Career Start provides Queenslanders with skills and support to start their career.

The program provides training to help job seekers secure a job and supports those already employed to move into more skilled roles or full-time employment, including after completing an apprenticeship or traineeship.

From 1 July 2025, Career Start will provide eligible Queenslanders with:

  • access to certificate III qualifications in priority and emerging industries
  • access to apprenticeship and traineeship training in priority and emerging industries
  • access to lower-level qualifications identified by industry as the entry point for jobs
  • expanded access to foundation skills such as language, literacy, numeracy, digital literacy and employability skills
  • increased access to training in regional and remote areas
  • supported training pathways for women and priority cohorts to take-up skilled careers.

Career Start replaces funding previously available through the Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice programs.

Supporting resources

Career Start qualifications

To find out what qualifications are available under the Career Start program:

  1. Go to Queensland Skills Gateway.
  2. In the left-hand pane (‘Refine your search’):
    • scroll to ‘Funded under’
    • select Career Start
    • click ‘Apply filter’. This will bring up all the available qualifications.
  3. You can further refine this search by adding keywords and industry information in the course search box.

Eligibility

Under Career Start, a student may access up to 2 subsidised training places through one of the following options:

  • a qualification in a certificate III under the general training pathway and an apprenticeship/traineeship, noting that if the apprenticeship/traineeship is done first, the student is no longer eligible to access a general training pathway qualification under Career Start
  • or
  • two apprenticeships/traineeships at either a certificate II or III level, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs).

In addition, under Career Start, students may access one subsidised introductory-level skill set.

A student cannot do 2 general training pathway qualifications under Career Start.

Career Start and Career Boost summary of eligibility table provides an overview of eligibility requirements for the Career Start program.

General training pathway

To access a subsidised training place under Career Start, a student must meet the following criteria:

  • aged 15 years or older
  • not be a school student
  • permanently reside in Queensland
  • be one of the following:
    • an Australian citizen
    • Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant)
    • a New Zealand citizen
    • a temporary visa holder with the right visa and work permission who is on a pathway to permanent residency
  • 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 the Department of Trade, Employment and Training or not (foundation skills qualifications don't count).

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

Apprenticeship or traineeship pathway

To be eligible to receive government subsidised training, the apprentice or trainee must:

  • have entered into a training contract for a qualification that is funded by the department and be registered on the department's systems
  • if from overseas, have a visa allowing them to work in Australia
  • not have already completed 2 apprenticeship/traineeship qualifications within the last 10 years. This includes school-based apprenticeships or traineeships.

Scenarios with eligibility answers for general training pathway

The scenarios below show real-life Career Start examples of individuals checking their remaining eligibility after starting or completing other training. Each example explains how their learning history is reviewed to assess eligibility.

To confirm eligibility, Skills Assured Suppliers should contact their contract manager with the individual’s first name, surname, and date of birth. These scenarios are most helpful when reviewed alongside the summary of eligibility table.

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    Joseph Martin is currently undertaking a DTET-funded apprenticeship in Certificate III in Plumbing under Career Start with a funded SAS provider. He is now interested in enrolling in the Certificate III in Rigging under the Career Start general training pathway.

    Joseph’s learning history and eligibility

  • Previously, Joseph completed a Certificate I in Construction. This qualification was completed while at school, so it does not impact his eligibility.
  • Joseph also completed a Certificate II in Skills for work, and vocational pathways. This qualification was completed while at school, so it does not impact his eligibility.
  • Joseph started a Certificate II in Engineering but only finished one unit of competency, so evidence of withdrawal would need to be obtained.
  • Joseph also completed a first-aid training (subject only training). This is not listed on the Queensland Subsidised Training List (QSTL), so it does not affect eligibility.
  • Joseph was undertaking a Certificate II in Manufacturing qualification, but he withdrew before completion, so this does not affect eligibility.
  • Joseph is currently enrolled in a Certificate III in Plumbing, which does affect his eligibility.

Eligibility outcome

Joseph is not eligible to enrol in the Certificate III in Rigging under the Career Start general training pathway.

Students cannot be currently enrolled in another qualification (multiple DTET-funded qualifications at the same time). If Joseph completes his apprenticeship, he will no longer be eligible to access a general training qualification under Career Start. As outlined in the Career Start Program Policy 2025–2028, individuals may access up to 2 subsidised training places; however, if the apprenticeship/traineeship is completed first, they are no longer eligible to enrol in a general training qualification under Career Start.

Soren Smith was previously enrolled in a DTET-funded traineeship in Certificate III in Community Services with a funded SAS provider. However, the traineeship was cancelled in 2024 as Soren realised it was not the right fit for her. After this, Soren began volunteering at an aged-care facility and discovered her passion for working in the industry. She is now eager to secure employment in the sector and is interested in enrolling in the Certificate III in Individual Support under the Career Start general training pathway.

Soren’s learning history and eligibility

  • Because the Certificate III in Community Services traineeship was cancelled. it does not impact her eligibility.

Eligibility outcome

Yes, Soren is eligible to enrol in the Certificate III in Individual Support under the Career Start General Training pathway. The cancellation of her Certificate III in Community Services traineeship does not affect her eligibility to access this program.

Klaus Schmidt successfully completed the Certificate II in Security Operations in 2024. He is now interested in furthering his skills and career by enrolling in the Certificate III in Investigative Services under the Career Start general training pathway.

Klaus’s learning history and eligibility

  • Klaus successfully completed the Certificate II in Security Operations in 2024. However, it is unclear whether this qualification was funded by DTET.

Eligibility outcome

Klaus’s eligibility to enrol in the Certificate III in Investigative Services under the Career Start General Training pathway cannot be confirmed at this stage. The Certificate II in Security Operations is classified as a direct employment pathway. If this qualification was DTET-funded, Klaus would not be eligible for DTET funding for the Certificate III in Investigative Services.

To confirm Klaus’s eligibility, the SAS provider must contact their contract manager and provide Klaus’s first name, surname, and date of birth to verify whether the Certificate II in Security Operations was funded by DTET.

Scenarios with eligibility answers for apprenticeship/traineeship pathway

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Amrit Kaur has been offered a traineeship in the Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles. Amrit previously completed a Certificate I in Construction in 2009. Following this, she enrolled in the Certificate III in Glass and Glazing. Amrit successfully completed this apprenticeship in March 2014.

Amrit’s learning history and eligibility

  • The Certificate I in Construction was completed more than 10 years ago and does not impact her eligibility.
  • The Glass and Glazing Certificate III apprenticeship was completed more than 10 years ago and does not impact her eligibility.

Eligibility outcome

Yes, Amrit is eligible to enrol in the Certificate III in Blinds, Awnings, Security Screens and Grilles under the Career Start apprenticeship/traineeship pathway. The previously completed qualifications were achieved more than 10 years ago and do not affect her entitlement to access training places under Career Start.

Carlita Christensen completed a Certificate III in Business while at school, which she self-funded. After finishing school, she successfully completed a Certificate II in Salon Assistant through a DTET-funded traineeship. Following this, Carlita undertook a DTET-funded apprenticeship in the Certificate III in Hairdressing, earning her qualification in 2021. Carlita is now interested in expanding her skill set by enrolling in a Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics under the Career Start traineeship pathway.

Carlita’s learning history and eligibility

  • The Certificate III in Business was completed more than 10 years ago and was self-funded, so it does not impact her eligibility.
  • The Certificate II in Salon Assistant was completed through a DTET-funded traineeship within the last 10 years, so it does impact her entitlement to access 2 training places.
  • The Certificate III in Hairdressing was completed through a DTET-funded apprenticeship within the last 10 years, so it also impacts her entitlement to access 2 training places.

Eligibility outcome

No, Carlita Christensen is not eligible to enrol in the Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics under the Career Start apprenticeship/traineeship pathway. She has already accessed one traineeship (Certificate II in Salon Assistant) and one apprenticeship (Certificate III in Hairdressing) within the last 10 years. As a result, she has exhausted her entitlement under the Career Start program and is no longer eligible to access an additional apprenticeship/traineeship pathway under Career Start.

Related information

Last updated 17 February 2026

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