Career Start supports Queensland job seekers to start their career, or move into more skilled roles or full-time employment.

You can participate in an employment-based apprenticeship or traineeship pathway which provides reduced-cost entry-level training aligned to the skill outcomes required by industry. Instead of paying for the full cost of training, you or your employer may pay a reduced amount. Apprenticeships and traineeships combine work with study – you’ll learn practical skills in the workplace through training with CSTC, and at the end be awarded with a qualification.

The Queensland Government contributes towards the cost of training for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees, through:

• School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SAT) – for school students
• Career Start – for job seekers to access Certificate II and Certificate III qualifications in priority and emerging industries – you may access up to two (2) funded apprenticeships and traineeships in either a Certificate II or Certificate III qualification

To be eligible for Career Start (Apprenticeship and Traineeship) Funding, prospective students must:

• Not be a school student
  • School students can only access funded apprenticeships and traineeships through a registered SAT to ensure they do not exhaust their entitlement while at school
• Be currently employed as a Queensland apprentice or trainee (under a registered training contract) in a government-funded program
• Not be enrolled in another government-funded qualification, even if it is on hold or deferred
  • Foundation Skills qualifications and self-funded/fee-for-service qualifications do not impact eligibility
• Not have already completed two (2) government-funded apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications (including a SAT) within the last 10 years.

Work Skills Traineeships

Career Start also supports access to Work Skills Traineeships through Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) projects. Work Skills Traineeships primarily targets unemployed Queensland residents and are focused on developing vocational and employability skills for long term unemployed and disadvantaged job seekers and providing them with a pathway to employment.

Refer to the specific course pages for more detail.

Fees

For apprenticeships and traineeships, a co-contribution fee applies (outlined on each specific course page).

Concessional student status applies for students who:

• Hold a card (Health Care, Seniors Health, Veterans’ Affairs or Pensioner Concession) issued under Commonwealth law – or are the partner or a dependant of a person who holds a such a card and they are named on the card
• Identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• Have a disability
• Are from a non-English speaking background
• Are an adult prisoner

Additional student support

Where  a clear need has been identified for Language, Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Capability (LLND) support, CSTC may offer Foundation Skills training to support the student with completing their enrolled qualification.

Impact of accessing funding

Under Career Start, an eligible individual may access up to two subsidised training places through one (1) of the following options:

• A General Training qualification and an apprenticeship/traineeship – if the General Training qualification is completed first
  • If the apprenticeship/traineeship is done first, you are no longer eligible to access a General Training qualification under Career Start
• Two (2) apprenticeships/traineeships at either Certificate II or III, including school based apprenticeships or traineeships (SATs)

How to apply for Career Start (Apprenticeship and Traineeship) Funding

 Contact us to discuss funding eligibility and/or to apply for funding