VET in Schools (VETiS)

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CQUniversity offers Vocational Education and Training (VET) at school through our Start TAFE Now (STN) program, available to eligible students aged 15 and over in Years 10, 11, and 12. With VET in Schools (VETiS) funding, students can commence nationally recognised certificate courses at no cost while still at school. As a Skills Assure supplier approved by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, CQU delivers these opportunities thanks to the Queensland Government.

VETiS is intended to place students on a pathway towards employment or further VET study, with qualifications aligned to jobs and skills in demand. VETiS funding offers either a general training pathway or a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) pathway.

The general training pathway offers access to a variety of Certificate I and II qualifications designed to prepare students to transition from school to work or further VET training. 

The school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) pathway is ideal for those interested in pursuing Certificate III qualifications through an apprenticeship/traineeship. Allowing students to combine school, paid work, and structured training while remaining eligible for VETiS funding.

To learn about Queensland Government funded programs, visit the Government Department of Trade, Employment and Training website.

Eligibility Requirements

To access a funded training place under VETiS in a general training pathway, a school student must: 

  • be first enrolled under the VET in Schools 2026 Program on or after 1 January 2026;
  • be enrolled in a Queensland school in Years 10, 11 or 12;
  • not be an international secondary exchange student in Queensland;
  • not be enrolled in a Qualification funded by the Department including a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship;
  • not have previously completed a Qualification funded by the Department under VETiS or a similar program by whatever name; and
  • have a genuine interest in pursuing a post-school vocational occupation.

To participate in Start TAFE Now with CQUniversity, students must be 15 years of age or over.

For support with submitting an application, visit Start TAFE Now Requirements and How to Apply Information.

School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SAT) present a unique opportunity for secondary school students in years 10, 11 and 12 to prepare themselves for a career of their choice. 

To learn more about eligibility requirements, visit School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

VETiS Funded Courses

The following courses are available under the VETiS General Pathway.

Please carefully consider your training options before committing to a training course, as this may exhaust your entitlement to further Queensland Government subsidised training. CQUniversity is an approved Skills Assure supplier with the Government Department of Trade, Employment and Training. This funding is subject to change. 

Students are entitled to one Queensland Government funded VET in Schools qualification in a general pathway, noting this cannot be accessed concurrently with a School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SAT).

To learn more about participating in an apprenticeship/traineeship while still at school and see the range of eligible courses, visit School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

If you 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.

Students undertaking VETiS, which is funded by the VET investment budget, can choose from a range of certificate I and II level qualifications that have been identified in consultation with industry as leading to employment outcomes and are based on skills shortages and Queensland Government priorities. Subsidised VETiS qualifications can be found on the Priority Skills List.

Students undertaking VETiS, are only funded for one VETiS qualification at the certificate I or II level funded under the VET investment budget.

You must be enrolled in a Queensland secondary school to be eligible to access the funding. There is a home education exception. Providing all other eligibility criteria is met, students who are being home schooled are eligible to access VETiS funding. The student will be required to supply a Confirmation of Registration letter for home education or acknowledgement from the applicable authority that home education for the student is granted. Approval for home education must remain current for VETiS subsidy to continue.

High school students must complete all units by the end of the school term. Once the school term is finished the student will no longer be able to access VETiS funding for any incomplete or remaining units. The student can still complete the course post-school by either paying the full fee amount for the remaining units or they may be eligible for non-VETiS funding. An example of non-VETiS funding is the Queensland Government’s Certificate 3 Guarantee. Reassessment of the student to confirm eligibility would be required. Funding for Certificate II courses under Certificate 3 Guarantee has additional eligibility requirements and the student may not be eligible. It should also be noted that utilising post school Queensland Government funding may exhaust your entitlement to further Queensland Government subsidised training.

To be eligible for most Queensland Government subsidies, you must not be currently enrolled in another qualification. If you are found to be enrolled elsewhere, you may be asked to withdraw from the qualification before your subsidy can be approved for the qualification you have applied for.
CQUniversity is required to receive proof of your withdrawal before offering a subsidy. This evidence must come from your previous Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and can be provided in one of the following ways:

  • A confirmation letter on the RTO’s official letterhead, or
  • An email from the RTO that includes their official email signature.

This confirmation must clearly state that you have been withdrawn from your previous qualification(s).
If you do not wish to be assessed for a subsidy you may choose to continue your application as a Fee for service student.
 

Start TAFE Now (STN)

Start TAFE Now (STN) program offers High School Students from year 10 the opportunity to study a range of TAFE courses while still at school.

School-Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship (SAT)

Find out more information about completing a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship with CQUniversity.

TAFE Subsidised Training

Reduce the fees you pay with government subsidised training, from free to low-fee TAFE course options.