Career Start Program
The program provides training to help individuals find a job and supports those already employed to move into more skilled roles or full time employment. Career Start supports delivery of entry level training to students, Trainees and Apprentices aligned with the skill outcomes required by industry.
The Career Start program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland students.
Two training pathways are offered, either:
- A General Training pathway, or
- Employment based Apprenticeship or Traineeship pathway
Flexible Training Solutions is a Skills Assure provider (SAS). Career Start and Boost Programs agreement numbers: PS102349, QS102807.
Eligibility
For the General pathway, eligible students must meet the following criteria:
- be a permanent Queensland resident;
- be an Australian citizen, or Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), or temporary resident with the right visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen;
- not currently be enrolled in a Qualification;
- not have previously completed a certificate III or higher-level Qualification within the last 10 years for a general training pathway; and
- not exceed a maximum of two government-funded apprenticeships/traineeships within a 10-year period.
For the Traineeship and Apprenticeship pathways, eligible students must meet the following criteria:
- are currently employed as a Queensland apprentice or trainee (under a registered training contract) in an eligible apprenticeship or traineeship Qualification through this Program;
- not currently be enrolled in a Qualification;
- not have previously completed a certificate III or higher-level qualification within the last 10 years for a general training pathway; and
- not exceed a maximum of two government-funded apprenticeships/traineeships within a 10-year period.
Students will be funded a maximum of two government funded apprenticeships/traineeships across the School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SATs), Career Start and Career Boost Programs. The two apprenticeships/traineeships can be undertaken in this Career Start Program.
Students can receive funding for only one apprenticeship or traineeship at a time. If two training contracts are registered at the same time, the contract with the earliest start date will qualify for funding, provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
Cost
Students pay a Co-contribution fee along with the Queensland government.
Career Start – General Training Pathway
| National Code | Qualification Name | Enrolment (Course) Co-Contribution Fee Non-Concessional | Enrolment (Course) Co-Contribution Fee Concessional |
| BSB30120 | Certificate III in Business | $500 | $200 |
| SIR30216 | Certificate III in Retail | $500 | $200 |
| TLI30325 | Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations | $500 | $200 |
| TLI31222 | Certificate III in Driving Operations ^ | $500 | $200 |
^For eligible participants already employed in a Driving role.
Partial Exemptions (Concession)
Partial exemptions for Student contribution fees will be made if the participant:
- Holds a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds such a card and is named on the card;
- Holds an official form issued under Commonwealth law confirming that they, their partner, or the person of whom they are a dependant is entitled to concessions under a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card;
- Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
- Has a disability;
- Is an adult prisoner.
Full Exemptions
Full exemptions for Student contribution fees may be made if the participant falls into one or more of the following exemption categories:
- Skilling Queenslanders for Work or SQW participants – this training is provided fee-free to Students with any additional costs met through SQW funding;
- Specific fee-free training programs as announced by the Queensland Government;
- Foundation skills – this training is fee-free;
- Lower-level vocational Qualifications for concessional Students – this training can be provided fee-free to Students, as determined by the Skills Assure provider.
Career Start – Traineeship and Apprenticeship Pathway
| National Code | Qualification Name | Enrolment (Course) Co-Contribution Fee+ Non-Concessional | Enrolment (Course) Co-Contribution Fee+ Concessional |
| BSB30120 | Certificate III in Business | Up to $784 | Up to $314 |
| SIR30216 | Certificate III in Retail | Up to $648 | Up to $260 |
| TLI30325 | Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations | Up to $696 | Up to $278 |
| TLI31222 | Certificate III in Driving Operations ^ | Up to $1000 | Up to $400 |
+Calculated at a rate of $1.60 per nominal hour. Actual enrolment fee will depend on the units selected in the Training Plan.
Partial Exemptions (Concession)
Partial exemptions for Student contribution fees (only 40% of the fee) will be made if the participant:
- was or will be under 17 years of age at the end of February in the year in which training is provided and has not completed year 12
- holds a health care, veteran or pensioner concession card or is a dependant of a person who holds a health care or pensioner concession card and is named on the card
- issues Flexible Training Solutions with an official form confirming that the participant, partner, or person of whom the participant is a dependant, is entitled to concessions under a health care, veteran or pensioners concession card
- is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person as stated on the Training Contract and AVETMISS VET enrolment form
Full Exemptions
Full exemptions for Student contribution fees may be made if the participant falls into one or more of the following exemption categories:
- If payment of the student contribution fee would cause extreme financial hardship
- If the State advises in writing that fees are optional.
Full exemptions for Student Contribution fees will be made if the participant falls into one or more of the following exemption categories:
- Where credit transfer/recognition has been applied to a Unit of Competency/Module
- Where the Participant is a School-based Apprentice or Trainee
Funding and fees are based on the government’s prioritisation of courses. Qualifications that lead to occupations with a higher priority level receive the largest contribution from the government.
Delivery Locations
Brisbane , Cairns, Central Queensland, Darling Downs – Maranoa, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan – Beaudesert, Mackay – Isaac – Whitsunday, Moreton Bay – North, Moreton Bay – South, Queensland – Outback, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Wide Bay
Other qualifications (and the above for those not eligible for funding) are available for delivery by a Fee for Service model. https://training.gov.au/organisation/details/
Please contact us for pricing and availability or visit our Fee Guide here
Career Boost Program
The Career Boost program aims to take a person’s career to the next level, enabling them to grow and apply their skills to existing or new job roles and to support productivity growth and workplace innovation.
The program delivers training to help individuals develop the higher-level skills needed to secure employment, advance their careers, or progress to further education and training to undertake university or tertiary qualifications.
Career Boost offers either a general training pathway or employment-based apprenticeship or traineeship pathway.
Under Career Boost, an eligible individual may access:
- one subsidised training place in either a certificate IV, diploma, or advanced diploma qualification under the general training pathway; OR
- a higher level apprenticeship/traineeship at certificate IV or above; and
- up to two subsidised skill sets in priority industries or sectors as part of the program.
If the individual has already accessed two apprenticeships/traineeships through a school based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) or Career Start within the last 10 years, they are not eligible to undertake an apprenticeship/traineeship under Career Boost.
An individual cannot do two general pathway qualifications under Career Boost. This is to ensure equitable access for all eligible Queenslanders to a training opportunity.
Career Boost – General Training Pathway
| National Code | Qualification Name | Enrolment (Course) Co-Contribution Fee^ Non-Concessional | Enrolment (Course) Co-Contribution Fee^ Concessional |
| SIRSS00022 | Manage disrespectful, aggressive or abusive customers | $225 | $185 |
^Students must be an Existing Worker in the Retail Industry and may already hold a Certificate III or higher level qualification.
For more information Contact Us Contact – Flexible Training Solutions or check out the Queensland Government’s Career Start Career Boost Career Ready or DTET (VET) Programs Website.