Financial help for apprentices and trainees
There are lots of different ways to reduce the cost of doing your apprenticeship or traineeship in Queensland.
Subsidies and support payments come in many forms, such as:
- free or subsidised tuition (training course fees)
- travel allowance
- disability support payments
- cost of living payments.
These payments won't cover all your costs as an apprentice or trainee. But, depending on your circumstances, you can get more than one kind of payment.
Contact your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider to see what payments you are eligible for.
Government support payments for apprentices and trainees
Training subsidies
| Government pays for | Eligibility criteria | Program name |
|---|---|---|
| 100% of tuition | Young apprentices and trainees studying priority qualifications through pre-approved training organisations | Free apprenticeships for under 25s |
| Some of the tuition | Apprentices and trainees (including school-based) studying priority qualifications through pre-approved training organisations | User Choice |
| Cancelled apprentices and trainees whose training was funded under the User Choice program | Training assistance for cancelled apprentices and trainees (User Choice) | |
| Disadvantaged job seekers, youth and low skilled workers can be funded for traineeships and qualifications, through various programs | Skilling Queenslanders for Work | |
| 100% of student contribution fees | School-based apprentices and trainees | N/A |
Allowances
| Government pays for | Eligibility criteria | Program name |
|---|---|---|
Prior to 1 July 2023:
After 1 July 2023:
| Apprentices and trainees must meet specific criteria including travelling at least 100kms return to attend training with their closest training organisation | Travel and accommodation allowance |
Cost of living support
| Government pays for | Eligibility criteria | Program name |
|---|---|---|
| Living costs paid fortnightly through Centrelink. You may also be entitled to a health care card which may reduce your student contribution fees | Apprentices and trainees aged 24 or younger, doing a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship | Youth Allowance |
| Apprentices and trainees aged 25 or older, doing a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship | Austudy | |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices and trainees | ABSTUDY | |
| Living and training costs (including living away from home) | Apprentices and trainees studying priority apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications | Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program |
Disability support
| Government pays for | Eligibility criteria | Program name |
|---|---|---|
| Adapted technology and workplace support | Apprentices and trainees with disability | Disability support |