From 1 July 2025, the Queensland Government's funded programs – Certificate 3 Guarantee, User Choice and Higher Level Skills – have been replaced by Career Start and Career Boost. The Department of Trade, Employment and Training  website will be updated with new information as soon as possible.

Career Start

Career Start explained

The Career Start program provides individuals with the skills and support to start their career, it helps support eligible students to complete their first post-school certificate III level qualification.

 Career Start offers either a general training pathway or 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 general qualification at certificate III 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 qualification under Career Start; OR
• two apprenticeships or traineeships at either certificate II or III, including school based apprenticeships or traineeships (SATs).

In addition, under Career Start, individuals may access one subsidised introductory-level skill set.

An individual cannot do two general pathway qualifications under Career Start.

Career Start - General Training Pathway

Qualifications and introductory skill sets delivered through a general training pathway are available for direct enrolment and do not require the student to enter into a training contract (apprenticeship/traineeship) with an employer.

Career Start - General Training Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• be aged 15 years or older, and no longer in school
• permanently live in Queensland
• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with an eligible visa subclass
• not already have a certificate III or higher qualification completed within the last 10 years (qualifications completed as a school student, and foundation skills qualifications don't count)
• not be enrolled in another qualification, even if it's on hold or deferred, whether funded by us (Department of Trade, Employment and Training) or not (foundation skills qualification don't count).

Along with the eligibility criteria above, specific entry requirements or exemptions may apply to certain funded qualifications and skill sets. These are set by industry or sector requirements, as well as national training package guidelines.

Approved subsidised programs Under Career Start - General Training Pathway

Please see below a list of from the list of qualifications Human Resource Training has been approved to provide Queensland wide through the Career Start subsidised program.

Co-contribution Fees

If your course is eligible under the Career Start Program, the Queensland Government will pay a subsidy directly to Human Resource Training (RTO #31678). You will need to pay a mandatory co-contribution fee, which covers all enrolment and training costs.

This fee cannot be waived but may be paid by you, your employer, or another third party. To understand the co-contribution fee for each subsidised course, please refer to the relevant course page for further information.

Some students may qualify for a concessional co-contribution fee. You may be eligible if you:

• hold a Health Care, Veteran, or Pensioner Concession Card, or are the partner or dependent of someone with such a card and are named on the card;
• have a Commonwealth form confirming eligibility for concessions under a Health Care, Veteran, or Pensioner Concession Card;
• identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (First Nations people);
• have a disability; are adult prisoners;

Career Start - Apprenticeships or Traineeships Pathway

For apprenticeships and traineeships, an individual must be employed as an apprentice or trainee. This pathway is part of the Australian Apprenticeships system and requires all parties to sign an Apprenticeship and Traineeship Training Contract (the Contract) as defined by the Further Education and Training Act 2014 (the Act).

Please note an individual may complete either two apprenticeships/traineeships across the suite of core programs or two apprenticeships/traineeships under this Career Start program only.

However, the total number of subsidised apprenticeships/ traineeships across all programs cannot exceed two per individual.

Career Start – Apprenticeship or Traineeship Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• have entered into a training contract for a qualification that is funded by us and be registered on our systems
• if you're from overseas, have a visa allowing you to work in Australia
• not be enrolled in another qualification
• not have already completed 2 apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications (including a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship) within the last 10 years.

Please note: School students can only access apprenticeships and traineeships through a registered SAT. This is to ensure a school student does not use their entire apprenticeship/traineeship entitlement while at school.

Approved subsidised programs Under Career Start - Apprenticeship or Traineeship Pathway

Please see below a list of from the list of qualifications Human Resource Training has been approved to provide Queensland wide through the Career Start subsidised program.

Co-contribution Fees

For apprenticeships and traineeships, the fee is set at $1.60 per nominal training hour for each unit of competency [as set by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET)]. These fees may change at the discretion of the Department. The apprentice’s employer may pay the student co-contribution fee on behalf of the apprentice.

To understand the co-contribution fee for each subsidised course, please refer to the relevant course page for further information.

Human Resource training will charge only 40% of the standard fee if an apprentice/trainee meets any of the following criteria:

under 17 years of age at the end of February in the year training is provided, is not at school and has not completed Year 12;

holds a Health Care Card or Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card, or

is the partner or dependent of someone who does; or

identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (First Nations people). 

If an apprentice/trainee is experiencing serious financial difficulties and can demonstrate this, they may qualify for a full fee exemption.

Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s Program

Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s covers the cost of your training when you choose a high priority apprenticeship or traineeship.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

• be currently employed as a Queensland apprentice or trainee (under a training contract) in a high priority apprenticeship and traineeship qualification
• have commenced (or were already undertaking) your apprenticeship or traineeship between 1 January 2021 and 30 June 2027
• be aged under 25

Approved subsidised programs Under Career Start - Apprenticeship or Traineeship Pathway

Please see below a list of from the list of qualifications Human Resource Training has been approved to provide Queensland wide through the Career Start subsidised program.

Important Links

·        https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/career-start

·        https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/64304343-191b-4b1e-a6a7-3d46d5902f8c/resource/aa9ffd70-ff0d-4f2c-8a26-25dde1ad0ea2/download/career-start-program-policy_1-july-2025.pdf

·        https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/freeapprenticeships

·        https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/check-your-eligibility

·        https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/providers/funded/career-start

·        https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/providers/funded/freeapprenticeships