Subsidised training
Eligible students may be able to access a range of independent and government funding to help subsidise the cost of your training.
Find out how subsidies work and discover if you could be eligible for some of the most common subsidies currently available.
Skills Boost
Skills Boost will provide a second training subsidy for people wanting to update their skills to go further in their current job or pursue a different career.
Individuals who already hold a certificate III-level qualification, or have exhausted their first Queensland Government training subsidy, and study one of the selected qualifications, may be eligible to receive this training subsidy. This funding will help you on your employment pathway and will ensure you can participate in the future workforce without the cost of full-fee training.
Certificate 3 Guarantee
The Certificate 3 Guarantee helps support eligible students to complete their first post-school certificate III level qualification. You may be eligible to receive a subsidy towards one certificate III qualification from a list of subsidised courses. Visit the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training website to see which qualifications and skill sets are subsidised under the Certificate 3 Guarantee program.
Certificate 3 guarantee explained
If your course is eligible, the Queensland Government will pay the subsidy directly to TAFE Queensland. The level of the government subsidy varies depending on the demand for skilled workers in each industry. You will be required to contribute to the costs of your training through a co-contribution fee.
Certificate 3 Guarantee eligibility
To be eligible for the Certificate 3 Guarantee you must meet the following criteria:
- not hold or be currently enrolled in a certificate III or higher level qualification (does not include qualifications completed in secondary school)
- be 15 years or older
- have completed or left secondary school
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident residing in Queensland, or New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Queensland
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
If you’re studying one of our degree programs you may be eligible for a government subsidy known as a Commonwealth supported place (CSP). The amount the government subsidises for you is not a loan, and you will not have to pay it back.
CSP explained
As a Commonwealth supported student, if eligible, the Australian Government will pay part of the fees for your degree directly to your education provider.
You will only need to pay the remainder of the fees known as the student contribution amount. You may also be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to help you pay your student contribution amount.
CSP eligibility
To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place, you must:
- be an Australian citizen, a New Zealand citizen or the holder of a permanent visa
- meet the relevant citizenship and residency requirements
- be enrolled in each unit at your university by the census date
- read the relevant edition of the HECS-HELP and Commonwealth supported places information booklet
- submit a valid Request for Commonwealth support and HECS-HELP form to by the census date (or earlier administrative date); and
- finalise your payment arrangements for your student contributions with by the census date.
Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) funding
If you're currently working or have experience in the Queensland building and construction industry, you may be able to study courses subsidised by Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ). CSQ is an independent industry-funded body supporting employers, workers, apprentices, and career seekers in the building and construction industry.
TAFE Queensland is a proud recipient of Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) funding for a range of courses under four programs – CSQ Short Courses, CSQ Skills Assessment and Gap Training and CSQ Higher Level Skills programs.
HIGHER LEVEL SKILLS (HLS)
The Higher Level Skills program provides a government subsidy to support eligible students to access subsidised training in priority skill sets and selected certificate IV or higher qualifications. Visit the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training website to see which qualifications and skill sets are subsidised under this program.
HLS explained
If your course is eligible, the Queensland Government will pay the subsidy directly to TAFE Queensland. The level of the government subsidy depends on the demand for workers in your chosen field. You will need to contribute to the cost of your training through a co-contribution fee.
HLS eligibility
To be eligible for the Higher Level Skills Subsidy, you must meet the following criteria:
- not hold or be currently enrolled in a certificate IV or higher level qualification (does not include qualifications completed in secondary school)
- be 15 years or older
- have completed or left secondary school
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident residing in Queensland, or New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Queensland.
Other restrictions may apply to some programs, so check the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training website.
TRADE SKILLS AND ASSESSMENT GAP TRAINING
The Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training Program aims to assess the skills of experienced individuals who can demonstrate substantial competency in a priority trade qualification.
The TSAGT program's principal aims are to minimise current and potential trade skills shortages, address emerging trade skills needs in the economy or in communities, and support individual career advancement within industries and enable individuals to attain a qualification in a priority trade area.
VIEW PROGRAM DETAILS AND COURSESUSER CHOICE
The User Choice 2017-20 program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees. The program aims to provide funding aligned to the skills needs of industry and respond to changing government priorities.
User choice explained
The program provides the flexibility for apprentices, trainees and their employers to select a preferred registered training organisation (RTO) from a list of pre-qualified suppliers (PQS) for the delivery of accredited training to meet their specific needs.
Usually students are required to pay a co-contribution fee. In some cases though, an RTO may provide either a partial or full exemption for a student in respect to the co-contribution fee. School-based apprentices and traineers are not required to pay a co-contribution fee while they are still at school, but may be required to pay fees once their training contract has been converted to full time or part time post school.
Learn more View subsidised courses
User choice eligibility
To be eligible for a government contribution towards the costs of training, an apprentice or trainee must:
- have entered into a training contract for a qualification that is funded by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT)
- be registered in DESBT's registration system DELTA
- the contract commencement date or recommencement date must be on or after 1 July 2010
- the training provider selected to deliver the training must hold a pre-qualified supplier (PQS) status for the nominated qualification
TAFE Priority Training Program (TPTP)
The TAFE Priority Training Program (TPTP) provides additional support to eligible Queensland residents in a specific range of diploma, certificate IV and certificate III programs. This funding is available to eligible students who commence study in applicable programs after 1 July 2018. This funding will be available from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2020.
TAFE Priority Training Program (TPTP) explained
The TPTP provides a reduced up front cost to students enrolling in eligible programs, where the student will commence study between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2020.
Second chance funding - If you hold a prior qualification that made you ineligible for Certificate 3 Guarantee or Higher Level Skills funding you may now be eligible for second chance funding. Where a program is on the TPTP list, eligible second chance students will be able to access the reduced price for the program. The student must pay the student contribution amount advertised on the TAFE Queensland website.
Please note, students awarded with dual qualifications are considered to have achieved two separate qualifications. This will make you ineligible for second chance funding. As you already hold two qualifications, you are not eligible for a third chance funding offer under this initiative.
TAFE Priority Training Program (TPTP) eligibility
Eligibility rules apply to students wanting to enrol in programs that attract the TPTP funding, including:
- must be an Australian or NZ citizen or permanent resident visa holder
- must be a Queensland resident
- must no longer be at school
- must be aged 15 years or above
- must not be currently enrolled in another post-school qualification, apprenticeship, or VET in Schools (TAFE at School) program
Please note, you may only access TPTP funding one time, for one course. Once you have accessed TPTP funding for a course, you may not access it again for a different course, even if you do not complete the first qualification.
These eligibility rules will apply even if the program does not attract a Queensland Training Subsidy (i.e. has a subsidised or concession price). Students who do not meet the residency and age criteria will be required to pay the full fee.
For more information on the TAFE Priority Training Program please contact us.
Achieve your career goals with the help of a $5,000 TAFE Queensland Scholarship. There are two types of scholarships available: merit or access and equity.
Learn moreIf you're not eligible for subsidised training you might still be able to access a payment plan and pay off your course fees bit by bit while you study.
Learn more
