Higher Level Skills

The Higher Level Skills program provides a government subsidy to support eligible individuals to access subsidised training in selected certificate IV and above qualifications, or priority skill sets.

To view the Queensland Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s Higher Level Skills Program Fact Sheet, please click here.

The aim is to assist individuals to gain the Higher Level Skills required to secure employment or career advancement in priority industries or to transition to university. Employers may also be able to access training to address workforce development needs.

How does the program work?

The list of registered training organisations (RTOs) approved to deliver each subsidised qualification or skill set is published on the Queensland Skills Gateway.

Individuals and employers are free to choose their preferred RTO from this list. The subsidy is paid directly to the RTO as training is delivered and reported to the department.

As a condition of your enrolment, you will be required to complete a student training and employment survey within three months of completing or discontinuing your training.

Are you eligible?

Funded training is available for individuals who are:

• Queensland residents aged 15 years or over
• No longer at school (with the exception of VET in Schools students)
• Australian or New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and on the pathway to permanent residency
• Not holding, and not enrolled in, a Certificate IV level or higher qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundation skills training)
• Be an existing worker in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

To be eligible to receive the Higher Level Skills funding, students must not already hold, or be currently studying a Certificate IV or higher-level qualification.

What level of subsidy is available?

Training in vocational areas that align with critical industry skilling needs and government priorities will receive a higher government subsidy.

A higher subsidy will also be paid to support participation by concessional students, such as disadvantaged learners, and those undertaking training in remote locations.

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

Individuals undertaking training must contribute to their training costs through a ‘co-contribution fee’. While the amount of the fee is determined by the PQS, it is expected the co-contribution fee will be greater for higher level training given the increased benefits that accrue to individuals and industry.

The fee may be paid on behalf of the individual by an employer or another third party, but cannot be paid or waived by the PQS, unless approved by the department.

Queensland (Face to face delivery)
Course	Co-contribution Fee – total		Co-contribution Fee – per unit of competency
	Non-concessional	Concessional	Non-concessional	Concessional
SIT40416 Certificate IV in Hospitality	$168.00	$84.00	$8.00	$4.00