The User Choice program provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees. The User Choice program is an initiative of the Queensland Government and the Queensland Department of Education and Training.

The program is designed to provide employers and their apprentices and trainees with the ability to select their preferred registered training organisation (RTO) from a list of Queensland Government pre-qualified suppliers (PQS) for the delivery of the accredited training to meet their specific needs.

More information can be found at: http://www.training.qld.gov.au/employers/funding-incentives/apprenticeship-traineeship-incentives/user-choice.html or call 1800 210 210.

The courses included under the User Choice Program are –

• Certificate III in Agriculture
• Certificate III in Rigging
• Certificate III in Scaffolding
• Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management
• Certificate III in Civil Construction (Road Construction and Maintenance)
• Certificate III in Civil Construction (Pipe Layer)
• Certificate III in Civil Construction Plant Operations
• Certificate III in Surface Extraction Operations

Apprentices and trainees can only receive one government contribution for a User Choice funded qualification at any single point in time i.e. a student cannot be funded to undertake two apprenticeships or traineeships at the same time.

In addition, apprentices and trainees, can only receive a maximum of two government funding contributions under the current User Choice program. A second qualification will only be funded if it has a higher priority ranking than the first qualification that has been completed.

There are also some other rules specifically related to funding for School based Apprentices and Trainees (SATs), so students and their parents/guardians should discuss their intentions with their school’s vocational education and training coordinator prior to signing up as a SAT. For employers, individuals, parents and guardians, Australian Apprenticeship Centres (AACs) are another good source of information.

Employers and individuals should also note that each qualification has a priority ranking. This priority ranking indicates whether the qualification produces skills which are in shortage across the state.

There are also rules in respect to existing workers. Employers and individuals should note that existing workers, irrespective of whether they belong to a Priority Population Group, are only eligible for funding when undertaking Priority One qualifications.

There are a variety of incentives and loans available to employers, apprentices and trainees. These include incentives from the Queensland Government, Commonwealth Government and from industry bodies such as Construction Skills Queensland.

More information can be found at: http://www.training.qld.gov.au/employers/funding-incentives/apprenticeship-traineeship-incentives/index.html

The User Choice Policy requires Civil Safety to collect GST exempt fees as the participant’s contribution to the cost. To meet this requirement Civil Safety must provide evidence it has charged and collected and applied any relevant exemptions.

The rate of student contribution fees is reviewed annually and any increase is often implemented from 1 January each year. Consequently, the Supplier must ensure the student contribution fee is calculated against the correct fee rate as at the commencement of training for each respective unit of competency.

The current rate for this calendar year is $1.60 per nominal hour (per unit).
Concession rate is available for those who hold a concession card, or identify as Indigenous or Torres Straight Islander

In addition to the student fees, there may be some cases where Civil Safety may seek additional charges from an employer for the apprenticeship or traineeship. Any additional charges must be negotiated up-front and disclosed to the employer prior to the enrolment of the apprentice/trainee.

At Civil Safety we actively seek learner and client feedback on our courses and our trainers and assessors. We regularly undertake evaluations of all courses and activities to achieve continuous improvement.

These evaluations are completed at the end of a training program or traineeship. The feedback and information learners and clients provide will be used to improve future courses and teaching effectiveness.

Apprentices and trainees, can only receive a maximum of two government funding contributions under the current User Choice program. A second qualification will only be funded if it has a higher priority ranking than the first qualification that has been completed.

For further information please contact us on info@civilsafety.edu.au.