Extension of SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance for Clinical Mental Health Counselling Training

34 Dr Charlene Chen asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance can be selectively extended to support accredited postgraduate training for clinical mental health counselling, which has a shortage of trained professionals; and (b) if so, whether any such allowance will also be available during clinical placement periods that form part of the training and accreditation.

Mr Desmond Lee: The SkillsFuture Mid-Career Training Allowance supports mid-career substantive training up to the undergraduate degree level. There are no plans to extend the Training Allowance to postgraduate programmes at this juncture. We will continue to monitor the need for postgraduate upgrading and adjust our level of support accordingly.

Mid-career Singaporeans can use their SkillsFuture Credit (Mid-Career) of $4,000 to offset the out-of-pocket training fees for postgraduate programmes offered by the Autonomous Universities. Individuals can also apply for sectoral sponsorships and school-based study awards.