Government Funded Courses in Queensland

What are government funded courses?

Through government-subsidised training in Queensland, the Queensland Government pays all or part of your course fees directly to the training provider.

This means:

• You may pay reduced fees or nothing at all
• Training is aligned with industries that need workers
• Courses are designed to deliver nationally recognised qualifications approved under Australia’s vocational education system.

All government funded courses in Queensland are recognised by employers across the country, giving you job-ready skills that open doors in your chosen field.

What are the funding programs?

Queensland has two primary government-subsidised training programs for new enrolments, replacing the former Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice funding schemes from 1 July 2025.

Career Start

Career Start is the general training pathway for job seekers looking to secure work, and for existing workers moving into more skilled or full-time roles. It covers:

• Certificate III qualifications in priority and emerging industries
• Lower-level qualifications identified by industry as job entry points
• Foundation skills training (language, literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, and employability)
• Supported pathways for women facing economic insecurity and other priority cohorts into skilled careers
• Apprenticeships and traineeships for those with a registered training contract with the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET)

To be eligible, you must not hold a Certificate III or higher qualification and must not currently be enrolled in another course.

Career Boost

Career Boost supports eligible individuals to develop the higher-level skills needed to secure employment, advance their careers, or progress to further education. It covers:

• One subsidised training place in a Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma
• Higher-level apprenticeships or traineeships at Certificate IV or above
• Up to two subsidised priority skill sets in priority industries

To be eligible, you must not hold a Certificate IV or higher qualification completed within the last 10 years (school qualifications and foundation skills training do not count). You must not be enrolled in another course, even if deferred.

Who’s eligible?

To access government-subsidised training in Queensland, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrant), New Zealand citizen, or a temporary resident on the pathway to permanent residency with the necessary visa and work permits
• Be an eligible visa holder with the right to study and work in Australia
• Be aged 15 or older
• No longer enrolled in secondary school
• Not currently enrolled in another qualification (foundation skills training is an exception)

Note: A Skills Assure Supplier will confirm your eligibility at enrolment. Additional eligibility criteria may apply depending on the specific funded program or qualification. You will need to provide documentation to support your eligibility claim.

Always confirm your eligibility with an approved training provider before enrolling.

What courses are available?

Government funded courses in Queensland are available across a broad range of qualification levels — from Certificate III through to Advanced Diploma. Health, community services, early childhood education, the building and construction industry, and information technology are current priority areas. Funded qualifications include, but are not limited to:

• Certificate III and IV in Individual Support and Aged Care
• Certificate III and IV in Early Childhood Education and Care
• Certificate III and IV in Community Services and Disability
• Certificate III and IV in Nursing and Allied Health
• Certificate III and IV in Building and Construction

Visit the Queensland Skills Gateway to find funded qualifications in your area, verify your eligibility, and compare Skills Assure Suppliers.

Course costs and financial support

Queensland Government-subsidised training significantly reduces the cost of studying, and additional fee-free funding is available depending on your circumstances.

Career Start and Career Boost Subsidies

• The Queensland Government covers all or part of your course fees for priority qualifications.
• You may pay little or nothing at enrolment.
• Your training provider will confirm your exact training costs at the time of enrolment.

Fee Free TAFE

Fee-free TAFE funding is an initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments that covers the full cost of tuition for eligible Queenslanders across select priority qualifications.

• Fee-free TAFE courses are available for certificates, diplomas, and short courses.
• Fee-free TAFE places are limited — apply early, as the program runs until 31 December 2026
• Students may still need to cover costs such as uniforms and learning resources.
• Fee-free TAFE funding covers one qualification per student between 2023 and 2026 (exception: students who completed the Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care may also access the Diploma under the same fee-free funding)

Free Nursing

• The Queensland Government provides a free Diploma of Nursing to support growth in the health sector.
• Currently available for students commencing Semester 1, 2026

VET Student Loans

• Available for some Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses
• Allows you to defer tuition fees until you’re earning
• Repayments only begin once your income reaches a set threshold
• Not all courses or providers are approved — check before enrolling

Centrelink Assistance

Options include Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY, Education Entry Payment, Pensioner Education Supplement, Student Start-up Loan, and Rent Assistance — depending on age, income, study load, and personal circumstances.

Priority groups: The following priority groups are strongly encouraged to apply for available fee-free and subsidised training: First Nations Australians, young people aged 17–24, job seekers and people receiving income support, unpaid carers, women facing economic insecurity, women undertaking study in non-traditional fields, and people with disability.

Apprenticeships and traineeships

Many government funded training pathways in Queensland are linked to an apprenticeship or traineeship, combining structured learning with real work experience. All apprenticeships and traineeships for new entrants in priority areas are subsidised through Career Start or Career Boost.

Apprenticeships — typically 3–4 years, covering trade-based careers such as engineering, automotive, building and construction, hairdressing, and cookery.

Traineeships — usually 1–2 years, covering areas such as IT, childcare, aged care, beauty therapy, and business.

Other support available

Fee-Free TAFE for Under 25s

• Covers the full cost of training for eligible young Queenslanders in high-priority Certificate III qualifications, apprenticeships, and traineeships
• Free apprenticeships are available to those under 25 at enrolment who are not currently at school and do not hold or are not enrolled in a Certificate III or higher qualification.

Free Construction Apprenticeships for Over 25s

• Covers training costs for mature-age Queenslanders entering specific construction industry trades
• Recognises that career changers should not face financial barriers to formal qualifications

Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) Funding

Eligible workers in the building and construction industry can access additional government funding through Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ), an independent, industry-funded body. CSQ funding is paid directly to the training provider, covering approximately 75–100% of training costs.

Three funding streams are available:

• Short Courses — upskilling through individual competencies, skill sets, high-risk work licences, and mobile plant operator courses (runs until 30 September 2026; up to 8 units of competency)
• Skills Assessment and Gap Training (SAGT) — for experienced workers seeking formal recognition, with gap training provided to achieve the full qualification
• Higher Qualifications — Certificate IV to Advanced Diploma-level training for career advancement

To be eligible, you must be employed in Queensland’s building and construction industry, or be an unemployed eligible worker who has been out of work for no more than six months.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work

• Helps disadvantaged job seekers gain the skills, qualifications, and experience needed to enter and stay in the workforce
• Delivered by community-based organisations and local councils, assisting up to 15,000 Queenslanders each year
• Priority groups include young people, First Nations Australians, people with disabilities, mature-age job seekers, women re-entering the workforce, veterans, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
• Key programs: Community Work Skills (qualifications up to Certificate III), Work Skills Traineeships (paid work placements up to six months), and Get Set for Work (12-month support for disengaged young people aged 15–19)

Where can you study?

Government funded courses and fee-free training in Queensland are available across metropolitan, regional, and remote areas, with courses delivered online, in class, blended, and virtually. Key locations include:

• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Sunshine Coast
• Townsville
• Cairns
• Toowoomba
• Rockhampton
• Mackay
• Bundaberg
• Hervey Bay

Enrol in a government funded course today!

Government funded courses make it easier to gain in-demand skills without the financial burden. Whether you’re starting your career, upskilling in your current role, or changing industries, there are subsidised training options available across Queensland.

Visit the Queensland Skills Gateway to find funded courses in your area, verify your eligibility, and compare Skills Assure Suppliers.