Skillstrain Pty Ltd | RTO 70211 | ABN 22 148 992 107
Queensland Government subsidised training Funding and Fees Fact Sheet.
Skillstrain Pty Ltd is a Queensland Government approved Skills Assure Supplier (SAS). We deliver subsidised training under the Career Start and Career Boost programs (2025 to 2028).
- Career Start supports Certificate II and III qualifications.
- Career Boost supports Certificate IV and above.
Queensland Government subsidies are available for the following qualifications only. Our other qualifications are offered on a fee-for-service basis.
| Qualification | Code | Program | Pathway | Agreement |
| Certificate IV in Engineering | MEM40119 | Career Boost | Apprenticeship and General training | PS102510 / QS102971 |
| Certificate III in Process Plant Operations | PMA30120 | Career Start | Traineeship and General training | PS102510 / QS102971 |
| Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations | RII30120 | Career Start | Traineeship | PS102510 |
Delivery schedule: 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028. PS102510 is the apprenticeship and traineeship agreement; QS102971 is the general training agreement. Both operate across the Career Start and Career Boost programs.
Fee-free training – Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s
MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering
(Higher Engineering Trade) is a priority engineering qualification and is fee-free for eligible apprentices aged under 25 under the Queensland Government’s Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s initiative (in place to 30 June 2027). To be eligible you must be employed as a Queensland apprentice under a registered training contract, no longer be at school, not currently be enrolled in another qualification, and not exceed two government-funded apprenticeships or traineeships within a 10-year period.
All other students – existing-worker and general-training students, and apprentices aged 25 and over – pay the co-contribution fee set out below, unless eligible for a full or partial exemption.
Eligibility and entitlement
To access a Queensland Government subsidised training place you must meet the program eligibility criteria.
General training pathway:
- aged 15 years or older, and not a school student;
- permanently reside in Queensland;
- be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrant), New Zealand citizen, or a temporary resident with the right visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency;
- for Career Start (Certificate III): not already hold a Certificate III or higher completed in the last 10 years; for Career Boost (Certificate IV and above): not already hold a Certificate IV or higher completed in the last 10 years (qualifications completed at school and foundation skills qualifications do not count);
- not currently be enrolled in another qualification, even if on hold or deferred.
Apprenticeship or traineeship pathway:
- be employed as a Queensland apprentice or trainee under a registered training contract for a Queensland Government funded qualification;
- if from overseas, hold a visa allowing you to work in Australia;
- not have already completed two apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications (including school-based) in the last 10 years.
Your entitlement:
the total number of government-funded apprenticeships or traineeships cannot exceed two within a 10-year period, counted across Career Start, Career Boost and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. Your subsidised entitlement is exhausted once these places have been used. Skillstrain will confirm your eligibility and remaining entitlement with you before enrolment. Entry requirements or exemptions set by industry or the training package may also apply to specific qualifications.
Fees and co-contribution
Apprenticeships and traineeships:
the Queensland Department of Trade, Employment and Training sets the co-contribution (student) fee at $1.60 per nominal hour for each unit of competency. This rate is the same across all providers and only the Department can change it.
The table below shows the indicative total co-contribution for each subsidised qualification. These totals are approximate and based on the standard nominal hours for the full qualification. Your final fee depends on the units in your training plan and is confirmed in your written Statement of Fees before enrolment.
| Qualification | Pathway | Approx. nominal hours | Standard total ($1.60/hr) | Concessional total (40%, $0.64/hr) | Fee-free |
| MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering | Apprenticeship | approx. 1,360 | approx. $2,176 | approx. $870 | $0 for eligible apprentices under 25 |
| PMA30120 Certificate III in Process Plant Operations | Traineeship | approx. 690 | approx. $1,104 | approx. $442 | Not applicable |
| RII30120 Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations | Traineeship | approx. 525 | approx. $840 | approx. $336 | Not applicable |
Figures are approximate and depend on the units chosen for the training plan. The total represents the full cost to the student: tuition plus any enrolment or ID-card, material or service fees, and other mandatory charges (including a criminal-history check where required for placement). Skillstrain confirms the exact figure in each student’s Statement of Fees.
General training (Career Boost):
for MEM40119 and PMA30120 delivered as general training (without a training contract), the co-contribution fee is set by Skillstrain and represents the total cost to the student. Indicative total: the same as the standard totals above [confirm
Skillstrain’s general-training price for MEM40119 and PMA30120].
Concessions and exemptions (apprenticeships and traineeships):
You pay only 40% of the standard fee (the concessional rate) if you:
- are under 17 at the end of February in the year training is provided, are not at school, and have not completed Year 12; or
- hold a Health Care Card, Veteran Card or Pensioner Concession Card, or are the partner or dependent of someone who does; or
- identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
- A full fee exemption may apply if you are experiencing serious financial difficulty and can demonstrate this. Evidence must be provided before enrolment. (For general-training students, additional concession arrangements apply, including for students with disability and adult prisoners; Skillstrain will confirm these at enrolment.)
How and when fees are charged:
- Skillstrain provides a written Statement of Fees before enrolment and before any fee is paid;
- we advise you of any concessions or exemptions you are eligible for;
- we issue invoices before training commences or under an agreed payment schedule;
- we collect fees directly from you, or from your employer where applicable, and provide receipts.
- Skillstrain will not charge you for preparing your Training and Assessment Plan or Training Record and will not charge for additional materials once you have enrolled. No additional fee is charged unless disclosed to you in writing before it applies.
Delivery locations
Skillstrain delivers training and assessment in the workplace across the following Department-approved regions for its subsidised qualifications (MEM40119, PMA30120 and RII30120):
Cairns, Brisbane, Central Queensland, Darling Downs – Maranoa, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan – Beaudesert, Mackay – Isaac – Whitsunday, Moreton Bay – North, Moreton Bay – South, Queensland – Outback, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, and Wide Bay.
Specific delivery locations are confirmed before enrolment.
Student support services
Skillstrain supports every student throughout their training. Support may include:
- Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) support: pre-training assessment, individual support, and referral to specialist services;
- Learning support: additional trainer assistance, flexible arrangements, and extended assessment time where appropriate;
- Digital support: help accessing online learning systems and resources;
- Wellbeing and referral: referral to counselling, welfare and community support services (Lifeline 13 11 14, Beyond Blue 1300 224 636);
- Apprenticeship and traineeship support: employer liaison and progress monitoring;
- Disability support: reasonable adjustment to training and assessment, and individual support plans where required.
Refund policy
Our complete Refund Policy, including all terms and conditions and the circumstances for full and partial refunds, is available on our website: Fees, Charges and Refund Policy.
Unique Student Identifier (USI) and privacy
You must provide a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI) before a qualification or statement of attainment can be issued. A USI is free and can be created at usi.gov.au. Skillstrain collects and manages your personal information in accordance with our Privacy and Collection Notice, provided to you before enrolment.
Qualification fact sheets
A summary of each subsidised qualification follows. Fees, delivery locations, support services and the refund policy are as set out above.
MEM40119 Certificate IV in Engineering
| Item | Details |
| Training package | MEM Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package |
| AQF level | Certificate IV |
| Funding program | Career Boost (2025 to 2028) |
| Pathways | Apprenticeship; General training |
| Typical duration | 12 to 24 months (depends on pathway, experience and progression) |
Outcomes:
Reflects the role of individuals who apply specialised technical skills and knowledge in engineering and manufacturing environments, such as Engineering Trades Supervisor, Leading Hand, Production Coordinator, Maintenance Coordinator, Manufacturing Team Leader and Technical Specialist.
Delivery and assessment:
Workplace-based and blended delivery: trainer-led workshops, structured self-paced learning, and one-on-one coaching, contextualised to the workplace. Assessment is by workplace observation, practical demonstration, projects and workplace assignments, knowledge assessment, logbooks, professional discussion and portfolio evidence. These qualifications require workplace practical assessment and are not available fully online.
Completion:
Complete all required units of competency per the training package rules, demonstrate competency in all assessment activities, meet workplace evidence requirements, and participate in scheduled training and assessment.
Licensing:
There are no direct occupational licensing requirements attached to MEM40119 at the time of publication. Check any site-specific, state-based or industry licensing requirements with your employer or the relevant regulator.
Vocational placement:
There are no mandatory vocational placement requirements. Apprentices and workplace-pathway students must have access to a suitable engineering workplace to gather evidence and complete assessment.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer are available. Credit Transfer is provided at no charge.
PMA30120 Certificate III in Process Plant Operations
| Item | Details |
| Training package | PMA Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining Training Package |
| AQF level | Certificate III |
| Funding program | Career Start (2025 to 2028) |
| Pathways | Traineeship; General training |
| Typical duration | 12 to 24 months (depends on pathway, experience and progression) |
Outcomes:
Reflects the role of advanced operators and operations technicians who use production equipment to directly produce product, undertake advanced operations of integrated plant units, anticipate problems, and solve foreseen and unforeseen problems using product and process knowledge.
Delivery and assessment:
Workplace-based and blended delivery: trainer-led workshops, structured self-paced learning, and one-on-one coaching, contextualised to the workplace. Assessment is by workplace observation, practical demonstration, projects and workplace assignments, knowledge assessment, logbooks, professional discussion and portfolio evidence. These qualifications require workplace practical assessment and are not available fully online.
Completion:
Complete all required units of competency per the training package rules, demonstrate competency in all assessment activities, meet workplace evidence requirements, and participate in scheduled training and assessment.
Licensing:
Check any site-specific, state-based or industry licensing requirements with your employer or the relevant regulator.
Vocational placement:
Trainees and workplace-pathway students must have access to a suitable process-plant workplace to gather evidence and complete assessment.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer are available. Credit Transfer is provided at no charge.
RII30120 Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations
| Item | Details |
| Training package | RII Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package |
| AQF level | Certificate III |
| Funding program | Career Start (2025 to 2028) |
| Pathways | Traineeship |
| Typical duration | 12 to 24 months (depends on pathway, experience and progression) |
Outcomes:
Reflects the role of employees such as production operators in an open-cut mine or quarry, applying a range of skilled operations in a varied work context.
Delivery and assessment:
Workplace-based and blended delivery: trainer-led workshops, structured self-paced learning, and one-on-one coaching, contextualised to the workplace. Assessment is by workplace observation, practical demonstration, projects and workplace assignments, knowledge assessment, logbooks, professional discussion and portfolio evidence. These qualifications require workplace practical assessment and are not available fully online.
Completion:
Complete all required units of competency per the training package rules, demonstrate competency in all assessment activities, meet workplace evidence requirements, and participate in scheduled training and assessment.
Licensing:
Surface extraction roles can carry site-specific and state-based requirements (for example high-risk work or plant tickets). Check current requirements with your employer or the relevant regulator.
Vocational placement:
Trainees and workplace-pathway students must have access to a suitable surface-extraction workplace to gather evidence and complete assessment.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer are available. Credit Transfer is provided at no charge.
Disclaimer
Funding availability, eligibility requirements and fee exemptions are subject to Queensland Government policy and may change. Eligibility is assessed at the time of enrolment. Actual fees are confirmed in the student’s individual Statement of Fees.
Government pages to link (online — verified URLs)
- Career Start — qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/career-start
- Career Boost — qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/career-boost
- Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s — qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/freeapprenticeships
- Free & reduced-cost training (DTET student summary) — dtet.qld.gov.au/training/training-careers/incentives
- Queensland Subsidised Training List (QSTL) — skillsgateway…/subsidies-list.pdf
- Queensland Skills Gateway (course/subsidy lookup) — skillsgateway.training.qld.gov.au
- USI registry — usi.gov.au
- Your scope on the national register — training.gov.au/Organisation/Details/70211
- NCVER privacy (VET data) — ncver.edu.au/privacy
- DEWR National VET Data privacy notice — dewr.gov.au/national-vet-data/vet-privacy-notice
Contact
Skillstrain Pty Ltd | RTO 70211 | ABN 22 148 992 107
PO Box 8453, Gold Coast MC QLD 9726 | 0407 398 526 | simon@sktrto.com.au