COVID-19 QLD: Business, Non-Profits, Individuals – JobTrainer Fund

This program aims to support job seekers, school leavers and young people to access the skills and training they need to find work, re-enter the labour market or explore new work opportunities available as Queensland’s economy recovers from the impacts of COVID-19. It seeks to deliver additional training places in short courses, certificate and diploma qualifications to Queensland job seekers, school leavers and young people.

The Fund will operate as a component of Queensland’s existing vocational education and training (VET) investment programs and will provide access to additional training opportunities that complement the training already available for the target student cohort.

To participate:
- Employers can partner with a training provider pre-approved by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, known as a Skills Assure supplier (SAS), to source potential workers with the skills and training needed to meet their workforce requirements.
- RTOs must be pre-approved by the department as a Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) to deliver subsidised qualifications and short courses on the Job Trainer Priority Course List.
- SAS are invited to submit a business case to the department to request training places under JobTrainer. SAS can apply to deliver under the JobTrainer if they have the required qualifications and/or short courses on their delivery schedule and have employer support for the proposed qualifications/short courses.

A select number of qualifications and short courses currently in demand by industry are subsidised under JobTrainer. Additional qualifications and short courses may be added to the priority list based on ongoing industry advice on future job demand.

The levels of subsidy available are as follows:
- Short courses and lower level qualifications (up to certificate III) will be fully funded by the Queensland Government, with eligible students required to pay no fee.
- Higher level qualifications (certificate IV and higher) will be funded at higher concessional subsidies, with eligible students required to pay a low fee at no more than $400.
- The out-of-pocket expense for individuals will vary depending on the higher-level qualification undertaken and the approved training provider chosen.
- A co-contribution fee (if required) may be paid on behalf of a student by an employer or another third party but cannot be paid or waived by the SAS, or any organisation related to the SAS, unless approved by the department.
- The subsidy payable to SAS on behalf of eligible students is detailed on the JobTrainer priority course list.

A total funding pool of $200 million is available, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.

To be eligible to enrol in a training place funded under JobTrainer, prospective students must:
- Permanently reside in Queensland.
- Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen.
- Have finished school or no longer be at school (including home schooled).
- Not already be enrolled in training (includes VET and higher education courses).
- Not have previously completed a qualification funded under the JobTrainer Fund.
- Either be a job seeker or a school leaver or young person.

In addition to the above eligibility requirements, specific restrictions and/or exemptions may apply to participation in certain subsidised qualifications or short courses, which will be based on industry advice or requirements under the relevant national training package and will be detailed in the JobTrainer priority course list.

For the purposes of this program:
- A job seeker means an individual aged 15 years or older who is out of work, or in receipt of income support payments.
- A school leaver or young person means an individual who is aged 17 to 24 years, regardless of employment status.