Funding Options

What is User Choice?

As a Skills Assure Supplier, we are funded to provide Assessment and Training under the Queensland Government, Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) User Choice Policy.

The User Choice program supports delivery of accredited entry-level training to apprentices and trainees.

The program works in conjunction with the Commonwealth Australian Apprentices System. Under which apprentices and trainees enter into legally binding training contracts with their employers and receive structured training to achieve a nationally recognized qualification.

The User Choice program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment to eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees, with this funding paid directly to the approved training supplier, subject to the conditions set out in the VET Skills Assure Supplier Agreement.

The program provides greater flexibility for apprentices, trainees and their employers to select a training supplier of their choice and to negotiate the type of training they require.

Gold Coast Trades College and Queensland Trades College have a Best of Both Worlds approach to training our Apprentices – we have our Trainers go on site to assess the work that they do onsite, and we have 2 fully equipped campuses that allow us to train and assess the tasks that can’t be assessed on site. We work with our Employers to establish which units will be done onsite and which units will require the Apprentice to attend College for a Workshop. Our easy to use online theory platform is optimized for use on a smart phone, so Apprentices can work on their theory from anywhere, anytime.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for User Choice funding an apprentice or trainee must:

• Have entered into a formal training contract for a qualification that is funded by DESBT
• Be registered in the DESBT’s registration system (DELTA)
• Select a training provider that holds a current Skills Assure Contract for the nominated qualification

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 School-Based Trainees, can only receive a maximum of two government funding contributions under the current User Choice program.

What fees will I expect to pay?

As part of your apprenticeship, you are required to pay a student contribution fee unless you fall within one of the exemption categories listed below.  The student contribution fees under User Choice are set by DESBT at $1.60 per nominal hour for each unit of competency.

The fees may be paid by the student, employer or a third party. 

These student contribution fees are calculated prior to the commencement of training and an invoice will be issued to the student or person nominated to pay the fees.  Payments can be made via EFT, credit card or through EziDebit if a payment arrangement has been setup.

School-based trainees are exempt from the payment of co-contribution fees.

Partial/Concessional exemption of fees (40% of the current rate – $0.64 per nominal hour) is available for:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students
• students who hold a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card or who are named a dependant of a person who holds such a card

Full exemption of fees are available in the following circumstances (please provide us evidence, where you wish to claim the exemption):

• Where the student commenced a high-priority apprenticeship/traineeship from 1 Jan 2021 – 31 Dec 2023 and is under 25 years of age at the time of commencement
• Where a student can demonstrate that payment of fees would cause extreme financial hardship and each case
• Where a school-based apprentice/trainee who has graduated Year 12 and has converted to either a fulltime or parttime apprenticeship/traineeship in a high priority qualification.

Please note: if you are experiencing any difficulty in paying for these fees, please contact us to discuss options for a payment plan.

An initial payment of $300 is charged at commencement to cover the initial units.  Once we have established your chosen electives an invoice will be sent for the remainder of the units with the option to:

• Pay the remainder of the fees in full; or
• Pay the remainder of the fees via a payment plan of up to 18 months duration negotiated with the college.

Estimated User Choice Course Fees – Apprenticeships

User Choice Refunds

Where an apprentice/trainee either cancels their training contract or changes to another SRTO we will refund any fees that have been paid for training not undertaken.  If training has been undertaken but not completed a proportionate refund will be issued.

Please refer to our Refund Policy in our student handbook or employer handbook for further information and processes.

For further information please visit DESBT’s information pages.

What is Certificate 3 Guarantee?

The Certificate 3 Guarantee supports eligible individuals to complete their first post-school certificate Ill level qualification and increase their skills to move into employment, re-enter the workforce or
advance their career.

Under the Certificate 3 Guarantee, the Queensland Government provides a subsidy for a range of priority certificate
Ill level vocational qualifications.

Foundation skills training and lower-level vocational qualifications may also be
subsidised in certain circumstances.

Who is eligible for Certificate 3 Guarantee?

You must:

• be a Queensland resident
• be aged 15 years or over, and no longer at school (with the exception of
  VET in Schools students)
• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to
  permanent residency
• not hold, or not be enrolled in, a certificate Ill level or higher
  qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and
  foundations skills training).

Qualifications offered under Certificate 3 Guarantee funding:

What is VETiS?

Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) is a program that enables students to gain nationally recognised qualifications while at school. Students learn skills and knowledge required for specific industries.

VETiS can be undertaken in years 10, 11 and 12, and can count towards the Queensland Certificate of Education.

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 funded either by the department’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.

Students undertaking VETiS, funded by the VET investment budget, can complete one employment stream qualification at the certificate I or II level.

Who is eligible for VETiS?

• School students currently enrolled at a Queensland high school
• Must be in either Year 10, 11 or 12
• Must be either an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian Permanent resident

Qualifications offered under VETiS funding:

• CPC10120 Certificate I in Construction
•  UEE22020 Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start)
• AUR20720 Certificate II in Automotive Vocational Preparation
• 52887WA Certificate II in Plumbing

What is Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ)?

• Construction Skills Queensland is an independent, not-for-profit, industry-funded body supporting employers, workers, apprentices, trainees and career seekers in the building and construction industry.
• CSQ provides funding to reduce the financial obstacle to training, making upskilling an affordable option for many more individuals in the construction industry.
• CSQ-funded training is delivered by a range of selected registered training organisations (RTOs) across Queensland.
• CSQ contributes towards the cost of courses to reduce the cost to participants. CSQ funding is paid directly to the contracted RTO, generally between 75% and 100% of course costs.

Who is eligible for CSQ Funding?

To be eligible for CSQ funding you must be:

• An Australian or New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident;
• A Participant who has the right to work and study in Australia on a VISA and has been employed in the Building and Construction Industry for a period of 6 months or more; 
• An Eligible Worker in the Queensland Building and Construction Industry;
• An unemployed Eligible Worker who has been unemployed for a period not greater than 6 months form the Queensland Building and Construction Industry.

What fees will I expect to pay?

Gold Coast Trades College and Queensland Trades College charge a student contribution and this is detailed below in the courses that we offer

What courses do we offer?

We are pleased to work with CSQ and offer courses under the following programs:

Higher Qualifications

Skills and Gap Training (SAGT)

Short Courses Civil

Short Courses Building

For further information please visit CSQ’s information pages – https://www.csq.org.au/