Subsidised Training in South Australia

Invest in your future with a qualification that gives you the skills that employers are looking for. Eligible students may access government-subsidised training, allowing you to study at a significantly reduced cost.

Through this initiative, the Government of South Australia contributes to your course fees, helping make high-quality, nationally recognised training more accessible and affordable.

To access a subsidised training place, applicants must meet all course entry requirements and confirm their eligibility under the Participant Eligibility Criteria before enrolment.

For detailed information about training supported by the Government of South Australia, please visit www.skills.sa.gov.au.

AWT currently has the following qualifications available with training subsidies Supported by Government of South Australia for eligible participants:

*Funding places are limited and subject to eligibility and availability at the time of enrolment. Check your eligibility and enrol early.

Basic Eligibility for Subsidised Training

You may be eligible for a subsidised training place if you live or work in South Australia and:

Are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident, or hold an eligible state-sponsored visa on a pathway to permanent residency; and
Are 16 years or older and not enrolled in school.

Different eligibility criteria apply for school-enrolled students.

Current Subsidised Training Opportunities

The SA goverment is currently expanding access to subsidised training, allowing eligible students to:

Enrol in courses regardless of prior qualifications, and
Complete more than one course or short course.

Eligibility and Entitlement for Subsidised Training in South Australia

Current Access:
Until further notice, non–school enrolled students can access subsidised training regardless of prior qualifications or training history.

School Enrolled Students:
May complete one Certificate II and one Certificate III qualification, but not at the same time.

Standard Entitlements (for Non–School Enrolled Students)

Once the current arrangement changes, entitlements will depend on a student’s highest completed qualification and employment status at the time of their first enrolment in subsidised VET.

Status at First Enrolment	Subsidised Training Entitlement
No post-school qualification OR unemployed and registered with an Employment Services Provider	1 training place at Certificate II level 2 training places at Certificate III level or above Up to 5 fee-free foundation or vocational bridging units (if assessed to need them)
Highest qualification: Certificate II or below	2 training places at Certificate III level or above Access to foundation skills courses and up to 5 fee-free bridging units (foundation or vocational, if assessed to need them)
Highest qualification: Certificate III or above	1 training place at Certificate III level or above Access to foundation skills courses and up to 5 fee-free bridging units (foundation or vocational, if assessed to need them)

Foundation Skills and Bridging Units

Students assessed through the Upfront Assessment of Need (UAN) may receive:

Up to five fee-free bridging units at any qualification level, and
Access to subsidised foundation skills courses to support their learning and employment readiness.

Check Entitlemen t to subsidised training

Visa Eligibility for Subsidised Training (South Australia)

The following visa holders may be eligible for subsidised training in South Australia. Eligibility must be confirmed at the time of enrolment, as conditions and requirements may change.

All permanent residents
Provisional and skilled regional visas:
- Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491)
- Skilled Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 489)
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494)
Business and investment visas:
- Business Innovation and Investment (Provisional) (Subclass 188)
Humanitarian and protection visas:
- Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (Subclass 790)
- Temporary Protection Visa (Subclass 785)
- Temporary Humanitarian Stay Visa (Subclass 449)
- Temporary Humanitarian Concern Visa (Subclass 786)
Partner visas:
- Partner (Temporary) Visa (Subclass 820 and 309)
Bridging visas (A, B, E, F) — eligible only if awaiting the outcome of a permanent or eligible temporary visa application.

Repealed provisional visas (still recognised for eligibility) include subclasses 489, 475, 487, 495, 161, 162, 163, 164 and 165.

To confirm visa eligibility or any work/study conditions:

Visit the Department of Home Affairs website to check visa types.
Use the Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service to verify current conditions.

Course conditions for Subsidised Training Opportunities

Some subsidised training has course conditions and is only available to certain students, such as those under a Contract of Training (Apprenticeship or Traineeship) VET for School Students.

The Subsidised Training List provides information on courses and conditions to access subsidised places. To find out more you can also calculate subsidies for training delivery and customise and export data to understand what delivery means for your business.

To discover subsidised training opportunities, see the Subsidised Training List.

Upfront Assessment of Need (UAN)

Skills SA contracted training providers delivering subsidised training are required to undertake the Upfront Assessment of Need process for all prospective students. The UAN process is closely mapped to Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) 2025 Standards for Registered Training Organisations. This is to ensure students get the support they need to start in the right course, at the right level, to successfully complete their training.

For more information, see Upfront Assessment of Need.

People who are or have been under Guardianship of the Minister

South Australians aged 16 years or older who are or have been under a Guardianship order of a Government Minister in Australia, are eligible to access courses on the Subsidised Training List fee-free with contracted Skills SA training providers. The usual eligibility rules apply.

To apply for a fee exemption, complete the form.

Application for Exemption as a person under the Guardianship of the Minister (DOCX)

For more information on eligibility, please visit Making training more affordable on the Skills SA website.

Subsidised Training Enrolment Process

At Australian Workplace Training (AWT), we’ve made the process simple to help you get started with your subsidised course, supported by the Government of South Australia.

Step 1 – Choose Your Course & Enrol

Enrol in your chosen course with AWT.

During enrolment, we will:

Confirm you meet the entry requirements of your course
Verify your eligibility for subsidised training
Complete an Upfront Assessment of Need (UAN) to identify any learning or support requirements

What to bring when you enrol:

Proof of identity (Driver’s Licence, Passport, Proof of Age Card)
Proof of South Australian residence (e.g. Driver’s Licence or bank statement)
Proof of citizenship or eligible visa (Birth certificate, passport, copy of visa)
Evidence of prior study (if applying for Credit Transfer or RPL)
Employment Service Provider details and Job Seeker ID (if applicable)

Step 2 – Upfront Assessment of Need (UAN)

Before you start, AWT will conduct a brief assessment to help ensure your success.

This includes:

Discussing your career goals and confirming course suitability
Checking your reading, writing, and numeracy skills
Identifying any personal or life factors that might affect your study
Creating a Learning and Support Plan tailored to your needs

Step 3 – Participant Number & Agreement

If you are enrolling in a subsidised course, you will need a Participant Number.

AWT will assist you to:

Complete the Participant Agreement
Register for your Participant Number (formerly Skills for All Student Number)

Keep this number safe—it will be used for future training and to record your progress with the Department (Skills SA).

If you lose it, call 1800 673 097 or ask AWT to retrieve it for you.

Step 4 – Privacy & Access to Information

Your personal information is collected under South Australian Information Privacy Principles for training, reporting, and eligibility purposes.

You have the right to access or update your information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 1991.

For assistance, call 1800 673 097

Step 5 – Unique Student Identifier (USI)

All students undertaking nationally recognised training in Australia must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI).

Your USI links all your VET records in one secure online account.

Create your USI in minutes using your ID (such as a Medicare card or Driver’s Licence) at: www.usi.gov.au