Higher Level Skills Program

This program seeks to provide a government subsidy to support eligible individuals to access subsidised training in selected certificate IV or above qualifications, and priority skill sets. The aim is to assist individuals to gain the higher level skills required to secure employment or career advancement in priority industries or to transition to university to continue their studies.

The program provides the opportunity for employers to engage employees in priority training to address current workforce development needs. Employers can partner with a training provider pre-approved by the Department of Employment, Small
Business and Training (DESBT), known as a prequalified supplier (PQS), to enrol eligible employees in the subsidised training available under the program.

The subsidy represents the level of government contribution for a qualification, and varies between qualifications based on a number of factors. The investment priority or importance of the training influences the size of the government subsidy.

Given the benefits that accrue to individuals and employers from higher level training, individuals undertaking subsidised training through the program must pay a 'co-contribution fee'. The amount of the co-contribution fee is determined by the PQS. The fee may be paid on behalf of the individual by the employer or a third party unrelated to the PQS but cannot be paid or waived by the PQS.

As a beneficiary of the training, it is expected that participating employers will make a contribution towards the training costs as outlined in the program policy.

Eligible applicants include Queensland employers who seeks to enrol eligible employees in the subsidised training available under the program. An eligible employee is one who:
- Is a Queensland resident aged 15 or over.
- Is an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident, or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency.
- Does not have and is not enrolled in a certificate IV or higher-level qualification.

Eligible trainings include:
- Certificate IV
- Diploma and advanced diploma qualifications
- Priority skill sets critical to productivity within the workplace

Please refer to the Priority Skills List for the subsidised Higher Level Skills qualifications.