Career Start Funding (Apprenticeship and Traineeship)

Career Start helps Queenslanders kick off their careers or move into higher-skilled or full-time roles.

Through this program, you can start an apprenticeship or traineeship that blends paid work with recognised training delivered by RudTek. These pathways are designed to build the practical skills employers are looking for while reducing your upfront training costs. Rather than paying the full course fee, you or your employer only contribute a smaller portion, with the rest supported by government funding.

The Queensland Government subsidises eligible apprentices and trainees through:

• School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SAT): for high school students wanting to gain hands-on experience.

• Career Start: for job seekers who want to complete a Certificate II or III qualification in a priority or emerging industry. Eligible participants can undertake up to two funded apprenticeships or traineeships at these levels.

Career Start – Funding Eligibility
To qualify for funding under the Career Start Apprenticeship or Traineeship program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be employed under a formal training contract for a government-subsidised qualification, with the contract registered on the official state training system.

• Hold a valid visa that permits work in Australia (for non-Australian residents).

• Not currently be studying another qualification.

• Have not completed more than two government-funded apprenticeships or traineeships (including any school-based programs) in the past ten years.