Career Start

Career Start provides subsidised training through either a General Training Pathway or an employment-based Apprenticeship or Traineeship Pathway.

Under Career Start, an eligible individual may access up to two subsidised training places through one of the following options:

• a qualification typically at the Certificate III level under a General Training Pathway, and

• an apprenticeship or traineeship – noting that if the apprenticeship or traineeship is done first, the individual is no longer eligible to access a general training pathway qualification under Career Start; OR

• two apprenticeships or traineeships at either Certificate II or III, including School-based Apprenticeships or Traineeships (SATs).

Exceptions

Some exceptions do apply. These rules aim to support fair access to training opportunities for all eligible Queenslanders:

• An individual cannot complete two general pathway qualifications under Career Start.

• Please note an individual (where eligible) can complete up to two government-funded apprenticeships/traineeships within a 10-year period. This cap of two may be undertaken either:

  1. across different core programs i.e. School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SAT), Career Start, and Career Boost (for example, one under a SAT and one under Career Boost); OR
  2. under Career Start which is the only program that allows two apprenticeships or traineeships.

• In all cases, no more than two government-funded apprenticeships or traineeships can be completed within a 10-year period (this includes those funded under previous iterations of DTET funded programs e.g. User Choice program).

CTA Training Specialists offers the following qualifications under the two training pathways.

General Training Pathway

• Certificate II in Cookery SIT20421

• Certificate II in Hospitality SIT20322

• Certificate III in Hospitality SIT30622

• Certificate III in Business BSB30120

Apprenticeship or Traineeship Pathway

• Certificate II in Cookery SIT20421

• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery SIT30821

• Certificate II in Hospitality SIT20322

• Certificate III in Hospitality SIT30622

• Certificate III in Business BSB30120

Qualifications delivered through the General Training Pathway are available for direct enrolment. You do not need to enter into an apprenticeship or traineeship training contract with an employer.

We are approved to deliver the follow qualifications as part of the general training pathway:

• BSB30120 Certificate III in Business

• SIT30622 Certificate III in Hospitality

Eligibility for General Training Pathway

To access a subsidised General Training Pathway training place, you must:

• be aged 15 years or older

• not be a school student

• permanently reside in Queensland

• be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (including a humanitarian entrant), or a temporary resident who holds a valid visa and working rights on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen

• not already have a Certificate III or higher qualification completed within the last 10 years immediately preceding enrolment. Qualifications completed as a school student and foundation skills qualifications do not impact eligibility for this requirement.

• not be enrolled in another DTET-funded qualification, even if that qualification is on hold or deferred. Foundation skills qualifications and self-funded or fee-for-service qualifications do not impact eligibility for this requirement.

When determining eligibility for a General Training Pathway, qualifications completed within the last 10 years include qualifications funded under previous iterations of the program, such as the Certificate 3 Guarantee program.

Specific entry restrictions or exemptions may apply to certain subsidised qualifications. These are set by industry or sector requirements, as well as national training package guidelines.

To undertake a Career Start apprenticeship or traineeship, you must be employed as an apprentice or trainee under a registered training contract.

This pathway is part of the Australian Apprenticeships system. All parties; you, your employer and CTA Training Specialists, must sign an Apprenticeship and Traineeship Training Contract as required under the Further Education and Training Act 2014.

Your employer will provide or arrange appropriate facilities, a suitable range of work, supervision and the on-the-job training required by the Act and your training plan.

CTA Training Specialists, as the Supervising Registered Training Organisation (SRTO), will review the employment arrangements, complete an Employer Resource Assessment and develop the training plan in consultation with you and your employer.

We are approved to deliver the follow qualifications as part of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Pathway:

• SIT20421 Certificate II in Cookery

• SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality

• BSB30120 Certificate III in Business

• SIT30622 Certificate III in Hospitality

• SIT30821 Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

Eligibility for Apprenticeship and Traineeship Pathway To receive government-subsidised training through a Career Start apprenticeship or traineeship, you must:

• not be a school student

• be currently employed as a Queensland apprentice or trainee under a registered training contract in an eligible apprenticeship or traineeship qualification funded through Career Start

• not be enrolled in another DTET-funded qualification, even if it is on hold or deferred. Foundation skills qualifications and self-funded or fee-for-service qualifications do not impact eligibility for this requirement.

• not have already completed two government-funded apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SAT), within the last 10 years immediately preceding enrolment.

School students can only access funded apprenticeships and traineeships through a registered SAT. This ensures a school student does not exhaust their entire apprenticeship or traineeship entitlement while at school.

Where a school student completes a DTET-funded Certificate I, II or III through a General Training Pathway while at school, this does not impact their eligibility to access subsidised training under Career Start. However, completion of a subsidised SAT exhausts one apprenticeship or traineeship pathway entitlement under Career Start.

Given the benefits of training, including improved job opportunities and higher earnings, students enrolled in Certificate III qualifications, and non-concessional students in lower-level qualifications, are required to contribute to the cost of training through a co-contribution student fee.

The co-contribution fee may be paid by:

• you

• your employer

• a family member

• a friend

• another organisation on your behalf.

The fee cannot be paid or waived by CTA Training Specialists or any person or entity associated with CTA Training Specialists.


Current fees, General Training Pathway

CTA Training Specialists sets the co-contribution fees for the following qualifications:

• Each fee represents the total costs to you for the qualification, including materials costs

• CTA Training Specialists will not charge you for creating a Training and Assessment Plan or Training Record

• CTA Training Specialists will not charge you for additional materials after enrolment.

• CTA Training Specialists will not charge you for credit transfer units completed prior to commencing.

By participating in Career Start, you can expect to build the skills and confidence needed to complete a qualification and take meaningful steps toward your career goals.

After completing a qualification through the general training pathway, CTA Training Specialists may support your transition into:

• the workforce

• further education or training, or

• more skilled job roles.

This support may include career advice and facilitating connections with potential employers.


DTET surveys

As part of receiving a subsidised training place, you may be asked to complete a DTET survey. Your feedback helps ensure students have an effective and supportive training experience and will also improve outcomes for other Queensland students.

If you are interested in enrolling with us through Career Start training, please follow these steps.

1. Check your eligibility

Review the Career Start eligibility requirements above and make sure you meet the requirements for your chosen training pathway.

2. Check the training available

Review the current Career Start qualifications available through CTA Training Specialists.

3. Review course information

Before applying, review the information for your chosen qualification, including:

• delivery method

• training location

• expected training duration and timeline

• assessment requirements

• requirements for successful completion

• applicable co-contribution fees

• when and how fees must be paid

• any licensing or industry requirements

• available student support services.

4. How to apply

• Contact us if you have any questions. We are happy to help you find the right qualification for your needs.

• Submit an enquiry or Register your interest.

• We will contact you for a pre-enrolment phone or face to face interview, to answer all of your questions, complete a Language, Literacy, Numeracy, and Digital (LLND) assessment and to make sure that this is the right course for you.

5. Confirmation of your enrolment

• If you are eligible and your application is approved, we will provide you with information about your enrolment, training requirements, fees and other applicable conditions. We will provide you with a full Training Plan - this sets out what training you will undertake, how it will be delivered and assessed, and how the training will relate to your job.

Career Start can help by providing subsidised training for employees through apprenticeships, traineeships, or general training pathways that support skills development and career progression, benefiting both employees and the business.

Employers must ensure that employees:

• understand the Career Start program conditions

• understand the eligibility requirements

• have consented to enrol in the training.

A Skills Assure Supplier may discuss additional training costs with an employer or industry representative beyond the applicable student co-contribution fee. Employers are not required to accept these additional charges.

Any additional fees or charges must be clearly explained, documented and agreed by all relevant parties and the Skills Assure Supplier before the employee enrols.