User Choice Funding Policy and Procedure
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OVERVIEW
Table of Contents |
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Status | Needs review |
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Classification* | INTERNAL |
Department | WP |
Review | Mar 11, 2024 |
Notes | Â |
PUBLIC-FACING
User Choice Information
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a government contribution, the apprentice or trainee must:
Have entered into a Training Contract for a qualification that is funded by the department
Be registered on DELTA with a commencement date or recommencement date on or after 1 July 2010
Select a training provider that holds PQS status for their nominated qualification.
The government contribution will be detailed in the apprentice or trainee’s Letter of Registration from the department, and is subject to student eligibility and their selection of an eligible PQS as their SRTO. Payment of funding is subject to the conditions set out in the VET Pre-qualified Supplier Agreement.
Important
An apprentice or trainee can only receive one government contribution for a User Choice funded qualification at any single point in time
A maximum of two government contributions will be funded per participant under the User Choice 2021–24 program
A second government contribution is approved for participants who have previously commenced and completed one funded qualification under the User Choice 2010–16 program or User Choice 2016–17 program or User Choice 2017–20 program, User Choice 2020–21 program, or User Choice 2021–24 program and the second qualification is:
A priority one qualification
A higher priority than the first qualification
Undertaken subsequent to a student completing a qualification under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Qualifications which do not contribute to the government contribution count are:
Qualifications funded outside of the User Choice 2010–16, 2016–17, 2017–20, 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 program
User Choice funded qualifications which commenced but were not completed
User Choice funded qualifications undertaken as part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work – Work Skills Traineeships program
User Choice funded qualifications undertaken as part of the Group Training Organisation Pre-Apprenticeship Program.
Fees and Charges
Co-contribution Fees
Strategix must collect a student contribution fee, it may be paid on behalf of the student by their employer or a third party unrelated to the Strategix, but cannot be paid or waived by Strategix, unless approved in writing by the department.
Invoices for students will be generated and sent to the Client after Student/s are approved for funding. The payment amounts consist of the compulsory Student Contribution Fees.
Students will not be changed for Individual Subjects which are Credit Transferred, or Transitional Gap trained.
When a student converts from a school-based trainee to a full-time or part-time traineeship, the student contribution fees will be charged for training and assessment for any units of competency not yet commenced. This does not apply when the student is under 21 and is undertaking a high priority qualification as identified by the department (refer to Priority Apprenticeship and Traineeship Qualifications section).
Student Fees - Year | Price per Nominal Hour |
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2017 - 2024 Student Fees | $1.60 per Nominal Hour |
Qual Code | Qual Name | Maximum Nominal Hours |
FBP20122 | Certificate II in Food Processing | 440 hrs |
TLI30321 | Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations | 425 hrs |
CHC30121 | Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care | 1108 hrs |
CHC33021 | Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)* | 975 hrs |
CHC33021 | Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)* | 925 hrs |
CHC32015 | Certificate III in Community Services | 448 hrs |
CHC40421 | Certificate IV in Youth Work | 960 hrs |
BSB30120 | Certificate III in Business | 490 hrs |
TLI31222 | Certificate III Driving Operations | 420 hrs |
*Students require a federal police check to complete Individual Support. Students are not required to pay the fee for the check.
Fee Exemptions
Partial Exemption - Tuition Fees
Strategix will only charge 40 percent of the student contribution fee where the participant falls into one or more of the following exemption categories:
The participant is not at school, has not completed year 12 and was or will be under 17 years of age at the end of February in the year in which Strategix provides training
The participant holds a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, and is named on the card
The participant issues Strategix with an official form under Commonwealth law confirming that the participant, his or her partner or the person of whom the participant is a dependant, is entitled to concessions under a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
The participant is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.
Full Exemption — Tuition Fees
Only trainees who fall under one of the following circumstances can a student receive a full exemption of student contribution fees for the entire qualification.
Financial Hardship
Where evidence indicates payment of the student contribution fee would cause the trainee extreme financial hardship. Strategix has process’ in place in order to explore further payment options to lessen the impact of a payment prior to applying for a fee exemption. Applications for financial hardship and relevant supporting documentation will be gathered and assessed on an individual basis.
School-Based
All School-based traineeships receive a full exemption for student contribution fees.
Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s
The Free apprenticeships for under 25s initiative will cover the cost of training for Queensland apprentices or trainees who commenced or are undertaking one of Priority Apprenticeship and Traineeship Qualifications (see below) from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2024.
Priority Apprenticeship and Traineeship Qualifications
Qual Code | Qualification Name |
CHC30121 | Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care |
CHC33021 | Certificate III in Individual Support |
Traineeship Cancellation
Strategix must be notified of all cancellations using the QLD cancellation form. The cancellation date is the date the trainee ceased employment with the company. For direction around the cancellation process refer to Strategix's Withdrawal and Cancellation Information.
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POLICY
User Choice Policy
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Funding
Students identified as belonging to a priority population group (PPG) undertaking a Priority Two or Priority Three qualification will receive 100 per cent of the government contribution (i.e. Strategix will receive the full funding available for this student). PPGs must be recorded on the Apprenticeship/Traineeship Training Contract and include:
Individuals of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin
Individuals from a non-English speaking background
Individuals with disability, impairment or long-term condition.
Issuing Certificates
As per the User Choice Policy 2021-2024, Strategix cannot withhold a certificate or statement of attainment due to non-payment of fees.
School-based Traineeships
Many school-based apprenticeships or traineeships (SATs) may not be completed before the student graduates from secondary school. If this occurs, the training contract will remain active; however, the employment mode will change to part-time or full-time. The amendment of the employment mode will depend on whether an ATF-035 Amendment of a registered training contract form was submitted to the Department. Unless this form is submitted, all active registered training contracts with an employment mode of SAT will be automatically converted to full-time, with an effective date of 19 November 2022.Â
As detailed in the FET Act 2014, when a training contract is converted, you as the Supervising Registered Training Organisation (SRTO) must review the training plan and make the necessary adjustments within 28 days of the change to the employment mode taking effect. This is to ensure that the apprentice/trainee continues to progress through the qualification and that all parties to the training contract are fulfilling their obligations. Â
QLD User Choice Funding Procedure
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To assess students’ eligibility for QLD User Choice, follow the steps below until you either reach an Enrol or Not Eligible outcome. Evidence must be retained as per the Evidence Requirements listed in this procedure.
Criteria | Yes | No |
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Does the student have a previous qualification? To check this you must perform an AISS Search and obtain the previous education history of the student | Continue to 2 | Enrol |
Was the qualification completed prior to 2010? | Enrol | Continue to 3 |
Was the course a traineeship? | Continue to 4 | Enrol |
Did the traineeship access User Choice Funding? To check follow the steps under User Choice Funding Check | Continue to 5 | Enrol |
Has the student accessed User Choice on two (2) previous occasions? (excluding incomplete qualifications, Skilling Queenslanders for Work - Work Skills Traineeships program or the Group Training Organisation Pre-Apprenticeship Program). | Not Eligible | Continue to 6 |
Was the priority level* of the completed qualification lower than the proposed qualification? Note: A student may access two (2) Priority 1 courses. | Enrol | Not Eligible |
*Qualification Priority Levels are found on QTIS.
User Choice Funding Check
Eligibility is determined by doing the following checks:
Perform the AISS check using Partner Portal:
AISS check results: There are two (2) sections to an AISS Check Apprenticeship Details and Student Search Details.
Interpret data:
Section | Identifies |
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Apprenticeship Search Details | This includes details of students who have had a registered training contract Traineeships. |
Contract | Each apprenticeship/traineeship has outcomes attached (either Withdrawn, In Progress, Completed etc) |
Funded | This indicates whether the apprenticeship/traineeship was funded or not (a Y indicates it was funded) |
Student Search Details | Â |
Evidence Requirements
Student-Based Documents
Evidence | Required | Requirements |
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Concession | Yes | Concession evidence in not required for SATs as they do not pay fees, however, is required for general trainees to determine the fee charged. For a concession card you must obtain both sides. |
Proof of age | See Requirements | Proof of age is only required where it affects fees/fund source code, e.g. claiming concession as <17 & free apprenticeships/ traineeships for <21. |
Qld residence/address | Yes | AASN |
Australian permanent resident or citizen | Yes | AASN |
U18 parental consent form | Yes | For SATs, but only if considered appropriate e.g. not required if the student lives independently. |
AISS search result | Yes | Yes, for initial identification of credit transfer and also required for the use of the fund source code and no fees for SAT. |
SRTO form | Yes | Required to be signed and verified by the course coordinator. |
Training Plan | Yes | Yes |
Evidence of school enrolment (SAT) | See Requirements | Yes for SATs |
Company Based Documents
Evidence | Required | Requirements |
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Employer Resource Assessment | Y | Â |
Resource and Facilities Checklist | Y | Â |
Supervisor Suitability | Y | Â |
Service Agreement | Y | Â |
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Authority |
| See Funding |
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Regulatory Documents |
| List the Contract, audit evidence requirements, standards etc. and the applicable section or clause from each document |
Approved By | Name here | Details / Decisions: |
Required Documents
Supervising Registered Training Organisation (SRTO) Notification (Approval from the Australian Apprentice Support Network)
Enrolment Form
Training Plan (completed with employer and Strategix)
ERA, RFC (completed by employer and Strategix).
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