Skills First Initiative

Accend is an Approved Training Provider for Government-subsidised training in Victoria. Eligible candidates can access government funding towards the cost of their training. This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government Funding under the Skills First Initiative. Accend encourages individuals with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Am I eligible for government-subsidised training?

Generally, you are eligible for a government-subsidised training place if you are:

• an Australian citizen
• an Australian Permanent Resident (holder of a permanent visa)
• a New Zealand citizen

and are any of the following:

• under 20 years of age
• seeking to enrol in a Foundation Skills List course (and do not hold a Diploma or above qualification or are receiving core skills training in other sectors)
• seeking to enrol in VCE or VCAL
• seeking to enrol in an apprenticeship
• 20 years and older and ‘upskilling’ by seeking to enrol in a course at a higher level than your existing qualification.

If you are enrolled at a school, you will not be able to receive a government-subsidised training place for a course through the Skills First Program, unless you are undertaking the course as part of a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship. The Government supports schools in other ways to offer vocational training to their students, so you should discuss all your options with your school.

How many courses am I eligible for?

You are eligible to commence a maximum of two subsidised courses at the same qualification level in your lifetime. This restriction applies whether or not you complete the courses. For example, this means if you have already commenced two courses at the Certificate III level, you may only commence courses at the Certificate IV level (or above).

This restriction does not apply to courses on the Foundation Skills List or to students recommencing training in the same qualification (at the same or a different provider).

Under exceptional circumstances students may apply for an exemption to the rule allowing only two commencements at the same level, enabling them to enrol in a further qualification at the same level.

In addition, eligible students can begin up to two subsidised courses in a year as long as you are not doing any more than two courses at a time.

Apprenticeships

If you are seeking to enrol in an apprenticeship (not a traineeship) and you have already commenced two courses in that same year, you will be eligible for government subsidised training under Skills First if either of the two courses you previously commenced are included on the Higher Education and Skills Pre-Apprenticeship and Pathway qualifications list:

Eligibility for Concession Fees

You may be entitled to a concession on your fees if you are in a government funded place and you meet the eligibility criteria. In general, you are eligible if you have a valid concession card issued by Centrelink and presented at the time of enrolment. A card is deemed to be valid where the card start date is before or on your first scheduled class. You must present the original of your valid concession card when you enrol. If you have applied for, but not received, your concession card then you are permitted to present a letter from Centrelink called ‘Confirmation of Concession Card Entitlement’ that confirms you have submitted your application and been approved for your concession card. This letter from Centrelink must be presented at the time of your enrolment.

If your tuition fee concession application is successful, your concession fee will be charged at 20% of the government funded tuition rate for your program.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in a government funded place will continue to be eligible to access concession at all program levels (including diploma, advanced diploma, vocational graduate certificate and vocational graduate diploma programs).

Documentation required to support your application: if you have a valid Commonwealth Health Care, Pensioner or Veteran’s Gold card, the original or a certified copy of the relevant cards must be provided. If you do not have one of these cards, or your card is not valid, please select concession category – Aboriginal/ Torres Strait Islander without concession card, on the form.

More information relating to the Skills First Program and eligibility criteria can be found at http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/

Your eligibility will be determined as part of NAHB’s enrolment process but you can also check your eligibility using the following link;

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/

If you are not eligible for government-subsidised training you will pay the full fee listed on the respective course pages.

We encourage individuals with disabilities and from diverse backgrounds to apply.