Start TAFE Now (STN)
CQUniversity Australia is a registered training organisation and through the Start TAFE Now program, offers Year 10*, 11 and 12 high school students the opportunity to study a range of vocational education and training (VET) courses as part of their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
Students have the option to choose between certificate and diploma level courses in a wide variety of study areas.
The Start TAFE Now program provides high school students the opportunity to gain:
- practical hands-on training
- valuable skills for greater employability
- credit towards a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE)
- real trade skills and qualifications while completing high school
- a competitive edge in the employment marketplace
- credit towards further study
Plus, Year 11 students can include a Certificate III qualification or higher to contribute to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).
* Applicants for Year 10 students may also be considered, who meet the eligibility requirements and would like to study a course under the Start TAFE Now program. In this instance, please contact stn@cqu.edu.au prior to completing and submitting an application.
Find Out More
About Applications
Congratulations on your decision deciding to broaden your skills and capacities through undertaking a Start TAFE Now course with CQUniversity. We’ve simplified the application process so you can commence your new educational journey sooner. In preparation to make your online application review the information below to ensure you are ready to go.
What do I need for my application?
- Unique Student Identifier (USI)
- Learner Unique Identifier (LUI)
- Signed Start TAFE Now Authorisation Form
Download, print and complete the Start TAFE Now Authorisation Form. Please ensure all information provided in the form is accurate and you have entered all sections in full including parental consent and school consent.
2023 STN Applications Deadlines
Application Dates
Proposed Intake Dates | Due Date to Apply | Due Date to Supply Docs | Last Day to Enroll |
JANUARY – Commences 3 January 2023
| Monday 9 Jan 2023 | Thursday 12 January 2023 | Friday 13 January 2023 |
FEBRUARY – Commences 30 January 2023 | Monday 6 February 2023 | Thursday 9 February 2023 | Friday 10 February 2023 |
MARCH – Commences 27 February 2023
| Monday 6 March 2023 | Thursday 9 March 2023 | Friday 10 March 2023 |
APRIL – Commences 3 April 2023
| Monday 10 April 2023 | Thursday 13 April 2023 | Friday 14 April 2023 |
MAY – Commences 1 May 2023
| Monday 8 May 2023 | Thursday 11 May 2023 | Friday 12 May 2023 |
JUNE – Commences 5 June 2023
| Monday 12 June 2023 | Thursday 15 June 2023 | Friday 16 June 2023 |
July – Commences 3 July 2023
| Monday 10 July 2023 | Thursday 13 July 2023 | Friday 14 July 2023 |
August – Commences 31 July 2023
| Monday 7 August 2023 | Thursday 10 August 2023 | Friday 11 August 2023 |
SEPTEMBER – Commences 4 September 2023
| Monday 11 September 2023 | Thursday 14 September 2023 | Friday 15 September 2023 |
OCTOBER – Commences 2 October 2023
| Monday 9 October 2023 | Thursday 12 October 2023 | Friday 13 October 2023 |
NOVEMBER – Commences 30 October 2023
| Monday 6 November 2023 | Thursday 9 November 2023 | Friday 10 November 2023 |
DECEMBER – Commences 4 December 2023
| Monday 11 December 2023 | Thursday 14 December 2023 | Friday 10 November 2023 |
^Not every course has an intake each month
^^Applications received after the closing date for each month may not be enrolled until the next month
Once your application has been submitted an acknowledgement email will be sent to yourself, your nominated school contact and your nominated parent.
CQUniversity will send you a link to complete the Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) pre-enrolment literacy and numeracy assessment tool. Please complete this as soon as possible. Once completed, you will be assigned an Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) level. The ACSF level is then used to provide you with advice around your course of study and to identify if literacy and numeracy support is required.
There may be other pre-enrolment requirements including a Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Declaration and further parent acknowledgements depending on how your individual case is assessed.
Information for Schools and Parents
A young person’s education journey only begins with a Start TAFE Now course. Deciding to undertake a Start TAFE Now course is not an easy choice. If they are unsure of their future career aspirations here is some information useful for parents and schools to support young people now and in the future.
VET Student Loans is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students studying diploma level and above qualifications to pay their tuition fees. It cannot be used for other study-related costs such as accommodation or textbook. To find out more go to VET Student Loan
CQUniversity Australia has written agreements with schools who provide third party services on our behalf. For details please open the Start TAFE Now Partnership Listing. Specific information on partnered schools may be provided by your school VET Co-ordinator and CQUniversity representative or by making a specific enquiry via email to stn@cqu.edu.au.
If you are a Queensland resident and have graduated Year 12 with a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), and are keen to start your studies within the next calendar year, you may be eligible to study at CQUniversity fee-free in high-priority study areas under the Certificate 3 Guarantee and User Choice programs. These programs are only applicable to predetermined courses for more details visit the Year 12 Graduate Fee-Free Training Fact Sheet or call our friendly Student Advice Team.
At CQUniversity, we offer a variety of support services to assist our students to develop the personal resilience and skills needed to achieve both their academic and personal goals. To find out more about the various support services go to Student Support.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Students undertaking Start TAFE Now, can select to study a VET in Schools course funded by the Queensland Government’s VET Investment budget. Students can complete one employment stream qualification at the certificate I or II level. Many of these courses are offered by CQUniversity.
For qualifications at a certificate III level or higher the Qld Government encourage students to do so through a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT)—funding for a SAT is available under the User Choice program.
If you have not completed any vocational education courses previously then you will be eligible to access the VET in Schools (VETiS) funding should your course be on the subsidised course list.
You must be enrolled in a Queensland secondary school to be eligible to access the funding.
If you are not eligible for VET in Schools (VETiS) funding or your course is not on the subsidised course list, then you will be required to pay full fees for your course. If you are studying at the diploma level, you may be eligible to access a VET Student Loan.
Students undertaking Start TAFE Now, can select to study a VET in Schools course funded by the Queensland Government’s VET Investment budget.
For students who have previously studied a vocational education course your application will be assessed to determine if you have previously used your funding. When you enrolled with your previous provider, they would have provided a confirmation of enrolment which would have noted how your study was funded.
If you are not eligible for VET in Schools (VETiS) funding or your course is not on the subsidised course list, then you will be required to pay full fees for your course. If you are studying at the diploma level, you may be eligible to access a VET Student Loan.
We know that getting off to good start in any study is a great predictor for success, and Start TAFE Now is no exception. Here are a few points we have put together for your students to help them get off to not just a good but a great start in their course.
Know why you are doing this course – Everyone has different reasons and ways they go about choosing courses (and most things in life!). Even if this course was initially chosen for you, rather than by you, think about how it aligns with your strengths, interests, and career aspirations. Knowing why you are doing this course – the purpose of it for you and how it will shape your life – will help you succeed, in particular during times when you might feel that is difficult.
Ask for help when you need to – One of the biggest differences between high school and TAFE/Uni study is that with the latter you often need to be the one who asks for help. It isn’t always just handed to you. Having said that here at CQUni there is always someone to help. Whether that it is asking our friendly Schools Engagement team (stn@cqu.edu.au) about your application, BKSB, enrolment or completion, your teacher about all of your learning and assessment, our IT team (TaSAC) for any tech issues you may face or any of our Student Support services. Asking for help with something you don’t know will get you closer to completing your course – don’t ever hesitate to ask.
Have your resources ready to go – Read your CQUni communications (make sure check your CQUni email account often) prior to your course commencing, as well as listen carefully to what you are told on your first day. Most courses will require some type of resource that is different to what you need for school, whether it is a pair of steel-capped boots or a type of software. Do not delay in getting what you need to get your course done, and if you are stuck, refer to the above point (ask for help!).
Know your schedule and get into a routine – Schedule will be different for each course. Some of you will have a day each school week when you are on campus; some of you will get to choose when you get online and engage with the learning material. Either way, set and know your schedule, and remember to lock in time to complete your assessment as well. The better planned you are and the sooner you get into a good study routine, the better.
Finally, do not forget to read and refer back to your Start TAFE Now Preparation for Term Guide which you will receive prior to classes commencing.
