Career Start

National College of Skills is approved to deliver Career Start subsidised training. You choose your course, we confirm your eligibility with you, and the government pays its share directly to us. You pay only the co-contribution fee listed on the course page, or nothing where your cohort is fee-free.

Am I eligible?

You can access a Career Start subsidised place in a general (classroom-based) course if you:

• are 15 or older
• are no longer at school
• permanently reside in Queensland
• are an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), a New Zealand citizen, or a temporary resident with a valid visa and working rights on a pathway to permanent residency
• don't already hold a certificate III or higher qualification completed in the last 10 years (qualifications you finished at school and foundation skills qualifications don't count)
• aren't currently enrolled in another qualification funded by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training, even one on hold or deferred.

For a traineeship or apprenticeship place, you need to be employed under a registered Queensland training contract in an eligible qualification and no longer at school. Traineeships explained →

If you don't meet the criteria, you can still enrol in any of our courses at the standard fee, and we'll tell you honestly which option costs less. Call 07 4098 1228 and we'll check your eligibility with you in a few minutes.

How many subsidised places do I get?

Career Start gives an eligible person up to two subsidised training places:

• one certificate III qualification through the general pathway plus one apprenticeship or traineeship. The order matters: if you use the apprenticeship or traineeship first, you can no longer access the general qualification; or
• two apprenticeships or traineeships.

You can't do two general-pathway qualifications under Career Start, and no more than two government-funded apprenticeships or traineeships can be completed in any 10-year period (places funded under earlier programs count). Enrolling in a subsidised course uses one of your places, so it's worth choosing deliberately. We'll help you think it through before you commit.

Concessional rates

You pay the lower concessional co-contribution fee if you:

• hold a Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran Card (or are the listed partner or dependant of a card holder)
• provide an official Commonwealth concession form
• identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
• have a documented disability
• are from a non-English speaking background.

If paying the fee would cause you extreme financial hardship, talk to us. A fee waiver process is available at enrolment, with an appeals process if you disagree with the outcome.

Career Start courses at NCS

The fee shown is the total cost of the course: enrolment, tuition and materials included. Where a fee varies by delivery location or electives, the course page lists the exact fee for each offering.

Before you enrol

Funding is subject to eligibility confirmation with the Department of Trade, Employment and Training. Using a Career Start place affects your future access to subsidised training. You may be asked to complete Queensland Government surveys about your training. Our fees and refunds policy applies, including a full refund of your co-contribution fee if you cancel before training begins.

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