Higher Level Skills

The Higher Level Skills program helps individuals to gain the higher-level skills and qualifications required to secure employment or career advancement in a priority industry. It may also help individuals transition to university study in areas aligned to priority occupations for industry and the economy.

What training is available?

The program provides eligible individuals with access to subsidised training places in priority certificate IV level or above qualifications and priority skill sets.

The priorities align to the skills needs of industry and Queensland's economy, and support employment opportunities.

The Priority Skills List provides the full list of subsidised higher-level qualifications and skill sets. The list also details the restrictions and/or exemptions that may apply to enrolment in certain subsidised courses based on industry advice and national training package requirements.

How can employers participate in the program?

The program provides the opportunity for employers to engage employees in priority training to address current workforce development needs.

Employers can partner with a training provider pre-approved by the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training, known as a Skills Assure supplier (SAS), to enrol eligible employees in the subsidised training available under the program.

A list of SAS delivering training under the Higher Level Skills program is available on the Queensland Skills Gateway.

For more information on choosing a SAS, read the training consumer tips.

Which employees are eligible?

Individuals must:

• be a Queensland resident
• be aged 15 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 qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training).

What level of subsidy is available?

The subsidy represents the level of government contribution for a qualification and varies between qualifications based on a number of factors.

The investment priority or importance of the training influences the size of the government subsidy. Training in vocational areas that align with critical industry skills needs and government priorities will receive a higher government subsidy.

A higher subsidy will also be paid to support participation by disadvantaged learners and for training delivered locally in identified country and remote areas of Queensland, and Cape York and the Torres Strait.

Does the employer need to contribute to the cost of training?

Given the benefits that accrue to individuals and employers from higher-level training, individuals undertaking subsidised training through the program must pay a co-contribution fee.

The fee amount of the co-contribution fee is determined by the SAS. The co-contribution fee may be paid on behalf of the individual by the employer or another third party, but cannot be paid or waived by the SAS or any organisation related to the SAS, unless approved by the department.

More information

• Read the Higher Level Skills – Employer fact sheet (PDF, 548KB).
• View more information on Higher Level Skills, including program documents.

Last updated 16 January 2024