
Career Start Program
Career Start is one of the Queensland Government’s core funded vocational education and training (VET) programs, managed by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).
Career Start provides you with the skills and support to start your career. The program provides help to find a job and supports those already employed to move into more skilled roles or full-time employment, including after completing an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Orbus3 provides opportunities under the Career Start program for apprenticeships and traineeships in Civil Construction for the following courses.
Fee Conditions – Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Both the employer and Orbus3 share responsibility for the training of apprentices and trainees. The co-contribution fee is set at $1.60 per nominal training hour for each unit of competency, this fee is the same for all Skills Assure Supplier providers.
Some fee exemptions apply:
Partial Exemption Fee: Only 40% of the Co-contribution fee can be charge where the apprentice of trainee falls into one of the following categories.
- Was or will be under 17 years of age at the end of February in the year in which Orbus3 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 dependent 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 dependent, is entitled to concessions under a Health Care, Veteran or Pensioner Concession Card
- Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
Full fee exemption: a full Co-contribution fee exemption will be applied if an apprentice or trainee falls into one of the following categories.
- Undertaking a Qualification as part of the the Skilling Queenslanders for Work or SQW – Work Skills Traineeship program
- School-based apprenticeship or traineeship
- Specific fee-free training programs as announced by the Queensland Government
- Foundation skills – this training is fee-free
Free Apprenticeships: A fee will not be charged to any individual who is eligible for a Government subsidy under the Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s initiative. The Department (DTET) will cover the Co-contribution fee.
Your eligibility for Concessional status (or PPG status is an apprentice or trainee) will be checked and confirmed at the time of your enrolment.
What Else do You Need to Know?
Under Career Start – Apprenticeships/traineeship pathway, you may access up to two subsidised training, either certificate II or III, including school based apprenticeships or traineeships (SATs).
Note: that if you complete an apprenticeship/traineeship first, you will no longer be eligible to access a general qualification under Career Start. You can only receive funding for one apprenticeship or traineeship at a time.
Delivery Locations – Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Delivery Location |
Delivery Mode |
Pathway |
Brisbane, Cairns, 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, Wide Bay |
Blended |
Apprenticeship |
Delivery Location | Delivery Mode | Pathway |
Brisbane, Cairns, 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, Wide Bay |
Blended |
Traineeship |
Delivery Location |
Delivery Mode |
Pathway |
Brisbane, Cairns, 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, Wide Bay |
Blended |
Traineeship |
Delivery Location |
Delivery Mode |
Pathway |
Brisbane, Cairns, 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, Wide Bay |
Blended |
Traineeship |
Career Start Eligibility – Apprenticeships/Traineeships
To be eligible for Career Start you must meet the following criteria:
- currently employed as a Queensland apprentice or trainee (under a registered training contract)
- be a permanent Queensland resident
- be an Australian citizen, or Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), or temporary resident with the right visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen
- not currently be enrolled in a Qualification
- not exceed a maximum of two government-funded apprenticeships/traineeships within a 10-year period