Higher Level Skills
The Higher Level Skills program aims to assist Queenslanders to gain the higher level skills required to secure employment or career advancement in priority industries, or to transition to university.
Under the program your vocational education and training course fees will be subsidised to help make training more affordable and accessible for you.
You can complete a:
- certificate IV
- diploma
- advanced diploma
- priority skills set.
What training is available?
There are over 90 different qualifications and over 30 skill sets that you can enrol in through the Higher Level Skills program. These qualifications are aligned to jobs and occupations in around 20 different industry sectors.
The Queensland Skills Gateway has more information about qualifications. The course search results will provide details of whether a qualification is funded under Certificate III Guarantee or not.
Who are the approved training providers?
To receive the subsidy make sure your training provider is a Skills Assure supplier (a government-approved training provider).
You can check this by finding a provider on the Queensland Skills Gateway:
- enter the provider’s name or location
- click ‘Find a training provider’
- view the search results at the bottom of the page—if they are an approved provider, they will be listed as ‘Funded’.
Are you eligible?
To be eligible, you must:
- be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with an eligible visa subclass
- be 15 years old or over
- live in Queensland and have left school
- not already have or be enrolled in a certificate IV level or higher qualification.
How much will you pay?
The government will pay a portion of the training costs for your course directly to your chosen training provider up to a set amount. However, you will be required to pay a co-contribution fee to the training provider. These fees vary between approved training providers so it pays to shop around.
Accessing VET Student Loans
You may be eligible to access VET Student Loans to cover all or part of your contribution when accessing approved diploma or advanced diploma qualifications as well as a small number of Certificate IV qualifications.
You need to enrol with a VET Student Loan approved course provider to access this assistance.
How do I start training?
Step 1 – choose your qualification
You can only access the subsidy once, so it’s important you choose the right qualification for you.
Get tips and advice to help you choose the right qualification.
The full list of subsidised qualifications is available on the Queensland Skills Gateway.
Step 2 – find a training course
Once you’ve decided on a qualification, use the Queensland Skills Gateway to find an approved training provider who is delivering the course for that qualification.
Step 3 – enrol
Contact your chosen training provider to enrol in a course.
More information
Visit the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training website.
Contact us
For training information phone 1300 369 935 or email training@desbt.qld.gov.au.
For apprenticeships and traineeships information phone 1800 210 210 or email apprenticeshipsinfo@qld.gov.au.