Grow your skills through government funded courses in Australia
In Australia, government funded courses offers free TAFE and subsidies for eligible students to study, grow their skills and step into the job market with confidence — without the massive financial hurdles.
Government funded courses are on offer in a range of subject areas — particularly in high priority industries where workers are needed to fill skills gaps. There are many benefits in applying for and undertaking a government funded course. The key benefit is that you’ll be studying for low cost or even fee-free, giving you the opportunity to grow your skills without coming up against the financial hurdles typically associated with study.
Then, once your studies are complete, you’ll be an in-demand professional in an industry that’s crying out for qualified workers. This means the process of finding a full-time job will be significantly more streamlined, and you’ll reap the benefits of job security and unparalleled career progression opportunities.
How government funding works
The Australian government puts funding towards courses that will help fill skill gaps and create a strong, skilled workforce within the country.
There are 13 government funding schemes running throughout Australia. Some are state-specific schemes while others are country-wide initiatives. Each scheme targets different groups of people, different professions and different qualifications.
The way government funding works depends on the type of scheme and training course you’re applying for. Some schemes offer free training in an in-demand area, whereas other schemes offer to subsidise your course fees, which means you’ll pay significantly less out of pocket.
It’s important to understand the requirements of government-funded training before you enrol in a course, because there’s a strict list of criteria you need to meet in order to access it.
The first requirement is that you study a course from a select list of government-subsidised training courses. This list will differ from state to state, so your first step is to find out if there’s a course you’re interested in on the list relevant to your state. You’ll then need to find an approved provider to study that course with, because the government only provides funding to education providers who’ve applied and have been approved for it.
Once you’ve found a government funded course with an approved training provider, your final step is to check your eligibility and apply for your course.
Government funding by state
ACT
Find out if you are eligible for subsidised courses in the ACT and how government funding can provide free training.
ACT Courses
NSW
Find out if you qualify for government funded courses in NSW and how government funding can get you fee-free training.
NSW Courses
NT
If you meet the eligibility criteria, the government may fully subsidise your tuition fees so that you can get free training.
NT Courses
QLD
If you meet the eligibility requirements, the government may help you pay for a course in QLD.
QLD Courses
SA
If you meet the eligibility criteria, government funding may cover your tuition costs, so you can get free training.
SA Courses
TAS
The government may pay for your tuition if you meet the eligibility requirements, so you can study free online courses.
TAS Courses
VIC
Check your eligibility, explore government funded courses and learn about how these funding schemes can help you pay for training
VIC Courses
WA
If you meet the eligibility criteria, the government could pay for part or all of your course fees.
WA CoursesPopular Government Funded Courses
Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (Perth Only)
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing OR Disability) (Perth Only)
Diploma of Community Services (Perth Only)
Certificate lll in Early Childhood Education & Care (Perth Only)
Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (Melbourne Only)
Certificate III in Individual Support (Melbourne Only)
Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) (Geelong Only)
Certificate IV in Ageing Support (VIC Only)
Finding out if you’re eligible to study a government funded course
Eligibility for government funded courses can be a little complicated, and it differs from scheme to scheme. To make the process of checking your eligibility a little easier, we’ve outlined the eligibility requirements for each scheme.
First, select the state you’re wanting to study in, and there you’ll find a list of relevant government funding schemes. Clicking on these will take you to a page with everything you need to know about eligibility.
Eligibility criteria is often based on your citizenship, whether you’ve studied before (and what qualification you obtained), as well as your age and employment status. There are different schemes available for different groups of people (e.g. Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and international students), so even if you’re not eligible for one scheme make sure to check the criteria of other schemes available in your state — you may be eligible for one of those.
