Career Ready
Career Ready will provide schools students, in Years 7 to 12, with the opportunity to engage with industry and career pathways throughout their schooling.
Implemented from January 2026, Career Ready will include:
- Gateway to Industry Schools program – connecting students at all year levels to targeted industries, acting as a pathway to Career Tasters and future free or reduced cost training.
- Career Tasters – providing immersive experiences for students in Year 10 across various industries, to help them explore their interests and make informed training choices before committing to formal courses.
- Free or reduced cost certificate training – supporting students in Years 11 and 12 to undertake a priority certificate I or II level qualification to pursue career aspirations aligned with priority training pathways.
- School-based apprenticeships and traineeships – supporting students in Years 10 to 12 to earn a wage, train towards a qualification and study towards their Queensland Certificate of Education at the same time.
Career Ready will replace the existing Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) program.
What Career Ready means
For secondary school students
Career Ready has been designed to help you make good career and training choices, so you can leave school career-ready, informed and confident in what your future holds.
From the first school semester of 2026, Queensland school students can taste test the possibilities of our state's in-demand industries.
Then, with the support to narrow your interests, you can go on to complete certificate I or II level qualifications that are tied to genuine post-school employment or further training pathways.
The qualifications available for study under Career Ready have been supported by industry and align to the state's most in-demand skills.
Participation in courses funded through Career Ready is free for Year 11 and 12 students. This doesn't exclude students from completing other training through their school or by paying for a course with a training provider.
Talk to your school for more information about your options.
For continuing students
If you began a vocational education and training (VET) qualification before 1 January 2026, you'll be able to complete your funded course and gain your qualification with your existing training provider.
Talk to your school for more information about your current study program.
For schools
Career Ready has been developed following a comprehensive review, to ensure that training aligns with industry needs while also creating pathways for Queenslanders into rewarding careers.
Schools are essential in building skills for Queensland's future. They spark interest in vocational pathways, making students aware of the opportunities available.
We've consulted with industry to develop the provisional list of certificate I and II qualifications that will be funded under Career Ready from 2026.
More information will be available during Semester 2, 2025, including the final qualification list and advice on which training providers have been contracted to deliver these qualifications.
Contact your school's peak body for more information about accessing the Career Ready program for your school.
For industry and employers
We are preparing Queenslanders for the workforce of the future.
Career Ready responds to industry calls for training at school to put secondary school students on genuine employment or training pathways after school.
This is a starting point for skills development, focusing on pathways to jobs, and we will continue to be led by industry as we deliver the Career Ready program.
Through the program, employers and industry bodies will continue to provide vital opportunities for students to be exposed to a range of careers through the Gateway to Industry Schools program and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
To stay connected as we continue to implement Career Ready, subscribe to Queensland Skills and Jobs Connect.
Talk to your local schools about how you can get involved in providing employment and training opportunities for students.
For registered training organisations
The expression of interest process to contract registered training organisations (RTOs) to deliver funded training under the Career Ready program closed on 25 March 2025.
Details of RTOs to be contracted under our Skills Assure Supplier framework to deliver Career Ready will be available in the second half of 2025.
Learn more about the Skills Assure Supplier framework.