Government Contracts

The courses are funded by the Queensland Government and training is made available through the VET Investment and User Choice (apprenticeships and traineeships) budgets. The funding programs include:

  1. Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS)
  2. Certificate 3 Guarantee
  3. Higher Levels Skills
  4. User Choice

Does the individual need to contribute to the cost of training?

Individuals undertaking training must contribute to their training costs through a ‘co-contribution fee’. While the amount of the fee is determined by the Skills Assured supplier (SAS), it is expected the co-contribution fee will be greater for higher level training given the increased benefits that accrue to individuals and industry.

The fee may be paid on behalf of the individual by an employer or another third party, but cannot be paid or waived by the SAS, unless approved by the department.

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Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS)

Certificate II in Hospitality

Some students undertake nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) qualifications while they are still at school.

VET is learning which is directly related to work. Nationally recognised qualifications are developed by industry to give people the knowledge and skills they need to work in a particular job.

Students can undertake VET at school:

  • as part of their school studies – delivered and resourced by a school registered training organisation (RTO)
  • by enrolling in a qualification with an external RTO – funded either by the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s VET investment budget or through fee-for-service arrangements i.e. where the student or parent pays for the qualification
  • as a school-based apprentice or trainee.

VETiS funding by the VET investment budget

VETiS qualifications funded by the VET investment budget are delivered by RTOs who have been approved by the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training as a Skills Assured supplier (SAS) under the Certificate 3 Guarantee. Schools, in consultation with students and their parents, are able to choose any SAS for the eligible qualification.

VETiS qualifications on the Queensland Training Subsidies List are at the certificate I and II level. Students who wish to access the VET investment budget to undertake a Certificate III qualification should do so as a school-based apprentice or trainee (SAT).

For further details on VETiS funded by the VET investment budget and VETiS qualifications, please refer to:


What is “Certificate 3 Guarantee”?

Funded by the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, the Certificate 3 Guarantee supports eligible individuals to complete their first post-school Certificate III qualification to improve their opportunity to transition into employment, re-enter the workforce or advance their career.

To view the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s Certificate 3 Guarantee Program Fact Sheet, please click here.

Are you eligible?

Funded training is available for individuals who are:

  • Queensland residents aged 15 years or over
  • No longer at school (with the exception of VET in Schools students)
  • Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and on the pathway to permanent residency
  • Not holding, and not enrolled in, a Certificate III level or higher qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training)

To be eligible to receive the Certificate 3 Guarantee, students must not already hold, or be currently studying a Certificate III or higher level qualification. This includes any equivalent Certificate III or higher level training completed at university or through an apprenticeship or traineeship. It does not matter if you paid for this training or if it was subsidised by the government.

However, Certificate III qualifications completed while at school and foundation skills courses are not counted and you will still be eligible for the Certificate 3 Guarantee.

What will you gain from this program?

This program provides a government subsidy to support eligible individuals to complete their first post-school Certificate III Qualification. The Certificate 3 Guarantee is targeted at Certificate III level qualifications because they are entry-level qualifications often needed to gain employment in many industry sectors.

Students are entitled to access government subsidised training for one completed Certificate III qualification.

Do you need to contribute to the cost of training?

Eligible applicants are required to contribute to the costs of their training through a co-contribution fee. The fee may be paid on your behalf by an employer or another third party and is charged at the time of enrolment. 

How do you qualify for concession fees?

Concessional student status applies when:

  • The student holds a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card and is named on the card
  • The student provides CTA with an official form under Commonwealth law confirming that the student, their partner or the person of whom the student is a dependent is entitled to concessions under a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
  • The student is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
  • The student is a school student and is enrolled in a VETiS program (may include young people in detention)
  • The student has a disability
  • The student is an adult prisoner


Higher Level Skills

Certificate IV in Hospitality
Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Higher Level Skills program provides a government subsidy to support eligible individuals to access subsidised training in selected certificate IV and above qualifications, or priority skill sets.

To view the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s Higher Level Skills Program Fact Sheet, please click here.

The aim is to assist individuals to gain the Higher Level Skills required to secure employment or career advancement in priority industries or to transition to university. Employers may also be able to access training to address workforce development needs.

How does the program work?

The list of registered training organisations (RTOs) approved to deliver each subsidised qualification or skill set is published on the Queensland Skills Gateway.

Individuals and employers are free to choose their preferred RTO from this list. The subsidy is paid directly to the RTO as training is delivered and reported to the department.

What level of subsidy is available?

Training in vocational areas that align with critical industry skilling needs and government priorities will receive a higher government subsidy.

A higher subsidy will also be paid to support participation by concessional students, such as disadvantaged learners, and those undertaking training in remote locations.

What outcomes are expected?

Skills Assured Suppliers (SAS) will be measured on successful training completions and whether the training resulted in an employment benefit such as securing a job or career advancement, or transition to university for further education.

User Choice

Certificate II in Cookery
Certificate II in Hospitality
Certificate III in Hospitality
Certificate III in Business
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

What is the User Choice program?

The User Choice program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees.

The program provides the flexibility for apprentices, trainees and their employers to select a preferred training provider (registered training organisation or RTO) from a list of Skills Assure suppliers (SAS) for the delivery of accredited training to meet their specific needs. SAS are training providers who have contract with the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training to deliver funded training.

How do I participate?

Choose a qualification that interests you and become an apprentice or trainee.

Which apprenticeships and traineeships are funded under the user choice program?

Not all apprenticeships and traineeships attract government funding. The funding priority will determine the level of public funds contributed to training regardless of whether the qualification is an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Refer to the User Choice funding and pricing page more information.

Can I start an apprenticeship or traineeship if I am still at school?

Yes you can. School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) are available in many occupations in Queensland. Students should be in either year 10, 11 or 12, but may be able to enter a SAT prior to starting year 10 in exceptional circumstances. In these circumstances, a business case must be submitted to the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training and approved prior to commencing the SAT.

The SAT is undertaken as part of the high school studies. A SAT employment and/or training arrangement must impact on the school timetable for the program to be considered school-based. Apprenticeships or traineeships which do not have an impact on the student’s school timetable are not considered a SAT.

​All SATs must be supported by the employer, the school, a supervising registered training organisation (SRTO) referred to as the training organisation, and the parent or guardian. SATs are paid for the time spent working with their employer.

SATs receive funding for their training aligned to the priority level of the qualification.

SATs are exempt from paying student fees under the User Choice program while they are still at school.

Parties to the training contract for a SAT should be aware that there are a number of conditions that apply to the training contract, including the amount of training that a SAT can do while they are still attending school. There are also conditions related to the transition of a SAT into full-time or part-time apprenticeship/traineeship arrangements If they leave school.

Visit the Apprenticeships Info website for more information on school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.

Am I eligible for a funded place in the User Choice program?

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 Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training and be registered in the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s registration system DELTA. The contract commencement date or recommencement date must be on or after 1 July 2010, and the training provider selected to deliver the training must hold a Skills Assured Suppliers (SAS) status for the nominated qualification.

The government contribution for a User Choice funding contribution is detailed in the apprentice or trainee’s letter of registration from the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, and is subject to student eligibility and their selection of an eligible SAS as their SRTO.

Are there any rules I should be aware of in relations to funding?

Apprentices and trainees can only receive one government contribution for a User Choice funded qualification at any single point in time, i.e. a student is not funded to undertake two apprenticeships or traineeships at the same time.

In addition, apprentices and trainees, including SATs, can only receive a maximum of two government funding contributions under the current User Choice Program.

There are other rules specifically related to funding for SATs, so students and their parents/guardians should discuss their intentions with their school’s vocational education and training coordinator prior to signing up as a SAT. Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers are another good source of information.

Will I be expected to pay fees and charges to my RTO?

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. SATs 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. Your SRTO will provide in detail its fees and charges policy, including full costs method of collection, refunds and exemptions prior to enrolment.