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Free and subsided courses for teachers in future-focused digital skills


16th July 2025

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Melanie Hughes, Curriculum Specialist, Technologies at the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (ACARA) has passed on information about in-demand PL courses that Peter Davis from the NSW Department of Education has shared.

These courses are offered through the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT), which focus on the in-demand areas of big data, cyber security, cloud computing, software development, and artificial intelligence (AI). They will be delivered in partnership with TAFE NSW, Microsoft, the University of Technology Sydney and Macquarie University. Visit Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) and see the range of courses on offer at  IAT Digital.

IAT microskills courses (free to all teachers nationally)

IAT microskills courses are currently free for everyone. You do not need to reside in NSW to be eligible. These are a great way to build foundational knowledge quickly and at no cost.

Microskills course include:

 IAT microcredentials (subsidised for NSW only)

IAT microcredentials have a cost to enrol. However, if you live in NSW, you may be eligible for a state subsidy, which significantly reduces the course fee from the full price of between $1500 to $3000 to between $260 and $510.

To view all available micro credentials, please see the links below

NSW course fees (microcredentials)
IAT courses are currently being subsidised by the NSW government for eligible teachers/students.

  • $260 – Foundation level microcredentials
  • $510 – Intermediate level microcredentials
  • $540 – Advanced level microcredentials

Note: Non-NSW residents are subject to higher fees of $1500‒$4500.

Professional development for teachers
Also, thanks to recent changes from the NSW Department of Education, IAT courses are now accredited, meaning they can be used to accumulate hours towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD)/PL requirements. Teachers will need to include the following when submitting their professional development.

  • Name of course
  • Duration
  • Contract hours
  • NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) standards the course may address. The following Australian Professional Standards for Teachers are recommended.
    • Standard 2 – Know the content and how to teach it 
    • Standard 6 – Engage in professional learning
  • Activity type.  

If you have any questions or need help selecting the right course, contact IAT on 1300 823366.

Ready to enrol? 
Visit the course and click the 'Enrol Now' button.
Once you have enrolled online, please forward your tax invoice so IAT can confirm your enrolment. 

Information session
In the meantime, you may be interested in attending one of our upcoming online Information sessions, where you can learn more about the courses and what IAT offers. Institute of Applied Technology Digital:  Microsoft Virtual Events Powered by Teams (Next one Tuesday 29 July 6.00 pm –7.00 pm GMT +10 online).

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