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.

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 places, through one of the following options:

• A qualification in a certificate III under the general training pathway and an apprenticeship/traineeship, noting that is the apprenticeship/traineeship is done first, the student is no longer eligible to access a general training pathway qualification under Career Start.

OR

• Two apprenticeships/traineeships at either a certificate II or certificate III level, (note: school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) must be included in this total).

In addition, under Career Start, students may access one subsidised introductory-level skill set. 

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.