Career Start provides Queenslanders with skills and support to start their career.
The program provides training to help job seekers secure a job and supports those already employed to move into more skilled roles or full-time employment, including after completing an apprenticeship or traineeship.
From 1 July 2025, Career Start will provide eligible Queenslanders with:
- access to certificate III qualifications in priority and emerging industries
- access to apprenticeship and traineeship training in priority and emerging industries
- access to lower-level qualifications identified by industry as the entry point for jobs
- expanded access to foundation skills such as language, literacy, numeracy, digital literacy and employability skills
- increased access to training in regional and remote areas
- supported training pathways for women and priority cohorts to take-up skilled careers.
Career Start replaces funding previously available through the Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice programs.
Eligibility
Under Career Start, a student may access up to 2 subsidised training places through one of the following options:
- a qualification in a certificate III under the general training pathway and an apprenticeship/traineeship, noting that if the apprenticeship/traineeship is done first, the student is no longer eligible to access a general training pathway qualification under Career Start
- or
- two apprenticeships/traineeships at either a certificate II or III level, including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs).
In addition, under Career Start, students may access one subsidised introductory-level skill set.
A student cannot do 2 general training pathway qualifications under Career Start.
General training pathway
To access a subsidised training place under Career Start, a student must meet the following criteria:
- aged 15 years or older
- not be a school student
- permanently reside in Queensland
- be an Australian citizen, or Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), or a temporary resident with the right visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen
- not already have a certificate III or higher qualification completed within the last 10 years (qualifications completed as a school student, and foundation skills qualifications don't count)
- not be enrolled in another qualification, even if it's on hold or deferred, whether funded by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training or not (foundation skills qualifications don't count).
Along with the eligibility criteria above, specific entry restrictions or exemptions may apply to certain subsidised qualifications and skill sets. These are set by industry or sector requirements, as well as national training package guidelines.
Apprenticeship or traineeship pathway
To be eligible to receive government subsidised training, the apprentice or trainee must:
- have entered into a training contract for a qualification that is funded by the department and be registered on the department's systems
- if from overseas, have a visa allowing them to work in Australia
- not have already completed 2 apprenticeship/traineeship qualifications within the last 10 years. This includes school-based apprenticeships or traineeships.
Related information
- Read the Career Start 2025–28 program policy.
- Find out how to support your continuing students to complete their training.
- Learn more about the discontinued Certificate 3 Guarantee program.
- Learn more about the discontinued User Choice program.
- Find out about becoming a Skills Assure Supplier.
Last updated 5 August 2025
