Training: Understanding Funding and Eligibility

At Simmonds & Bristow we understand that government funding impacts what you and/or your employer must pay when it comes to training – and we know how important that is. We also know that figuring out what the various funding options are and whether you are eligible can be very confusing.

Please see below for further information regarding funding options.

Where does the funding come from?

Funding for training can come from a variety of sources, including both the state and federal level government departments as well as private industry organisations. It is important to keep in mind, that the exact funding scheme available changes from time to time and that not everyone qualifies for government funding.

Each state sets their own state level funding scheme and the rules can be very different from one to another.

Industry organisations, like LGAQ, or the QLD Water Directorate may also have some funding available to support industry or community specific training from time to time.

How does this impact our industry?

We’re actually very lucky in that Water Operators and Water Operations are recognised as highly needed skills in the Queensland economy. That means our industry is well supported by most of the major funding schemes in Queensland.

What are the current funding schemes?

Queensland:

Other States/Territories:

Our training delivery is across the whole Australia.

We are actively considering to participate in other state’s funding schemes when there are needs in that state and if we meet those relevant funding scheme’s entry criteria.

So if you would like to see us included in your state’s funding scheme(s), please contact us so we can work together to achieve it.

Water Treatment Plant Operator checking data

In general, who is considered an “eligible learner”?

Incentives and funding opportunities are generally restricted to Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents or NZ Passport holders (for Queensland state government funding you must also permanently reside in Queensland). Beyond this, eligibility requirements differ between schemes, with varying degrees of detail and complexity.

You can use the eligibility check tool provided by Queensland Government to check your eligibility:

https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/check-your-eligibility

What is “location loading”?

Sometimes, if training is provided in a particular location, the government provides additional funding.

Let’s take a look at the current funding schemes.

The summaries below are current as of September 2024. Please keep in mind that funding policies undergo regular reviews and updates. So please contact us if you are unsure of the current policy. And don’t forget – we don’t expect you to go alone. You can call us any time.

User Choice (Queensland)

To be eligible for User Choice funding you must:

Be employed in an approved traineeship
Have entered a training contract for a qualification funded by the government
Have selected a government-approved training provider
Simmonds & Bristow is an approved training provider (Skill Assure Supplier).
There may be other criteria that could impact your eligibility for funding, please view the following two links to learn more:
User Choice Policy: User Choice 2021-24 policy (desbt.qld.gov.au)

Eligibility Check Tool: https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/check-your-eligibility

What is funded and what is the funding subsidy amount

CODE	QUALIFICATION	FUNDING AMOUNT
NWP20122	Certificate II in Water Industry Operations	$4330
NWP30222	Certificate III in Water Industry Operations	$7820

Plus Location Loading

Student Contribution Fee (SCF)

SCF is the non-government financial contribution to the cost of training and assessment services provided by Skills Assure Suppliers
The rule and rate of SCF is set and governed by DESBT User Choice Policy.
SCF Amount
- Standard SCF rate is $1.6 per nominal hour for each unit of competency;
- SCF will be reduced to 40% if the participant learner falls into one of the partial exemption categories;
- SCF will be fully exempted if the participant learner falls into one of the full exemption categories
SCF amount will be confirmed once a training plan is developed and agreed with the participant learner and their Employer, and Exemption eligibility is confirmed.
Who to pay
SCF can be paid by the participant learner or their employer.
Student is not to pay anything more than the SCF

Employer Contribution Fee

What it is
When the funding amount is not sufficient to cover the course fee, an Employer Contribution Fee may be required.
Who to pay
Employer Contribution Fee is typically charged to the participant trainee’s employer. However, some industry association or organisation of that nature maybe willing to pay this fee.

The charge of the fee will be negotiated and agreed upon with the employer or their nominated industry organisation prior to the trainee’s enrolment.

This fee will NOT be charged to individual participant trainee.

Further Information:

For further information and to check your eligibility please read the following information.
User Choice Information Page for Students

https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/userchoice

Learner’s obligation

http://apprenticeshipsinfo.qld.gov.au/information-resources/info-sheets/is3.html

Employer’s obligations

http://apprenticeshipsinfo.qld.gov.au/information-resources/info-sheets/is13.html

For further detailed information on individual eligibility and signing up as a trainee contact your local Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

Certificate 3 Guarantee (Queensland)

(Mainly for Certificate III level Qualification)

The Certificate 3 Guarantee program provides eligible Queenslanders access to government subsidised training. This subsidy covers up to and including one post-school certificate level III qualification in priority training areas. The Certificate 3 Guarantee subsidy for a course is paid to the training provider to reduce the cost of the certificate III course to the learner. The amount of subsidy provided by the Certificate 3 Guarantee program is determined by the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training based on their assessment of the demand for skilled workers in particular industries.

To be eligible for Certificate 3 Guarantee funding you must:

Be a Queensland resident.
Be aged 15 years or older
Be no longer at school (with the exception of school students in Years 10, 11 and 12 undertaking VET in School (VETis) program
List Content goes here
Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency.
Not hold, or be enrolled in, a Certificate III or higher level qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training) * If you have completed a course please speak with us as we may still be able to suggest other options.
If you hold an overseas qualification that has been recognised by an Australian professional body or other organisation as meeting the registration or licensing requirements for a specific occupation, then you would be deemed not eligible to access the Certificate 3 Guarantee funding.

Concessional Students

The Queensland Government pays a higher level of subsidy for qualifications undertaken by concessional students. This enables training providers to reduce fee costs for eligible learners. The following learners are entitled to concessions:
- learners (or their partner or guardian) who hold a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners
- learners with a disability
- learners who are adult prisoners.

What is funded and what is the funding subsidy amount

CODE	QUALIFICATION	NON- CONCESSIONAL Students Funding	CONCESSIONAL Students Funding
NWP20122*	Certificate II in Water Industry Operations	$3420	$3800
NWP30222	Certificate III in Water Industry Operations	$3608	$4059

*Qualifications on a lower than Certificate III level may be subsidised in certain circumstances. Please talk to us to confirm if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Plus Location Loading

Find the link in the middle of the web page under “Locations and loadings” section.

Co-contribution Fee

What is a Co-contribution Fee
As per funding scheme policy, students are required to contribute to the costs of their training through a co-contribution fee. It can’t be waived by training provider.
Amount

The amount of the co-contribution fee will vary depending on the qualification, delivery method and location loading of the course you undertake. Please view the following PDF to see how the co-contribution might look for you.

Co-Contribution Fees Table: View and download PDF here.
Who to pay
The co-Contribution Fees may be paid on behalf of a learner by an Employer or Third Party. It can not be paid by the training provider.

Further Information

For further information and to check your eligibility please read the following information provided by the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training.
Information webpage: https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/certificate

Certificate 3 Guarantee Student Fact Sheet: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/8145/c3g-factsheet-student.pdf

Check Eligibility: https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/check-your-eligibility#citizen_permanent
It is important that you take the time to consider and compare your training options and costs as a completed Certificate III course will use your Certificate 3 Guarantee subsidy entitlement.
Survey Obligation
As a condition of your enrolment, you will be required to complete a student training and employment survey within three months of finishing or discontinuing your training. Survey will be issued and collected directly from DESBT.
The Certificate 3 Guarantee is a Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training initiative.

Higher Level Skills (Queensland)

(Certificate IV or Diploma)

The Higher Level Skills program provides eligible Queenslanders access to government subsidised training. This subsidy covers up to and including one post-school certificate level IV or higher qualification in priority training areas. The Higher Level Skills subsidy for a course is paid to the training provider to reduce the cost of the course for eligible Queenslanders. The amount of subsidy provided by the funding is determined by the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training and the students’ concessional status.

To be eligible for Higher Level Skills funding you must:

Be a Queensland resident.
Be aged 15 years or over, and no longer at school.
Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency.
Not hold, or be enrolled in, a certificate IV or higher level qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training) * If you have completed a course please speak with us as we may still be able to suggest other options.

Concessional Students

The Queensland Government pays a higher level of subsidy for qualifications undertaken by concessional students. This enables training providers to reduce fee costs for eligible learners. The following learners are entitled to concessions:
- learners (or their partner or guardian) who hold a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners
- learners with a disability
- learners who are adult prisoners.

What is funded and what is the funding subsidy amount

CODE	QUALIFICATION	NON- CONCESSIONAL Students Funding	CONCESSIONAL Students Funding
NWP40120	Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations	$5691	$6911
NWP50118	Diploma of Water Industry Operations	$4065	$5285

Plus Location Loading
Find the link in the middle of the web page under “Locations and loadings” section.

Co-contribution Fee

What is a Co-contribution Fee
As per funding scheme policy, students are required to contribute to the costs of their training through a co-contribution fee. It can’t be waived by training provider.
Amount
The amount of the co-contribution fee will vary depending on the qualification, delivery method and location loading of the course you undertake. Please view the following PDF to see how the co-contribution might look for you.

Co-Contribution Fees Table: View and download PDF here.
Who to pay
The co-Contribution Fees may be paid on behalf of a learner by an Employer or Third Party. It can not be paid by the training provider.

Further Information

Restriction
For both qualifications listed (NWP40120 & NWP50118) , the participant learner must be an existing worker in the Water Industry (as required by Higher Level Skills funding policy).

You can find further information and to check your eligibility from below links:
Information webpage for student: https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/higher

Higher Level Skills Student Fact Sheet: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/7784/hls-student-factsheet.pdf

Check eligibility: https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/subsidies/check-your-eligibility
Funding terms subject to change
Funding terms and conditions are subject to change without notice and we recommend that you check the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s website regularly for any new updates.
Survey obligation
As a condition of your enrolment, you will be required to complete a student training and employment survey within three months of finishing or discontinuing your training. Survey will be issued and collected directly from DESBT.
Higher Level Skills is a Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training initiative

What are my options if I’m still confused?

People can easily get lost in the ever changing and complicated government funding systems. Simmonds & Bristow guides our clients through every step and handles the administrative processes to ensure every opportunity for funding is explored. So don’t worry – just call our Training Team today at 1800 620 690 and we’ll help you through it.
As mentioned, please just keep in mind that the details funding terms and conditions are subject to change.

We are the leading Australian Registered Training Organisation RTO 1735 providing specialty water industry training courses

Find out how we can help you

Street Address
6/62 Curzon Street
Tennyson, QLD 4105
Australia
Postal Address
PO Box 849
Archerfield QLD 4108
Australia

Postal Address
PO Box 849
Archerfield QLD 4108
Australia

Email: info@simmondsbristow
Tel: +61 7 3434 3800
Toll Free: 1800 620 690
Fax: +61 7 3434 3899

Accreditations
RTO 1735
RPEQ 3810
ISO 9001 (Quality Management System)
ISO 17025 (NATA No.1500)
ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System)
ISO 45001 (OH&S Management Systems)
QLD Labour Hire Licence (LHL-02237-P3R5M)