• Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency*

• Be a Queensland Resident

• Aged 15 years of age or older

• No longer at school

• Not hold, or not be enrolled in, a certificate III or higher level qualification (not including qualifications completed at school and foundations skills training - e.g 10363NAT Certificate lll in Spoken and Written English foundation skills)**

*This may include some humanitarian entrant or temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permit on the pathway to permanent residency. Contact Strategix for visa checks.

**A certificate III qualification completed at secondary school and/or a Certificate level I to Advanced Diploma qualification issued prior to 1995 has no impact on eligibility for funding. To determine which Foundation skills have no impact on eligibility see the blue and green table below in the AISS check section

Other Funding Options.

Where a student has completed a certificate III qualification previously and/or they do not meet the above criteria they could consider undertaking a certificate IV qualification under Higher Level Skills funding.

Refer to the Higher Level Skills Fact Sheet for eligibility requirements and a list of courses available under the funding.

Note : All forms of eligibility evidence must be valid at the point of enrolment unless otherwise specified above. ‘Enrolment’ in this context refers to the date the student completed the Enrolment Form as part of the signup process. 

Key

Additional Evidence

Additional evidence to support Queensland residency, any of the following:

• Australian Electoral Commission document (e.g. acknowledgement of electoral enrolment letter or electoral enrolment card), must be valid at time of enrolment

• Contract of property purchase, lease / rental document, mortgage / land ownership certificate, must be valid at time of enrolment

• Electricity, gas or telephone account issued the last six (6) months

• Queensland local government rates notice, must be valid at time of enrolment

• Bank statement issued within the last six (6) months

• Official letter from Centrelink or the Australian Government Department of Human Services, must be valid at time of enrolment

• Australian Taxation Office assessment / Tax-file number confirmation notice, must be valid at time of enrolment

• Notice from the Court issued the last six (6) months (must contain seal/stamp).**

• Concession card (both sides) or official letter from Centrelink noting “No Fixed Address”, as long as the State and/or Postcode is noted as Queensland

Proof of Enrolment

The supplier is required to demonstrate their process and provide the evidence collected to support the student enrolment. Evidence that we must collect to support the student’s enrolment includes:

• A completed, signed and dated enrolment form containing questions sufficient to identify:

  • The highest qualification completed, any partially completed qualifications, and any currently enrolled courses (evidence must be requested and retained)

  • Previous names

  • Age at the time of enrolment

  • Permanent residency in Queensland

  • Australian or New Zealand citizenship, permanent residency or visa status

  • Eligibility for concession

  • If the candidate is enrolled in secondary school

  • The highest level of schooling completed.

• Student Declaration/s

• All statements of attainment or copies of certificates (or USI Transcripts) for previously attempted or completed qualifications. Even when it does not impact eligibility.

Note: All forms of eligibility evidence must be valid at the point of enrolment unless otherwise specified.

Proof of Age (15 years or over)

Retain evidence to show the student is 15 years or older at the time of commencement including:

• Driver Licence, heavy vehicle or marine licence (any issuing State)

• Adult Proof of Age Card or photo identification card (any issuing State)

• Passport (any issuing country)

• Birth Certificate or birth extract

• Australian Citizen Certificate*

• Approved/advised by contract management as acceptable evidence in addition to those listed in the PQS Audit Evidence Guide.

For students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS), the supplier is not required to retain evidence the student was 15 years or over at the time of enrolment.

Permanent Residency in QLD

The copy retained as evidence must clearly show the prospective student’s current address, which should match any other address information provided by the student (i.e. enrolment form). Where the student’s address differs across information, the administrative assistant must retain a range of evidence to support the student’s eligibility as a Queensland resident.

Evidence to show the student’s permanent residency in Queensland includes:

• Queensland Driver Licence

• Queensland Adult Proof of Age Card or photo identification card

• Queensland Heavy Vehicle or Marine Licence

• Passport

• Birth Certificate

• Australian Citizen Certificate*

• Pensioner Concession Card - both sides

• Health Care Card - both sides

• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card - both sides

• Australian Electoral Commission document (e.g. acknowledgement of electoral enrolment letter or electoral enrolment card)

• Contract of property purchase, lease / rental document, mortgage/land ownership certificate

• Electricity, gas or telephone account issued in the last six (6) months

• Queensland local government rates notice

• Queensland Driver Licence or Queensland Driver Licence Receipt

• Bank statement issued within the last six (6) months

• Official letter from Centrelink or the Australian Government Department of Human Services

• Australian Taxation Office assessment / Tax-file number confirmation notice

• Notice from the Court issued the last six (6) months (must contain seal/stamp)*.

*Approved by contract management as acceptable evidence in addition to those listed in the PQS Audit Evidence Guide

Note: All forms of eligibility evidence must be valid at the point of enrolment unless otherwise specified above.

Australian Citizenship/Permanent Residency Status

Retain evidence to show the student’s Australian citizenship, Australian permanent residency (includes humanitarian entrant), temporary residency status with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency, or New Zealand citizenship. Refer to the list of eligible visa subclasses to determine eligibility.

Evidence of visa status to be documented, recorded and retained could include:

• Australian or New Zealand passport

• Australian or New Zealand birth certificate or birth extract

• Student’s permanent visa label on their passport and/or documents from the Department of Home Affairs showing approval of a permanent visa subclass (this includes a VEVO check)

• Temporary residency visa and work permits with copies of correspondence to and from the Department of Home Affairs indicating progress toward permanent residency

• Current Medicare card (usually green Medicare card – coloured copies required)

• Australian residency documents, blue Medicare card (coloured copy) and required visa and work permits as set out in the Audit Evidence Requirements.

AISS Checks

Conduct a search prior to enrolment (no more than 30 days) on all variations of the student’s name using the Apprenticeships Info Self Service (AISS) tool/search facility refer to the /wiki/spaces/QD/pages/3038576779 for instructions on how to conduct an AISS check. Retain a screenshot as evidence.

The purpose of the AISS check is:

• To help confirm whether prospective students have previously attained a certificate III or higher-level qualification; and/or

• To help confirm that prospective students are not already enrolled in certificate III or higher qualification; and

• To determine eligibility for applicable credit transfer/s (CT)

• To help determine a VETiS student's eligibility for access to the program (Refer to the No Prior Access to VETiS - AISS Check Results).

Note: The AISS check is not sufficient evidence to apply CTs, a copy of the relevant AQF certification/s must be obtained. AISS checks must also be conducted in previous surnames. Where an AISS check shows a current enrolment steps must be taken to determine how it may affect a student’s eligibility. Refer to the following section “No Post School Certificates or Current Enrolments” for direction.

No Post-School Certificates or Current Enrolments

Retain evidence to confirm that prospective students do not hold a post-school certificate III qualification (Certificate 3 Guarantee) or higher-level qualification (Certificate 3 Guarantee and Higher Level Skills). And or, retain evidence to ensure prospective students are not already enrolled in certificate III or higher qualification.

When a student is identified as being currently enrolled with another RTO or University and/or they have completed a Certificate III, IV or higher, an assessment must be performed to determine if the student is eligible or not. There are a number of factors/indicators to assist with the decision or actions which must occur first.

The following sections stand as a guide for the following situations:

1. The AISS check shows a current enrolment (incomplete qualification)

2. The AISS check shows a completed Cert III or IV.

Current Enrolment (Incomplete Qualification) Identified on AISS

Where AISS indicates a student is currently enrolled or deferred in a certificate III or higher qualification, this renders the student ineligible unless the conditions are met for each of the applicable situations and supporting evidence is retained:

After all situations are reviewed and where a student encounters all green boxes or whose cancellation has been confirmed through supporting evidence, are to be deemed eligible. The administrative assistant must retain all evidence and upload it to the student’s profile with the supporting rationale for the outcome.

Rationale for the Eligibility Determinations

Evidence to show the student does not have a current enrolment includes:

• Screenshots of the qualification and/or scope of the RTO from Training.gov showing, either:

  • The qualification has passed the teach-out period and there is no current enrolment into the new qualification

  • The withdrawn units are core units and the qualification cannot be completed without the completion of those subject/s

  • The RTO’s registration is no longer current

  • The RTO does not have the qualifying on scope.

• A copy of the check to be uploaded:

  • A student enrolled into a traineeship or apprenticeship has not had data reported for over 2 years on their AISS check (unless extended)

  • The student never enrolled into a qualification for their apprenticeship or traineeship

  • Showing the amended data by the RTO.

• Email/Letter from the RTO stating that the student is no longer enrolled or does not have a current enrolment

• Email from the student to the RTO requesting to be withdrawn.

Completed Qualification

Where AISS indicates a qualification (cert III or higher) has been previously attained, this renders the student ineligible, irrespective of the number of units of competency reported as being achieved. However, the student can be deemed eligible if the data reported was incorrect and/or one of the following conditions are met (where applicable):

A green outcome or incorrectly reported data (which has been amended) and which includes supporting evidence, will provide sufficient demonstration of student eligibility. Please note, that in all situations, there must be supporting evidence.

Evidence that may need to be obtained to show the student does not hold a previous certificate includes:

• QCE or Senior Statement (issued by QCAA) and a copy of the qualification showing that it was completed while in school

• Email/Letter from the RTO stating that the student did not complete the qualification and complete another screenshot of AISS showing the amended data by the RTO

• For foundation skills training – If the qualification is not listed on the spreadsheet, email compliance with the qualification in question stating that it needs to be checked by DESBT. Compliance will be submitted to the department and once cleared it will be added to the spreadsheet

• A copy of the qualification showing it was issued prior to 1995

• Written notification from ASQA confirming that the qualification is cancelled or was not undertaken.

Concession

Retain evidence of the student’s eligibility for concession, if applicable. The student’s eligibility for concessional status must be confirmed at the time of the student’s enrolment.

The following may be accepted:

• A Department of Veterans’ Affairs or Pensioner Concession Card; Health Care Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

• Evidence the candidate is the partner or a dependant of a Health Care Card or Concession Card holder and is named on the card. Obtain both sides of the card

• Documentation verifying the candidate has a disability, e.g. Pensioner Concession Card (both sides) or other documentation verifying the holder has a disability

• A First Nations self-declaration – a self-declaration on a signed enrolment form is sufficient

• Formal signed confirmation from the place of incarceration where the candidate is an adult prisoner. Must retain the following forms from the correctional facility: Form 1 C3G Eligibility Evaluation and Form 2 Offender ID Letter

Please note: The concession card must be valid at the time of enrolment. Expired cards will not be accepted. You must also obtain both sides of the card.

Police Check, Blue or Yellow Card (where applicable)

Where a qualification requires a security clearance (e.g. police check, blue card and/or yellow card) for the student to be deemed competent for vocational placement within an industry, that document must be retained by Strategix prior to the commencement of vocational placement for audit purposes.

Any of the following:

• Letter from the relevant governing body approving the security clearance

• Copy of the student’s police check

• Copy of the student’s blue card

• Copy of the student’s yellow card.

Whilst the attainment of the security clearance, prior to or at the time of enrolment, is not mandatory, students must be made aware of this requirement accordingly. Should a supplier enrol a student who cannot obtain the relevant security clearance in order to achieve the qualification, recovery of funds for unit/s of competency claimed may occur.

Letter of Referral

Retain evidence of the student’s participation in a specific cohort-targeted initiative. A document/letter of referral for the student from the funded organisation/community-based organisation (or from the department), under the applicable strategic initiative/project.

This may include programs such as:

• Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW)

• Certificate 3 Guarantee Boost.

This document/letter must identify the student by first name, surname, and date of birth and identify the student as eligible under the initiative/project. The letter must be presented on the funded organisation’s letterhead and be signed and dated by a representative of the organisation.

Please note: All other aspects of eligibility, such as previously held qualifications, will have been addressed by the organisation accessing the strategic initiative. AISS checks must still be completed to identify the possibility of credit transfers.

Strategix must are not permitted to market the project or the additional support services.

Priority Skills List - Training Subsidy and Industry Requirements

Requirements to support eligibility are outlined in the Priority Skills List. See the Priority Skills List for specific requirements. Evidence may be required to show the candidate:

• Is an existing worker within a specific industry

• Is a business owner or self-employed; and if required

• Holds the required qualification in the relevant industry. Where a candidate holds a qualification, the SAS must contact their Contract Manager to determine if the candidate has previously accessed funding.

For example, Cert IV in Disability - students must be existing workers in the industry.

Existing worker means a current employee who has a one-month or more employment relationship with their employer and has actively fulfilled work duties for this period. The one-month working relationship could be full-time or on a part-time/casual employment equivalent basis. Existing workers have access to employee entitlement and therefore do not include volunteers. Registration with a Labour Hire Company does not satisfy the ‘existing worker’ requirement, unless at the commencement of the training the prospective student has been engaged in employment for a period of one month or more and is currently employed.

Evidence includes:

• An official letter or email (with signature block) from the employer listed within the student’s enrolment form. This letter or email must include statements confirming the student’s employment status (part-time, full-time, etc.), job role and duties, the length of current employment and confirmation the student has been actively fulfilling work duties for this period. This evidence from the nominated employer is able to be obtained by the Supplier up to 7 calendar days before or after the student’s enrolment into the qualification

• Evidence of an Australian Business Number (ABN), invoicing and client list for self-employed candidates.