Free skills training to help you find work: The STEPS SEE Program

September 9, 2025

7 minute read

If you’re looking for work and not getting anywhere, you’re not the only one.

Maybe you’ve been out of the workforce for a while. Maybe you never had the chance to finish school. Maybe you’re looking to start over in a new industry.

Whatever your story is, the STEPS Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program is here to help. It’s free, flexible, and designed to help you build the skills that employers are really looking for – things like communication, confidence, problem-solving, and digital skills.

You don’t need to have everything figured out yet. You just need to take the first step.

What is the SEE Program?

The Skills for Education and Employment Program, SEE for short, is all about helping people build the foundational skills they need to find work or take on further study.

SEE is funded by the Australian Government, making it completely free for eligible participants. It’s designed for people aged 15 and over who have left school and want to improve their reading, writing, maths or digital skills.

STEPS delivers the SEE Program across Queensland and the Northern Territory, from Alice Springs and Darwin to Cairns and the Wide Bay region.

With tight-knit classrooms and one-on-one support, you’ll be joining a community and a program that works with you to reach your goals.

Learn the skills you need to get the job you want

The SEE Program focuses on the skills that real matter. The ones that help you land a job, succeed in the workplace, and feel confident doing it.

Language, literacy and numeracy

Whether it’s filling out a form, reading a payslip or talking to potential employers, you need strong communication skills. SEE helps you improve your reading, writing and numeracy in a supportive and low-pressure environment.

Digital skills

From email to MyGov, digital skills are now a necessary part of almost any job. In SEE, you’ll learn how to use a computer, write emails, complete online job applications, and feel more confident with everyday tech.

Confidence building

Writing a resume, preparing for interviews, understanding workplace expectations – these are skills you’ll practice and build on in class. Trainers and fellow participants will help you find your voice and feel job-ready.

Decked Out

Want to stack the deck in your favour? STEPS can help you ace your professional skills in just three months with Decked Out, a hands-on career course.

Offered for free through the SEE Program, Decked Out is employability-focused and designed to give you the tools and confidence you need to prepare for and thrive in the modern workplace.

Check out our Decked Out webpage for more information!

Nationally recognised training

Through SEE, you can enrol in nationally recognised units and qualifications including:

FSK10119 Certificate I in Access to Vocational Pathways
FSK10219 Certificate I in Skills for Vocational Pathways
FSK20119 Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
BSB30120 Certificate III in Business
CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support

Real people, real progress: Success stories from STEPS SEE

The SEE Program is about helping people reach their goals. Across Australia, our participants are gaining confidence, finding work, and making positive changes in their lives.

San

San joined SEE in Casuarina determined to find a job. With dedication and a positive attitude, he improved his digital and language skills. He recently started full-time work in cleaning and maintenance at a defence base.

Mary

Mary came to SEE in Cairns after a long period out of work due to illness. With support from her trainers and classmates, she refreshed her skills, regained her confidence, and is now working as a Customer Service Officer at STEPS, welcoming others as they begin their own SEE journey.

Lorna

Lorna, whose first language is Motu, worked hard on her English skills after joining the SEE Program in Cairns. With specialised support in class, she prepared for and aced a job interview, and now works in hospitality at a major hotel chain.

Windy

Windy began her SEE journey in Darwin, quickly completing digital skills and job-readiness modules. She’s already secured casual employment and is now preparing to complete the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support.

Paul

Paul left school after just 20 days in Year 8. After decades of hands-on work experience, he joined SEE to improve his tech skills, and has since learned to use MyGov, navigate his emails, and is becoming confident using the computer.

These are just a few of the incredible stories coming out of our SEE training rooms every day. You can read more SEE news here on our website.

Heartfelt, hands-on learning

At STEPS, learning doesn’t just happen behind a desk. It happens in kitchens, gardens, libraries, and community spaces.

Every class is a chance to grow your skills and your confidence in a way that feels practical and meaningful.

In Cairns, SEE participants brought their business studies to life by launching a community Op Shop, handling everything from marketing and pricing to customer service.

The same site also held an Auslan lesson hosted by a local support worker who is deaf. Her visit left a lasting impression on the group, showing just how powerful inclusive education can be.

Over in Casuarina, hospitality participants ran their own food stall projects, planning menus, learning food safety, designing flyers, and getting hands-on experience in preparing and serving meals.

In Palmerston, participants rolled up their sleeves for the Harvest Corner community garden project, decorating mosaic planter boxes and adding colour to a shared green space. Others helped launch a student library filled with books for a wide variety of reading levels.

No matter the location, one thing stays the same: the STEPS SEE Program is a place where people support each other. Trainers adapt the program to suit each person’s goals, and classmates cheer each other on, whether it’s mastering a new skill or getting ready for their first job interview.

As Cassie Stanley, STEPS CEO and former Executive Manager of Education and Training, puts it: “When you enrol in a STEPS course, you join a community.”

Who can apply for SEE?

You don’t need to have finished school. You don’t need to be job-ready. You just need to be ready to take the next step and give it a go.

The SEE Program is open to individuals who:

Are 15 years or older and have left school
Want help with their reading, writing, maths or digital skills
Are an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or hold an eligible visa (including some provisional or temporary visas with work rights)

If that sounds like you or someone you know, get in touch with our friendly team to discuss the next steps or apply.

Where to from here?

Everyone’s path looks a little different, and that’s the beauty of the SEE Program.

Some participants go on to enrol in further education. Others step straight into the workforce, landing jobs in hospitality, aged and disability support, business administration, and other sectors.

Many also leave with a real sense of personal growth. They’ve built up their confidence, reconnected with their goals, and formed friendships that make the journey even easier and a lot more enjoyable.

Whether you’re hoping to get your first job, return to work or simply build the skills you missed out on in school, SEE gives you the tools and support to make it happen.

Your future doesn’t have to be figured out all at once. But with the right support, it can start here.