Skills Victoria

The Victorian Government's Training Guarantee, a first in Australia, means that the government will cover most of the cost of a training place if you are eligible. This funding will be available whether you enrol independently or as part of your employer’s development program. The funds will go to the training provider where you undertake the course. You can access this entitlement more than once, so long as you remain eligible.

New eligibility requirements are being phased in from 1 July 2009, starting with vocational education and training courses at Diploma level and above. If you are participating in the special employee referral program Skills for Growth the new eligibility requirements apply to courses at all levels.

Am I eligible for government funded training?

The training provider determines your eligibility for a course at the time of your enquiry or enrolment, based on the information you give about your individual circumstances.

You can also work out your likely eligibility by following these steps.

Step 1: What is your citizenship/residency status?

From 1 July 2009, to be eligible you must be either:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian Permanent Resident (holder of a permanent visa)
• a holder of a Special Category Visa (sub-class 444, New Zealand citizen)
• an East Timorese asylum seeker, or
• a holder of a Temporary Protection Visa.

Step 2: What course are you seeking entry to?

Certificates I-IV and other accredited courses below Diploma level

The Victorian Training Guarantee is being phased in. Funded places at these levels under Securing Jobs for Your Future - Skills for Victoria are not available until 2011, except through the special small business employee referral program, Skills for Growth.

However, funded training opportunities continue to be available in a wide range of courses, under the standard funding arrangements. There are limits to the number of places available.

In 2009, unless you are participating through Skills for Growth, if you meet the citizenship/residency requirements you are eligible for a government funded place in courses below Diploma level, subject to availability.

Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Vocational Graduate Certificates and Vocational Graduate Diplomas

The Victorian Training Guarantee now applies to these courses, along with new eligibility requirements.

To be eligible for a government funded place in courses at these levels you must either be:

• Under the age of 20 years on 1 January in the year you want to commence your course; OR
• Seeking enrolment in a course accredited at a higher level than the highest qualification you already hold.

For Diploma courses and above, the steps are summarised in this diagram.

What if I am not eligible?

If the provider determines that you are not eligible you can still undertake the training, but you will need to pay on a 'fee for service' basis, where the fees are set by the training provider. The provider will give you information about the cost.

You may be able to access financial assistance to help cover the cost of a fee for service place.

Your provider may also have other options to suggest - there may be a higher level qualification which would suit your needs and for which you would be eligible for a government funded place.

Providers are required to apply the eligibility requirements, with very limited room for flexibility. A provider may have some capacity for granting exemptions from the 'highest qualification' requirement, in specific circumstances. It is up to providers to determine whether a place could be granted by individual exemption.

More questions about eligibility for government funded places?