Higher Level Skills (HLS)

The Higher Level Skills program is an initiative provided by the Queensland Government to provide eligible individuals with access to subsidised training of a Certificate IV or above qualification. 

To be eligible for Higher Level Skills individuals will be required to meet certain requirements. Individuals will need to co-contribute to the payment of the course. The level of the government subsidy depends on the demand for workers in your chosen field. This funding is subject to change. Please carefully consider your training options before committing to a training course as this may exhaust your entitlement to further Queensland Government subsidised training. CQUniversity is an approved Skills Assure supplier with the Government Department of Trade, Employment and Training. To learn about Queensland Government funded programs, visit the Government Department of Trade, Employment and Training website.

To be eligible individuals must: 

  • be aged 15 years or over; 
  • be no longer at school; 
  • 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;
  • not hold a certificate IV or higher-level qualification, not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training; and
  • not be enrolled in another qualification, not including foundation skills training.

In addition to the standard eligibility requirements, specific restrictions and/or exemptions may apply to certain subsidised courses. Any additional eligibility requirements will be based on industry advice or requirements under the relevant national training package and will be detailed in the Priority Skills List.

Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their eligibility for subsidy. For more information regarding eligibility documentation visit Apply for TAFE Certificate and Diploma.

Course Specific Eligibility

To be eligible for a Queensland Government concession fee, you must be eligible to access Certificate 3 Guarantee/High Level Skills Funding, as well as meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

  • have, or be listed on an Australian Government Low Income Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
  • hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
  • if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
  • if you have a disability.

For more information about concession eligibility visit the Queensland Government website or call 13 27 86.

The Queensland Government is changing TAFE subsidy offerings from the 1st of July 2025 for Certificate 3 Guarantee and Higher Level Skills. Students provided with an offer for July 2025 intakes onwards will need to be reassessed. This may require the student to supply additional documentation to secure continued access to future funding. 

If students do not supply documentation as requested by CQUniversity subsidy may be cancelled and students may potentially continue as a full-fee paying student.

Students who are no longer eligible for Queensland Government subsidies may continue as a full-fee paying student. 

Eligible diploma level applicants may potentially apply to access the Australian Government’s VET Student Loan for eligible diploma level courses. A VET Student Loan gives rise to a VETSL debt that continues to be a debt due to the Commonwealth until it is repaid. 

If you are unsure of your eligibility or wish to discuss your options further, please connect with us on 13 27 86.

Students who started their studies before 1st of July 2025, may continue to receive Certificate 3 Guarantee and Higher Level Skills subsidy. Breaks between study may result in losing access to previous subsidy. A break in study refers to more than a month between finishing units and enrolling into the next units. 

The Queensland Government will be introducing two new subsidy programs starting 1st of July 2025:

  • Career Start – guaranteed access to individuals to gain their first certificate III qualification, facilitating entry to employment, including apprenticeships and traineeships.
  • Career Boost – providing lifelong learning opportunities for working-age Queenslanders to update or develop their skills and knowledge, including funding for certificate IV and above qualifications and priority skill sets.

High Level Skills Courses

Accounting and Business

Beauty

Community Services

Education

Health

Hospitality and Tourism

Justice

Information Technology

Science

Visual Arts

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, students undertaking their training as part of the Higher Level Skills subsidy must contribute to their training cost through a co-contribution fee.

For some subsidised courses under the program, the industry and training package requires you to be an existing worker in the industry to be eligible to enrol. These restrictions and/or exemptions are detailed in the Priority Skills list.

Yes, the co-contribution fee, being the remaining course cost after the Queensland Government subsidy, can be paid by employers for their staff. Eligibility requirements apply. If the employer opts to pay CQUniversity directly, rather than reimburse the employee/student, invoices will be payable as the student enrols in units. The employer will need to complete an Authority to Invoice form, you can request this form from our Student Engagement Team via email studentengagement@cqu.edu.au. 

For courses such as BSB40320 - Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business, students must be an owner, manager or employee of a small business in Queensland to be eligible for funding or subsidies. Students will need to provide the following as evidence of their eligibility when submitting their application:

  • Employed by Small Business (manager or employee) - Letter of Employment on company letterhead, with official signature block, to confirm the employee is an existing worker, further this letter must outline; employment status, length of current employment, and confirmation the applicant is currently actively fulfilling work duties for this period; OR
  • For Self-Employed (owner) - Evidence of ABN (screenshot), a recent customer invoice and a copy of a client list. If a student is unable to provide a copy of invoicing and client list, students can do a statutory declaration advising that they have sighted a client list and or invoices to confirm eligibility.

To be eligible for funding or subsidies students applying for CHC52021 - Diploma of Community Services and CHC42021 - Certificate IV in Community Services will need to be an existing worker in the Community Services and Health Industry, which includes parents and unpaid carers of NDIS participants. 

The following evidence is accepted:

Evidence documents must include both documents listed below:

  • Current Letter of Employment  
    • Evidence must confirm the student is an existing worker (part-time or full-time or casual equivalent basis) in the Community Services sector/industry and is an official letter or email (with signature block) from the employer listed. This letter or email must include statements confirming the student’s employment status, the length of current employment (continuing employment of one month or more) and confirmation the student has been actively fulfilling work duties for this period.
  • Payslip/s clearly stating your name and position, and the employer's name 
    • Payslip/s provided must total a 1 month or more working relationship with your employer.

OR

  • Self Employed - Evidence of ABN, invoicing, and client list

Provide a screen shot of an active ABN, a recent customer invoice and a copy of a client list. If a student is unable to provide a copy of invoicing and client list, students can do a statutory declaration advising that they have sighted a client list and or invoices to confirm eligibility 

OR

  • Parents and unpaid carers of NDIS participants.

Current NDIS care plan letter listing the participants carer.

TAFE Subsidised Training

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Certificate 3 Guarantee

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