Financial help for apprentices and trainees

There are lots of different ways to reduce the cost of doing your apprenticeship or traineeship in Queensland.

Subsidies and support payments come in many forms, such as:

• free or subsidised tuition (training course fees)
• travel allowance
• disability support payments
• cost of living payments.

These payments won't cover all your costs as an apprentice or trainee. But, depending on your circumstances, you can get more than one kind of payment.

Contact your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider to see what payments you are eligible for.

Government support payments for apprentices and trainees

Rebates

Government pays for	Eligibility criteria	Program name
Tools – up to $1,000	First year apprentices who: are  registered in an eligible construction, plumbing or electrical apprenticeship commenced from 1 January 2024 have completed probation and are continuing in the apprenticeship purchased tools for the apprenticeship, and retained proof of purchase.	Free Tools for First Years

Training subsidies

Government pays for	Eligibility criteria	Program name
100% of tuition	Young apprentices and trainees studying priority qualifications through pre-approved training organisations	Free apprenticeships for under 25s
Some of the tuition	Apprentices and trainees (including school-based) studying priority qualifications through pre-approved training organisations	User Choice
	Cancelled apprentices and trainees whose training was funded under the User Choice program	Training assistance for cancelled apprentices and trainees (User Choice)
	Disadvantaged job seekers, youth and low skilled workers can be funded for traineeships and qualifications, through various programs	Skilling Queenslanders for Work
100% of student contribution fees	School-based apprentices and trainees	N/A

Allowances

Government pays for	Eligibility criteria	Program name
Prior to 1 July 2024: up to 32c/km for road and rail travel $55 per night for intrastate accommodation $105 per night for interstate accommodation for flights After 1 July 2024: up to 33c/km for road and rail travel $57 per night for intrastate accommodation $109 per night for interstate accommodation for stays after 1 July 2024	Apprentices and trainees must meet specific criteria including travelling at least 100kms return to attend training with their closest training organisation	Travel and accommodation allowance

Cost of living support

Government pays for	Eligibility criteria	Program name
Living costs paid fortnightly through Centrelink. You may also be entitled to a health care card which may reduce your student contribution fees	Apprentices and trainees aged 24 or younger, doing a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship	Youth Allowance
	Apprentices and trainees aged 25 or older, doing a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship	Austudy
	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices and trainees	ABSTUDY
Living and training costs (including living away from home)	Apprentices and trainees studying priority apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications	Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program

Disability support

Government pays for	Eligibility criteria	Program name
Adapted technology and workplace support	Apprentices and trainees with disability	Disability support