Fundings & Fees

What is the Career Start Program?

Career Start Program gives job seekers access to free and reduced cost training that industries need and leads to jobs, and provides more support to achieve positive outcomes.

Career Start Program provides eligible Queenslanders with:

• access to free and low-fee certificate III qualifications in priority and emerging industries
• access to free and low-fee apprenticeship and traineeship training in priority and emerging industries
• expanded access to foundation skills such as language, literacy, numeracy and employability skills
• increased access to training in regional and remote areas.

The Career Start program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees. It operates alongside the Commonwealth Australian Apprenticeships System, where apprentices and trainees enter legally binding training contracts with their employers and receive structured training to achieve a nationally recognised qualification.

Student Contribution Fees

Co-contribution Fees

General Training Pathway

• Given the benefits of training, including improved job opportunities and higher earnings, students enrolled in certificate III qualifications and skill sets, and non-concessional students in lower-level qualifications, are required to contribute to the cost of training through a co-contribution (student) fee.
• Contribution fees are discussed before enrolment and payable upon commencement of each unit.
• This fee can be paid by an employer, a family member, a friend, or another organisation, but it cannot be paid or waived by the SAS or any person or entity connected to the SAS.

For the full list of fees, see the Career Start Program Page offered by Australian Trade Training College.

Fee Exemptions

Concessional Student 40% of Co-contribution fees:

Eligibility applies when you fall into one of the following categories:

• Hold a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card (or are a named dependent/partner)
• Hold an official form issued under Commonwealth law confirming that they, their partner, or the person of whom they are a dependent is entitled to concessions under a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card;
• Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
• Has a disability;
• Is an adult prisoner.

Full fee exemption:

Eligibility applies when you fall into one of the following categories:

• Specific fee-free training programs as announced by the Queensland Government;
• Foundation skills – this training is fee-free;
• Lower-level vocational Qualifications for concessional Students – this training can be provided fee-free to Students, as determined by the SAS.

Apprenticeship/traineeship pathway

For apprenticeships and traineeships, the fee is different as both the employer and SAS share responsibility for training. The fee is set at $1.60 per nominal training hour for each unit of competency.

For the full list of fees, see the Career Start Program Page offered by Australian Trade Training College.

Fee Exemptions

Concessional Student 40% of Co-contribution fees:

Eligibility applies when you fall into one of the following categories:

• Under 17 at the start of training year and haven’t completed Year 12
• Hold a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card (or are a named dependent/partner)
• Holds an official form issued under Commonwealth law confirming that they, their partner, or the person of whom they are a dependent is entitled to concessions under a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card;
• Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
• Has a disability;
• Is an adult prisoner.

Full fee exemption:

Eligibility applies when you fall into one of the following categories:

• Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s

• Apprentice/Trainee under extreme financial hardship, application has to be approved by DETE

Refunds

Refer to the Australian Trade Training College Refund Policy for details.

What is VET in Schools (VETiS)?

VET in Schools – (VETiS) enables school students to gain nationally recognised qualifications while still at school. These programs teach essential industry skills and can contribute toward the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

Training can be delivered as:

• A standalone VETiS qualification, or
• As part of a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT)
• VETiS qualifications are typically offered at Certificate I or II level, in one employment stream only.

How VETiS is Funded

VETiS is funded by the Queensland Government VET in Schools Program and must be delivered by a Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) — such as Australian Trade Training College.

Training is provided fee-free to students, but:

• There may be a shortfall between the government subsidy and the training cost
• This co-contribution fee must be paid by the student’s school

Refer to the VET in Schools Page for full details and refer to the Course page for Fee for Service Pricing.

Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) is an independent, not-for-profit, industry-funded body supporting employers, workers, apprentices, trainees and career seekers in the building and construction industry.
CSQ provides funding to reduce the financial obstacle to training, making upskilling an affordable option for many more individuals in the construction industry.

CSQ contributes towards the cost of courses to reduce the cost to participants. CSQ funding is paid directly to the contracted RTO, generally between 75% and 100% of course costs. If you are currently working in the Queensland building and construction industry or if you are an unemployed eligible worker, you may be eligible for CSQ funded training to advance or expand your skill.

Refer to the Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) Funding page for more information.