A training provider will confirm your eligibility when you enrol
But you can do a first check using our Eligibility Calculator.
The South Australian Government subsidises vocational education and training (VET) courses so you can get the skills employers want. Your eligibility for government subsidised training is based on your employment status and any training you’ve already completed at first enrolment.
Check if you're eligible
We can help you figure out if you're likely to be eligible for subsidised training. A training provider will confirm your eligibility when you enrol.
Check if you're eligible
To understand if you are eligible for subsidised training, please contact the Skills SA Infoline on 1800 673 097.
Eligibility criteria
You may be eligible for subsidised training if you live or work in South Australia, and you are:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen
- a permanent Australian resident, or
- an eligible visa holder (See eligible visas below)
and are:
- 16 years or over and not enrolled at school, OR
- Enrolled in Year 10, 11 or 12 and employed in a Training Contract that combines VET and SACE or school-based curriculum, OR
- Enrolled in Year 11, 12 or 13 and you are 16 or turning 16 years of age in the current year of enrolment, AND undertaking SACE or its equivalent
About student eligibility
Currently the South Australian Government is offering more opportunities for you to enrol in a course on the Subsidised Training List.
This means if you are eligible for a subsidised place:
- you can access courses regardless of your prior qualifications
- you can undertake more than one course or short course
- any training completed during this period will not impact on your entitlement to access a subsidised training place.
School-enrolled students are entitled to access one Certificate II and one Certificate III course while at school.
Until further notice, students can continue to access subsidised training regardless of their training history or prior qualifications.
Standard entitlement after this time will include the following entitlement based on an individual’s highest level of non-school education and their employment status at first enrolment in subsidised VET.
Entitlement is based on an individual’s highest level of non-school education and their employment status at first enrolment in subsidised VET.
Status at first enrolment: No non-school qualifications OR unemployed and registered with an Employment Services Provider:
Entitlement to subsidised training:
- One training place at Certificate II level
- Two training places at Certificate III level or above
- Access to foundation skills courses or up to five fee-free bridging units of competency for those assessed to need them
- Access to up to five vocational bridging units of competency for those assessed to need them.
Status at first Enrolment: Certificate II level or below:
Entitlement to subsidised training:
- Two training places at Certificate III level or above
- Access to foundation skills courses as required
- Up to five fee-free bridging units of competency for those assessed to need them
- Up to five vocational bridging units of competency for those assessed to need them.
Status at first Enrolment: Certificate III level or above:
Entitlement to subsidised training:
- One training place at Certificate III level or above
- Access to foundation skills courses as required
- Up to five fee-free foundation skills bridging units of competency for those assessed to need them
- Up to five vocational bridging units of competency for those assessed to need them.
- All permanent residency visa holders
- 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), subclass 050 and 051*
- Temporary Protection Visa (TPV), subclass 785*
- Bridging Visa B (BVB), subclass 020*
- Bridging Visa F (BVF), subclass 060*
- Partner Visa (Temporary), subclass 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.
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.
Before you start training, you may need help to brush up basic skills including reading, writing or numeracy. If you need to you can access fee free foundation skills bridging units or courses. Your training provider will let you know about foundation skills courses if you need them.
To successfully complete your course, you may need additional learning. Bridging units assist covering gaps in your existing knowledge or skills to make sure you don’t fall behind. If you need to you can study up to five subsidised bridging units.
National skill sets are short courses made up of one or more units of competency from a training package that are designed to deliver specific technical skills.
Local skill sets are specifically designed as introductory training pathways that help students to find out more about an industry before starting a training course.
There is currently no limit on how many national skill sets or local skill sets an eligible student can access.