Priority Skills List

The Priority Skills List identifies the qualifications and skill sets that attract a government subsidy under the VET investment budget.

The Queensland Government invests in training based on industry advice to provide Queenslanders with the skills they need to gain meaningful and sustainable employment through the pre-approved training provider of their choice.

Government funding is directed to minimise skills shortages, focus on training for jobs that are in demand in our critical industries, and increase the number of Queenslanders with formal post-school qualifications.

Certificate 3 Guarantee
The Certificate 3 Guarantee provides a government subsidy to allow eligible Queenslanders to obtain their first post-school certificate III level qualification.

User Choice (apprenticeship and traineeship funding)
The User Choice program provides public funding for the delivery of accredited, entry level training to apprentices and trainees.

Higher Level Skills
The Higher Level Skills program provides a government subsidy in selected certificate IV or above qualifications and priority skill sets to help individuals gain the higher level skills required to secure employment or career advancement in a priority industry.

Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s
Queenslanders, under the age of 25, may be eligible to undertake high priority apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications for free.

Fee Free TAFE
Fee Free TAFE allows eligible Queenslanders to study high priority skill sets and qualifications for free at TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity.

Free Nursing
The Diploma of Nursing is available for free to limited eligible Queenslanders at TAFE Queensland, CQUniversity and Mater Education.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work
Skilling Queenslanders for Work is a suite of targeted skills and training programs supporting Queenslanders to gain the skills, qualifications and experience to enter and stay in the workforce.

Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS)
Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) focuses on delivering qualifications to provide school students with the skills and knowledge required for employment in specific industries.

Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training program
The Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training program aims to assess the skills of experienced individuals who can demonstrate substantial competency in a priority trade qualification and provide gap training of no more than 40% of the funded competencies to complete the trade qualification.

Related information

Training performance information
Find vocational education and training (VET) and apprentice/trainee participation activity data and statistics.

Training Scammer Hotline

If you have a complaint relating to misleading advertising, such as a response to a job advertisement has been unknowingly referred to another training provider to enrol in a government subsidised qualification, contact the Training Scammer Hotline – Queensland Training Ombudsman on 1800 773 048 or trainingscammer@desbt.qld.gov.au to look into your issue or complaint.

Last updated 12 April 2024

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