Queensland Government Funded Training

Career Start Program

Career Start supports eligible Queenslanders to access entry-level vocational education and training that can help them find work, build skills, or move into more skilled roles.

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Career Start at a glance

A subsidised training pathway for eligible Queensland residents looking to build practical, job-ready skills.

Entry-level vocational training
General training and traineeship pathways
Eligibility must be confirmed before enrolment

About Career Start

Build skills for work, further training and career pathways.

Career Start is one of the Queensland Government’s core funded vocational education and training programmes, managed by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training.

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

Queensland Government Skills Assure Supplier

Horizon2 is proud to deliver Queensland Government subsidised training as a Skills Assure Supplier.

Quick Facts

What Career Start can support

Entry-level training

Designed to help eligible students build foundational job-ready skills through selected qualifications.

Queensland funding

Available to eligible Queensland residents who meet the programme requirements.

Course options

Funding may be available for selected qualifications listed on the Queensland Subsidised Training List.

Eligibility applies

Student eligibility, course suitability and funding availability must be confirmed before enrolment.

Eligibility

Who may be eligible?

Career Start eligibility depends on the training pathway you choose. General training and traineeship pathways each have their own requirements. The criteria below reflect the Queensland Government Career Start Program Policy 2025–28 (version 1.1, effective 1 July 2026).

General training pathway

Be aged 15 years or older
Not be a school student
Permanently reside in Queensland
Be an Australian citizen, an Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), a temporary resident who holds a valid visa and working rights on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen
Not be enrolled in another DTET-funded qualification, even if it is on hold or deferred (foundation skills qualifications and self-funded or fee-for-service qualifications do not affect eligibility)

Previous qualification rules

General training students must not already hold a certificate III or higher qualification completed within the 10 years immediately preceding enrolment
Qualifications completed as a school student do not affect eligibility
Foundation skills qualifications do not affect eligibility
Qualifications funded under earlier versions of the programme, such as the Certificate 3 Guarantee, do count towards the 10-year rule

Apprenticeship or traineeship pathway

Not be a school student
Be currently employed as a Queensland apprentice or trainee under a registered training contract, in an eligible qualification funded through Career Start
Not be enrolled in another DTET-funded qualification, even if it is on hold or deferred (foundation skills qualifications and self-funded or fee-for-service qualifications do not affect eligibility)
Not have already completed two government-funded apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs), within the 10 years immediately preceding enrolment

Subsidised training limits apply

Under Career Start, an eligible individual may access up to two subsidised training places through either a qualification typically at certificate III level under the general training pathway plus an apprenticeship or traineeship, or two apprenticeships or traineeships at certificate II or III, including SATs. Importantly, if the apprenticeship or traineeship is completed first, you are no longer eligible to access a general training pathway qualification under Career Start. An individual cannot complete two general pathway qualifications under Career Start.

In addition, eligible individuals may access one subsidised introductory-level (induction) skill set, subject to any listed student eligibility restrictions, regardless of whether they have already used their qualification entitlement or which pathways they have undertaken.

How other government-funded training affects you

No more than two government-funded apprenticeships or traineeships can be completed within any 10-year period, including those funded under earlier programmes such as User Choice. That cap of two may be used across different core programmes (for example one SAT and one under Career Boost), or under Career Start, which is the only programme that allows two.

School students can only access funded apprenticeships and traineeships through a registered SAT. Completing a DTET-funded certificate I, II or III through a general training pathway while you were a school student does not affect your eligibility, but completing a subsidised SAT does use one apprenticeship or traineeship entitlement under both Career Start and Career Boost.

Certificate I and II qualifications

Career Start supports access to certain lower-level qualifications, including pre-apprenticeship qualifications, qualifications for Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) projects and qualifications identified by industry as an entry point to jobs in the sector. Funded lower-level qualifications are identified on the Queensland Subsidised Training List.

You cannot complete more than one lower-level vocational qualification funded under Career Start or earlier versions of the programme, and you cannot access more than one government-funded certificate II qualification through a post-school training programme, except where it is undertaken through SQW. Where a lower-level qualification is completed as a pre-apprenticeship qualification or as part of an SQW project, you may be eligible for a second subsidised training place in an aligned certificate III qualification.

Qualification-specific requirements may apply

Some qualifications and skill sets have additional entry restrictions or exemptions set by industry, sector or national training package requirements. These are outlined in the Queensland Subsidised Training List . Some qualifications are also only available through a specific training pathway. Our team can help you check your eligibility before enrolment.

Eligibility information on this page is current as at the date of publication and is based on the Career Start Program Policy 2025–28 (version 1.1, effective 1 July 2026). DTET may amend student eligibility requirements at any time. Horizon2 will confirm your eligibility, available pathways and applicable fees with you before enrolment.

Pathways

General Training or Traineeship?

Career Start may support eligible students through either direct enrolment or an employment-based traineeship pathway, depending on the course and student circumstances.

General Training

General training is suitable for eligible students who wish to enrol directly into a qualification without entering into an apprenticeship or traineeship training contract.

Direct student enrolment
Selected funded qualifications
Student contribution fees may apply

Traineeship

Traineeships require the student to be employed as a trainee and to enter into a formal training contract with their employer.

Employment-based training pathway
Requires an approved training contract
Fees depend on eligibility and funding arrangements

Available Courses

Career Start funded qualifications

Horizon2 may offer the following qualifications under Career Start, subject to eligibility, programme availability and pathway requirements.

Qualification	Pathway	Best suited to	Course info
BSB10120 Certificate I in Workplace Skills	General Training / Traineeship	Entry-level workplace skills and job readiness	View Course Info
CHC30125 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care	General Training / Traineeship	Entry-level early childhood education and care roles	View Course Info
CHC32015 Certificate III in Community Services	General Training / Traineeship	Entry-level community services support roles	View Course Info
CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support	General Training / Traineeship	Aged care, disability support, home care and individual support roles	View Course Info
FSK10219 Certificate I in Skills for Vocational Pathways	General Training	Foundational vocational, learning and pathway skills	View Course Info

Delivery Locations

Where Career Start training is delivered

Horizon2 is approved to deliver Queensland Government subsidised training in the regions listed below. Availability of a particular qualification in a region depends on your chosen pathway, trainer availability and training arrangements.

South East Queensland

Brisbane
Gold Coast
Ipswich
Logan – Beaudesert
Moreton Bay – North
Moreton Bay – South
Sunshine Coast

Regional and Northern Queensland

Cairns
Townsville
Mackay – Isaac – Whitsunday
Central Queensland
Wide Bay

Inland and Remote Queensland

Toowoomba
Darling Downs – Maranoa
Queensland – Outback

Delivery regions reflect Horizon2’s approved delivery locations under its Queensland Government funding agreement and are current as at the date of publication. Approved regions may be varied by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training.

Fees

Student contribution fees

Career Start is subsidised by the Queensland Government. Student contribution fees may still apply depending on the course, pathway and eligibility status.

$2.50 Concession

Per unit of competency for eligible concession students under general training.

$4.00 Non-concession

Per unit of competency for eligible non-concession students under general training.

$1.60 Traineeship pathway

Per nominal hour for eligible trainees, with concession arrangements applying where relevant.

Fees are indicative and should be confirmed before enrolment. Some eligible trainees may also be covered by Fee Free Under 25 arrangements.

How It Works

Your pathway to Career Start training

Check eligibility

Review the funding requirements and confirm whether Career Start may apply to you.

Choose your course

Select a qualification and pathway that suits your goals and circumstances.

Confirm fees

Our team will help confirm your eligibility, course availability and applicable fees.

Begin training

Once enrolled, you can commence your training with Horizon2.

FAQs

Career Start questions

Am I guaranteed funding if I enquire?

No. Funding eligibility depends on your personal circumstances, the selected qualification, programme availability and relevant Queensland Government requirements.

Can I enrol if I already have a Certificate III or higher?

In general, students must not already hold a Certificate III or higher qualification completed within the last 10 years, unless an exception applies. Our team can help review your circumstances.

Can school students access Career Start?

Career Start is generally not available to school students. School students may be better suited to VETiS or a school-based traineeship pathway, depending on their circumstances.

Are traineeship fees different from general training fees?

Yes. Traineeship fees are generally calculated differently from general training student contribution fees. Horizon2 can confirm your applicable fees before enrolment.

Do you deliver training in my region?

Horizon2 is approved to deliver funded training across the Queensland regions listed in our delivery locations section. Whether a specific qualification is available in your region depends on your pathway and training arrangements, which our team will confirm with you before enrolment.

Check your eligibility

Ready to explore Career Start funding?

Speak with our team to check your eligibility, confirm available courses and understand your fee options.