow organisations to partner with an SEE Provider to co-design training solutions to suit your business.
Learn more at dewr.gov.au.
4. Essentials to strengthen your small business
Meeting tax and super obligations as a small business can feel daunting, but the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has resources that can help.
‘Essentials to strengthen your small business’ is the ATO’s free online learning resource for small businesses, with practical courses to help manage cash flow, understand tax obligations and plan for growth.
Visit smallbusiness.taxsuperandyou.gov.au for more information.
5. Fair Work Ombudsman online learning centre
The Fair Work Ombudsman’s online learning centre offers free interactive courses on workplace rights and obligations.
Topics include hiring employees, managing performance, and record-keeping and pay slips – all essential for compliance and good workplace practices.
For more information visit smallbusiness.fairwork.gov.au.
More resources available
To find training resources covering a wide range of activities and categories, visit business.gov.au and search ‘Staff development and training’.