Funding and Fees

Queensland Government Funded Training with Equinox College

Equinox College is now a Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) under the Queensland Government’s Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET) and are able to deliver the below qualifications under this program.

Please take a moment to browse Equinox College fees and charges related to the below courses. If you have any questions, please get in touch with our friendly and professional team to learn more about how to enrol and get started.

The Queensland Government has announced two (2) new programs under the Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) program.

What is Career Start?

From 1 July 2025, Career Start will give job seekers access to free and reduced cost training that industries need and leads to jobs, provide more support to achieve positive student outcomes and deliver training where it is needed across Queensland.

Career Start will provide eligible Queenslanders with:

access to low-cost certificate III qualifications in priority and emerging industries
access to free and low-fee apprenticeship and traineeship training in priority and emerging industries
expanded access to foundation skills such as language, literacy, numeracy and employability skills
increased access to training in regional and remote areas.

Career Start will replace existing funding available through the Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice programs.

Qualification we offer under Career Start:

CHC33021 – Certificate III in Individual Support

Find more information here

What is Career Boost?

From 1 July 2025, Career Boost will give existing workers access to reduced-cost higher level training to develop the skills needed to take their careers to the next level.

Career Boost will provide eligible Queenslanders with:

access to certificate IV and above qualifications in priority and emerging industries
more opportunities to upskill and reskill.

Equinox College is now a Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) and are able to deliver the below qualifications under this program.

Career Boost will replace existing funding available through the Higher Level Skills program.

Qualification we offer under Career Boost:

CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support

CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health

CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services

CHC62015 Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management

Find more information here

CAREER START ELIGIBILITY

Under Career Start, you may access up to 2 funded training places through one of the following options:

a qualification in a certificate III under the general training pathway and an apprenticeship or traineeship. If the apprenticeship or traineeship is completed first, you are not eligible to access a general training pathway qualification under Career Start
or
two apprenticeships and traineeships in either a certificate II or III (school-based apprenticeships and traineeships are included in this total).

General training pathway

To be eligible, you must:

be aged 15 years or older, and no longer in school
permanently live in Queensland
be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with an eligible visa subclass
not already have a certificate III or higher qualification completed within the last 10 years (qualifications completed as a school student, and foundation skills qualifications don’t count)
not be enrolled in another qualification, even if it’s on hold or deferred, whether funded by us (Department of Trade, Employment and Training) or not (foundation skills qualification don’t count).

Along with the eligibility criteria above, specific entry requirements or exemptions may apply to certain funded qualifications and skill sets. These are set by industry or sector requirements, as well as national training package guidelines.

CAREER BOOST ELIGIBILITY

Under Career Boost, you may access either:

one funded training place in either a certificate IV, diploma of advanced diploma qualification under the general training pathway
or
a higher-level apprenticeship or traineeship in certificate IV or above.

In addition, under Career Boost, you may access up to 2 funded skill sets in priority industries or sectors.

If you have already accessed 2 apprenticeships or traineeships through a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship or Career Start within the last 10 years, you are not eligible to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeeship under Career Boost.

You cannot do 2 general training pathway qualifications under Career Boost.

General training pathway

To be eligible, you must:

be aged 15 years or older, and no longer in school
permanently live in Queensland
be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with an eligible visa subclass
not already have a certificate IV or higher qualification (including tertiary qualifications) completed within the last 10 years* (qualifications completed as a school student, and foundation skills qualifications don’t count)
not be enrolled in another qualification, even if it’s on hold or deferred, whether funded by us (Department of Trade, Employment and Training) or not (foundation skills qualification don’t count).

*Note: This eligibility does not apply to individuals seeking to enrol in a skill set.