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Australian Capital Territory

Allara Learning provides students with access to reduced cost and subsidised training via the Skills Canberra User Choice program.

What is the ACT User Choice Program?

User Choice is a funding program, administered in the ACT by Skills Canberra. It is specifically designed to support Australian Apprenticeships (which includes both apprenticeships and traineeships). 

The ACT Government provides a subsidy directly to Allara Learning to cover the majority of the training costs, while the student (or their employer) contributes through a mandatory tuition fee. 

Eligibility Information

To access User Choice funding in the ACT, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be employed in the ACT (full-time or part-time) and have a training contract with your employer that is registered with an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider. 
• You must work a minimum of 15 hours per week (combined work and training). For School-based Apprentices (ASBAs), this is 11 hours. 
• Be at least 15 years old. 
• Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, New Zealand passport holder (resident for more than 6 months), or hold an eligible visa. 
• You must have a qualified supervisor in your workplace to support your on-the-job training. 

Course fees

The ACT Government sets a mandatory minimum tuition fee of $350 per qualification. While providers can choose to charge more than the minimum, all Allara Learning courses under this program are currently capped at the $350 rate.

This fee is a one-off payment made at the start of the qualification, covering all administration and training materials. 

Concession Fees

A student is eligible for a fee concession (which may include a partial or full waiver of the $350 fee at the RTO's discretion) if, at the time of enrolment, they:

• Hold a current Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card. 
• Can demonstrate genuine hardship through supporting documentation. 
• Are under 18 years of age and their parent or guardian holds one of the above cards. 

Exemption from Fees

You are completely exempt from paying the tuition fee in the following circumstances:

• You leave one employer and start with another within 12 months, staying in the same qualification with the same RTO. 
• You are forced to change providers due to an RTO closure or administrative change of process. 
• You are a school-based apprentice and the school itself is the registered Training Provider.

Completion payments

Upon successful completion of your qualification, you may be eligible for a Completion Payment from the ACT Government (paid directly to you) provided you meet the requirements and complete the exit survey. 

If you receive Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for more than 50% of your course, you may lose your eligibility for the Completion Payment. Credit Transfers generally do not affect this. 

Queensland

As a Skills Assure Supplier (SAS), Allara Learning provides subsidised training through Career Start and Career Boost programs.

What is Skills Assure in Queensland?

Skills Assure is the Queensland Government’s framework for vocational education and training (VET). Through the Skills Assure Supplier (SAS) program, the government provides subsidies to Allara Learning to ensure our students have access to high-quality training that leads to real jobs.

Depending on your career stage, you may be able to access funding through two primary pathways: Career Start (for entry-level skills) and Career Boost (for advanced leadership and technical skills).

Career start

Career Start helps individuals launch their careers by providing skills training and support for those seeking jobs, moving into more skilled roles, or completing an apprenticeship or traineeship. Career Start offers two training pathways, either a general training pathway or employment-based apprenticeship or traineeship pathway.

Career boost

Career Boost is designed to help individuals acquire the higher-level skills needed to secure employment, advance their careers and offers eligible students a subsidised training place in a Certificate IV, Diploma, or Advanced Diploma qualification, either through a general training pathway or a higher-level apprenticeship or traineeship.

Student Eligiblity 

To access a subsidised training place in Queensland, you must meet several core requirements. While specific programs may have additional rules, the primary eligibility criteria include:

• You must be a permanent resident of Queensland.
• You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, an Australian permanent resident, or a temporary resident on a pathway to permanent residency with eligible work permits.
• You must be aged 15 years or older.
• You must no longer be at school (except for approved School-Based Apprenticeships).
• Generally, you must not already hold a qualification at the same level or higher than the one you are applying for (this is often called the "one-time entitlement").

Please Note: Additional rules and exceptions apply to each specific Career Start or Career Boost program. We recommend contacting our student support team to confirm your individual eligibility before enrolling.

Course Fees | General Training Pathway

Career Start and Career Boost General Training Pathway programs are for students enrolling directly into a course (not as an apprentice or trainee). Students are required to contribute to the cost of training through a student co-contribution fee. 

Co-contribution Fees

The student co-contribution fee for general training is calculated at a per unit rate of $20 per unit of competency for non-concessional, or $5 per unit of competency for concessional. No more than 30% of the total fee will be charged prior to course commencement.

The following table lists the courses subsidised via the Career Start and Career Boost General Training Pathway programs and the student co-contribution fees applicable for each course.

Concessional fees

To be eligible for a Concession fee under the General Training Pathway a student must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Holds a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds such a card and is named on the card;
• Holds an official form issued under Commonwealth law confirming that they, their partner, or the person of whom they are a dependant is entitled to concessions under a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card;
• Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander;
• Has a disability;
• Is an adult prisoner.

Full fee exemption

Full fee exemption applies to:

• Skilling Queenslanders for Work or SQW participants;
• Specific fee-free training programs as announced by the Queensland Government;
• Lower-level vocational Qualifications for concessional Students.

Course Fees | Apprenticeship or Traineeship Pathway 

Career Start and Career Boost Apprenticeship or Traineeship Pathway programs are for students enrolling into a registered Australian apprenticeship or traineeship contract. Employers of appretnices and trainees are required to contribute to the cost of training through a co-contribution fee. 

Co-contribution Fees

Co-contribution fees are set by the Department at $1.60 per nominal hour for each Unit of competency or Module and must be calculated at the commencement of each unit or Module. 

The following table lists the courses subsidised via the Career Start and Career Boost Apprenticeship or Traineeship Pathway programs and the indicative co-contribution fees applicable for each course.

*Co-contribution fees may vary according to the course stream, the nominal hours for selected elective units of competency, and the application and granting of credit transfer or RPL (where eligible).

Partial or full fee exemptions

Apprentices and trainees may be eligible for a partial or full co-contribution fee exemption.

A partial fee exemption applies if the apprentice or trainee:

• Was or will be under 17 years of age at the end of February in the year in which the SAS provides training, and is not at school and has not completed year 12; 
• Holds a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds such a card and is named on the card;
• Holds an official form issued under Commonwealth law confirming that the individual, their partner or the person of whom they are a dependant, is entitled to concessions under a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card; 
• Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. 

Full fee exemption applies to:

• School-based apprenticeship or traineeship;
• an individual who is eligible for a Government subsidy under the Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s initiative

New South Wales

Allara Learning provides students with access to reduced cost and subsidised training via Smart and Skilled.

What is Smart and Skilled?

Smart and Skilled is a NSW Government program designed to provide people with the skills they need to find a job or advance their careers. It provides government-subsidised training for a wide range of vocational qualifications. 

Under this program, the government pays a portion of the training cost (the subsidy) directly to Allara Learning as a provider and the student pays a "Student Fee." In some priority areas or for specific student groups, the training may be entirely Fee-Free.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible for a government-subsidised place under Smart and Skilled, you must meet all of the following criteria at the time of enrolment:

• Age: 15 years old or over. 
• School Status: No longer at school (including home-schooling). 
• Residency: Living or working in NSW.
• Citizenship: An Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder, or New Zealand citizen. 
• USI: Hold (or be eligible for) a Unique Student Identifier.

Note: Having a higher-level qualification (like a degree) does not prevents you from accessing Smart and Skilled for lower-level certificates. However, your previous qualifications may affect whether you pay the "First Qualification" fee or the higher "Subsequent Qualification" fee. 

Course fees

General fee information

The following applies to Smart and Skilled subsidised training:

• Fees are set for the whole qualification, not by semester. 
• Fees are lower if this is your first post-school qualification. 
• Fees are the same across all approved providers for the same qualification. 

Concession Fees & Exemptions

Eligibility for a $160 (Cert II) or $240 (Cert III/IV) concession fees apply to students in receipt of a Commonwealth benefit at the time of enrolment. Qualifying Benefits Include:

• Age Pension / Youth Allowance / JobSeeker Payment
• Austudy / ABSTUDY
• Disability Support Pension / Carer Payment 
• Family Tax Benefit Part A (Maximum rate)
• Parenting Payment (Single) / Special Benefit

Full Fee Exemptions (Fee-Free training)

You do not pay any student fee if you are:

• Entering a registered Australian apprenticeship or traineeship contract.
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
• A Student with a Disability (receiving a disability support pension or with a verified medical certificate).
• A Refugee or Asylum Seeker (for qualifications up to Certificate IV).
• A recipient of a Smart and Skilled Fee-Free Scholarship (available to young people 15–30 in social housing or out-of-home care).

Fee Reduction for Credit Transfer (CT) and RPL

If you have already completed parts of a course or have relevant work experience, your fee will be reduced. Fees are adjusted based on the number of units granted Credit transfer and/or RPL. 

Actual course fees payable are confirmed using the Smart and Skilled Provider Calculator at the time of enrolment and/or when unit outcomes are reported.

Entitlement Full Qualifications (EFQ)

Applies to Certificate III and below.

Targeted Priorities Full Qualifications (TPFQ)

Applies to Certificate IV and Diploma level. 

*Concession fees generally do not apply to Diplomas or Advanced Diplomas unless the student is an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander person or has a disability (who may qualify for an exemption instead).