Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Evidence

Certificate 3 Guarantee Funding Policy

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT) provides funding to eligible students in Queensland. Students must provide evidence to support the following:

• Proof of enrolment

• Proof of age

• Permanent residency in QLD

• Citizenship/permanent residency status

• AISS check conducted

• No post-school cert III or above

• No current enrolment in a cert III or above

• Concession evidence.

In some situations students may be required to provide additional evidence to support their enrolment in relation to their personal situation or the specific course requirements, this evidence may include:

• Police check, blue or yellow card*

• Parent consent**

*Required, where a qualification requires a security clearance for the student to be deemed competent for vocational placement within an industry

**Required if the student is a minor and/or not an independent youth. Students who identify as Independent Youth, must inform Strategix and supply evidence prior to commencing the enrolment process (Not a funding eligibility requirement)

Supporting Evidence Requirements

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 signed enrolment form containing questions sufficient to identify ineligible candidates and seeking to identify previously achieved units of competency. Including Previous Surname/s, current enrolments etc.

• 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.

Age (15 years or over)

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

• Queensland Driver Licence

• Queensland Adult Proof of Age Card

• Queensland Heavy Vehicle or Marine Licence

• Passport

• Birth Certificate

• 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

• Queensland Heavy Vehicle or Marine Licence

• Passport

• Birth Certificate

• Australian Citizen Certificate*

• Pensioner Concession Card

• Health Care Card

• Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

• 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:

• 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; however, in some cases the blue Medicare card can be used with sufficient additional documentation – coloured copies required).

AISS Checks

Conduct a search prior to enrolment (no more than 30 days) 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.

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 a certificate III or higher qualification relevant to the specific program under which training is being funded; 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 a certificate III or higher qualification relevant to the specific program under which training is being funded.

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:

• Evidence the student is the partner or dependant of a person who holds a Health Care and/or Concession Card and is named on that card

• Evidence the student is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander – self-declaration on the signed enrolment form by the student will suffice

• Evidence the student has a disability – Pensioner Concession Card or other documentation verifying the holder has a disability

• Evidence the student is an adult prisoner – formal signed confirmation from the place of incarceration.

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

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.

Certificate 3 Guarantee Funding Procedure

This procedure sets out instructions for dealing with processes relating to Certificate 3 Guarantee funding.

Sales/Administration

• Signup

  • Eligibility

  • AISS check (Partner Portal)

  • Evidence collection.

• Enrolment

  • Axcelerate

  • Enrolment form

  • LLN

  • Student handbook

  • Declaration

  • Student information/induction

  • Unique Student Identifier (USI).

• Fees

  • Payment (concession/non concession)

  • Refund.

Trainers

• Training

  • Attendance

  • Materials (TAS)

  • Verify training commencement

  • Withdrawal matrix.

• Assessment

  • Completed assessment materials

  • Dates & signatures

  • Marking guides

  • Feedback & comment

  • Record of results

  • Marking and awarding correct result.

• Surveys

  • Completed and signatures.

Administration

• Validation

  • Completed assessment tasks

  • Signatures (student & trainer)

  • Date ranges (start/end) & attendance

  • Assessment outcomes

  • Assessment tools vs record of results dates.

• File Checking

  • As per Audit Checklist

  • Return to Field required files.

• Entering results

  • Axcelerate procedure (postcodes, AVETMISS reporting, delivery modes/outcomes)

  • Check each student individual aXcelerate record for Credit Transfer (CT) opportunity

  • Bulk resulting

  • Correct funding and contract codes applied

  • Correct concession/non-concession codes applied

  • Correct invoicing applied.

• Scanning

  • Check order of materials

  • Scan to C3G folder

  • Check pages/content.

• Surveys

  • Call students

  • Scan completed forms

  • Complete spreadsheet

  • Axcelerate recording.

Information that must be provided to students prior to enrolment:

• Co-contribution fees (SAS Policy, Performance standard 1B)

• Refund Policy (SAS Policy, Performance standard 1C)

• Eligibility and funding requirements (SAS Policy, Performance standard 1D)

• Department’s Fact Sheet (SAS Policy, Performance standard 1E)

• May receive a survey from the Department (SAS Policy, Performance standard 1F)

• Third-Party name and the training and/or assessment services they will provide to the student (SAS Policy, Performance standard 1G), where applicable

• Student Handbook (SAS Audit Evidence Requirements, pg 24), including student acknowledgment of contents

• Vocational placement fact sheet or information (SAS Audit Evidence Requirements, pg 28)