Making training more affordable
What's subsidised training?
Subsidised training is where the South Australian Government pays part of your accredited course fees for you. This money goes straight to your training provider, so you can focus on your training.
How to access it
- Check if you are eligible.
- If you are, filter your course search by selecting the subsidised training tick box.
Are you eligible?
You might be eligible for subsidised training if you live or work in South Australia, and are:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen
- a permanent Australian resident or
- an eligible visa holder.
Looking good so far?
You also need to be:
For adult learners
- 16 years or over and not enrolled at school or
For those still at school
- 16 or turning 16 years of age in the current year of enrolment and enrolled in Year 11, 12 or 13 doing SACE or an equivalent or
- enrolled in Year 10, 11 or 12 and employed in a Training Contract that combines VET and SACE or school-based curriculum
More about subsidised training
It’s now easier than ever to secure training in a subsidised course.
If you’re eligible:
- you may be able to undertake two subsidised courses (including short courses) at the same time
- any training completed during this period will not impact on your entitlement to access a subsidised training place*
- some courses may be accessible without the requirement for prior qualifications
*Highest level of education may impact. Speak with the Skills Infoline for more information.
If you’re at school, you can access Certificate II and Certificate III courses from a range of qualifications approved for school students.
What is standard entitlement?
Standard entitlement refers to your entitlement to access a subsidised training place based on your highest level of education and your employment status.
Right now, if you not enrolled at school, you can access subsidised training no matter what training history or prior qualifications you may have.
In the future, your highest level of non-school education and employment status at the time you first enrol will be relevant. Updates will be provided once this is required.
If you enrolled in school you can complete up one Certificate II and one Certificate III course, but not at the same time.
- All Permanent Residency Visas
- Skilled – Work Regional (subclass 491)
- Skilled – Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494)
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) Visa (subclass 188)
- Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) (subclass 790)
- Bridging Visa A (subclass 010)*
- Bridging Visa E (BE) (subclasses 050 and 051)*
- Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) (subclass 785)*
- Bridging Visa B (BVB) (subclass 020)*
- Bridging Visa F (BVF) (subclass 060)*
- Partner Visa (Temporary) (subclasses 820 and 309)
- Temporary Humanitarian Stay Visa (subclass 449)
- Temporary Humanitarian Concern (THC) Visa (subclass 786).
*Individuals on bridging visas are only eligible where they are waiting on the outcome of an application for a permanent visa or one of the temporary visas listed above and below.
- Visa holders with the following repealed provisional visas are also eligible for subsidised training:
- Skilled – Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489)
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored Visa (subclass 475)
- Skilled – Regional Sponsored Visa (subclass 487)
- Skilled Independent – Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 495)
- Senior Executive (Provisional) Visa (subclass 161)
- Investor (Provisional) Visa (subclass 162)
- State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner (Provisional) Visa (subclass 163)
- State/Territory Sponsored Senior Executive (Provisional) Visa (subclass 164)
- State/Territory Sponsored Investor (Provisional) Visa (subclass 165).
To check your visa type, visit the Department of Home Affairs.
To check any work or study entitlement conditions attached to your visa, visit the Australian Government’s Visa Entitlement Verification Online service.
- You may need to brush up on your basic skills in reading, writing or maths before you start training or alongside your course.
- Your training provider will let you know about foundation skills if you need them.
If your assessed to need foundation skills, and you are not enrolled in school, you can access Fee Free foundation skills bridging units or courses.
- Bridging units are extra learning to make sure you don’t fall behind — filling any gaps in your knowledge or skills.
- You can access up to five subsidised bridging units for each subsidised course if you are assessed to need them.
If you’re not enrolled in school, then skill sets can get you started or help you upskill.
Local Skill Sets
- Local skill sets are training pathways designed in South Australia to introduce you to an industry before starting your training course.
National Skill Sets
- National skill sets are short courses designed to deliver specific technical skills — made up from one or more units of competency from a training package.
Right now, there’s no limit on how many national skill sets or local skill sets you can access.