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AIECS is a Skills Assure supplier, approved by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training, to deliver Career Start subsidised courses to eligible Queenslanders.
Career Start helps Queensland job seekers take their first steps into the workforce, move into more skilled roles, or transition into full-time employment.
The Career Start program replaces the Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice programs. Students currently enrolled in these programs will continue to be supported until they complete their qualifications.
Participants can choose either a general training pathway or an employment-based apprenticeship or traineeship pathway, with access to reduced-cost entry-level training aligned to industry skill needs.
How Career Start can support you.
Through the Career Start subsidy, the Queensland Government will contribute towards the cost of your course, significantly reducing your out-of-pocket expenses. Eligible students will still be required to pay a co-contribution fee.
Students who hold a Health Care or Pension Concession Card, or who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, may be eligible for a higher subsidy.
Career Start provides eligible Queenslanders with:
Our commitment:
AIECS is pleased to announce we have been contracted under the Queensland Government Career Start
Program from 2025 to 2028.
Under Career Start, eligible individuals may access up to 2 funded training places through one of the following
options:
NOTE: Students who wish to complete both a general Certificate III and an apprenticeship/traineeship under Career Start must begin with the general qualification first. Once a Career Start traineeship or apprenticeship is commenced, eligibility for a general qualification is no longer available under the program.
or
The Queensland Government will pay a subsidy for the qualification or skill set directly to the SAS. The amount of funding depends on qualification or course complexity, duration, and how well it aligns with workforce skill needs. Queensland’s annual Training Priorities Plan outlines how government supports skills development across the state. Each year, the plan highlights important skill areas and guides funding decisions, including training subsidies, to benefit individuals, local communities, and employers.
The Queensland Government provides higher subsidies to SAS to help specific student groups participate in training.
These include:
In addition to training subsidies, location loadings are paid to SAS to support face to face training in specific regional and remote areas of Queensland, including Cape York and the Torres Strait.
These loadings help fund training delivered in local areas, addressing community skill needs and supporting residents to secure local jobs.
By participating in Career Start, students can expect to build the skills and confidence needed to complete a qualification and take meaningful steps toward their career goals.
After completing training, AIECS is available to support a student’s transition into the workforce, further education or training, or more skilled job roles. This support will include career advice and facilitating connections with potential employers.
While industry is primarily responsible for training its workforce, the government supports this effort by investing in training that addresses emerging needs and strengthens Queensland’s economy.
Career Start can help by providing subsidised training for employees through apprenticeships, traineeships, or general training pathways that support skills development and career progression, benefiting both employees and the business.
Employers must ensure employees understand program conditions, including eligibility requirements, and have given consent to enrol.
AIECS may discuss additional training costs with an employer or an industry representative beyond the co-contribution fee requirements; however, employers are not required to accept these charges. All fees and charges will be clearly explained, documented, and agreed upon by all parties and AIECS before an employee enrols.
You may be eligible if you:
You can confirm your eligibility using the official eligibility checker.
https://www.qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/check-your-eligibility
(required where a concessional payment is being claimed for the student)
To determine eligibility for this program, students must provide sufficient information at enrolment to confirm they do not already hold, or are not currently enrolled in, a Certificate III or higher-level qualification.
In addition to the evidence provided by the student, AIECS will, where possible, undertake record checks through the AISS system and other relevant sources to verify that prospective students do not hold, and are not enrolled in, a post-school AQF Certificate III or higher-level qualification.
Students are also required to provide a copy of any qualification certificate or Statement of Attainment to assess eligibility for credit transfer. This includes any qualifications that have been completed either fully or partially.
Choosing Your Training Pathway
Think carefully about the order in which you start your training under the Career Start program. If you begin with an apprenticeship or traineeship, you cannot later enrol in a general Certificate III qualification under Career Start. If you want the option of both, you should complete the general Certificate III first. This rule helps make sure funding is shared fairly and supports people to enter the workforce at the right level.
No Overlapping Enrolments
To receive funding through Career Start or Career Boost, you must not be enrolled in another qualification when you start. This includes:
The only exception is if you are enrolled in a Foundation Skills course (such as literacy, numeracy or digital skills). That will not affect your eligibility.
This rule applies when you enrol and for the entire time you are in the funded training. You must tell us about all past and current enrolments so we can check your eligibility.
DTET Student Survey
After you finish your training, the Department of Training and Employment (DTET) may contact you to take part in a short survey. The survey asks about:
The survey is optional, but your feedback is very valuable. It helps improve training across Queensland and shapes future government decisions.
Fact Sheets:
The Department of Trade, Employment and Training has provided a Career Start Program information sheet. This can be located at:
AIECS requires students seeking enrolment into the CHC30121 qualification to provide the following documentation before you can start this course:
It is recommended that all students should undertake screening for vaccination against the following Queensland Health Mandatory vaccination requirements such as:
The Queensland Government’s Working with Children Check (Blue Card) is a legal requirement for anyone working or training in early childhood services. It is a detailed national check of a person’s criminal history, including any charges or convictions, and exists to promote and protect the rights, safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Under the No Card, No Start law, you cannot begin work or placement in early childhood education until your Blue Card application has been approved.
Who needs a Blue Card?
You need a current Blue Card if your work includes, or is likely to include:
Costs
Important:
All AIECS students must provide a copy of their Blue Card at enrolment. You cannot commence your studies without one.
You will be responsible for any costs associated with attaining a Blue Card.
It is an offence for a ‘disqualified person’ to apply for a Blue Card.
A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a reference number made up of letters and numbers. It creates an online account that stores all your nationally recognised training records and results in one place. This means you can easily access your training history from any training provider across Australia.
Do I need one?
Yes. If you are undertaking any nationally recognised training (such as an apprenticeship, traineeship, certificate, diploma, or advanced diploma), you must have a USI.
Your enrolment with AIECS will not be confirmed until you have provided a valid USI.
Without a USI, we cannot issue you a qualification or statement of attainment.
Does it cost anything?
No. A USI is free, stays with you for life, and records every nationally recognised VET course you complete.
How do I get one?
You can create your USI directly at www.usi.gov.au
You will also need to provide AIECS with a copy of your photo ID to confirm your USI and ensure your qualification is issued correctly.
The Queensland Government provides a subsidy under the Career Start program to make nationally recognised training more affordable. While the subsidy covers much of the cost, students are still required to pay a small co-contribution fee towards their training.
This contribution reflects the personal and career benefits of gaining a qualification, such as improved job opportunities and higher earning potential. The fee applies to:
Who can pay the fee?
Your co-contribution fee can be paid by you, your employer, a family member, a friend, or another organisation. However, it cannot be paid or waived by AIECS (as a Skills Assure Supplier) or by anyone connected with AIECS.
How much is the fee?
General Pathway: For eligible students, the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is only $540.00, or $300.00 for concession card holders.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships: Charged at $1.60 per nominal hour, with a 40% concession for eligible students.
Upon notification of cancellation of a Learner’s enrolment into a Career Start or Career Boost Program AIECS provides refunds for student co-contribution fees charged for units of competency that have not commenced at the time of cancellation of enrolment to the payee.
AIECS will provide 100% refunds to Learners for Co-Contribution fees charged for units of competency where training delivery has not commenced at the time of cancellation of enrolment
AIECS will not provide a refund to Learners for Co-Contribution fees charged for units of competency where training delivery has commenced at the time of the cancellation of enrolment.