User Choice - for students

Through the User Choice program the government contributes towards the cost of training for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees.

Instead of paying for the full cost of training, apprentices or trainees and their employers will pay a reduced amount.

The program provides the flexibility for apprentices, trainees and their employers to select a government-approved registered training organisation (RTO or training provider) to provide the training.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive subsidised training under the User Choice program you must:

  • be employed in an approved apprenticeship or traineeship
  • have entered a training contract for a qualification funded by the government
  • have selected a government-approved training provider.

What training is available?

Over 350 different apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications are eligible for User Choice funding.

The Queensland Skills Gateway has more information about qualifications. The course search results will provide details of whether a qualification is funded under User Choice or not.

Read about apprenticeships and traineeships.

Who are the approved training providers?

To receive User Choice funding make sure your training provider is a Skills Assure supplier (a government-approved training provider).

You can check this by finding a provider on the Queensland Skills Gateway:

  • enter the provider’s name or location
  • click ‘Find a training provider’
  • view the search results at the bottom of the page—if they are an approved provider, they will be listed as ‘Funded’.

How much will I need to pay?

The government pays part of your training costs directly to your chosen training provider.

The amount may be between 50% and 100% of your course costs depending on the priority of the qualification.

You pay the remaining training costs (a co-contribution fee) to your chosen training provider. Fees may vary between training providers so it pays to shop around.

The fee may be paid on your behalf by a third party such as your employer or your parents, but it cannot be paid by your training provider.

If you are a school-based apprentice or trainee, you do not have to pay the co-contribution fee.

Contact your chosen training provider to find out what training costs you will need to pay.

How do I get started?

To access training under the User Choice program you need to be an apprentice or trainee in an eligible qualification. Read more on getting started as an apprentice or trainee.

The Queensland Skills Gateway has information about the eligible apprenticeships and traineeship qualifications. The course search results will provide details of whether it is funded under User Choice or not.

You can receive no more than 2 government funding contributions under User Choice, so be careful that the qualification you choose best matches your needs.

More information

Visit the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training website.

Contact us

For training information phone 1300 369 935 or email training@desbt.qld.gov.au.

For apprenticeships and traineeships information phone 1800 210 210 or email apprenticeshipsinfo@qld.gov.au.

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