Australian Capital Territory - User Choice
ACT User Choice funding (Australian Apprenticeships) is an Australian Apprenticeship initiative in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) that provides a government contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible apprentices and trainees undertaking nationally recognised qualifications. It is jointly funded by the ACT and Australian Governments. This funding combines practical work with structured learning and leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
Eligibility
To be eligible for ACT User Choice funding, an apprentice or trainee must meet the following criteria:
You must work in the ACT and you must work for an ACT employer. An ACT employer is an employer with a workplace address in the ACT (Note: The employer's workplace address must be a physical address in the ACT, not a PO Box, and the usual worksite for the Australian Apprentice), and
be at least 15 years of age, and
be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or New Zealand passport holder resident for more than 6 months, or an eligible visa holder, and
receive remuneration for your work, and
complete a minimum of 15 hours combined work and training per week, and
undertake an approved Australian Apprenticeships qualification with an approved registered training organisation, as listed on the ACT Qualifications Register, and
have the required supervision in the workplace for an Australian Apprentice.
New and Existing Workers
Eligibility and subsidy levels can be influenced by whether the apprentice or trainee is classified as a "new worker" or an "existing worker":
New Worker: Generally employed less than three months full-time or 12 months part-time/casual equivalent at the time of commencing the training contract. This can also include individuals transitioning from a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship to a post-school one with the same employer or moving from a Group Training Organisation (GTO) to direct employment with a host employer. A New Worker will be subsidised by the ACT Government.
Existing Worker: Generally employed as a permanent or casual employee for more than three months full-time or 12 months part-time prior to the commencement of the training contract, in a qualification where funding for existing workers is available on the ACT Qualifications Register.
Funded courses under User Choice
Under the User Choice program, the RTO is required to charge a co-contribution fee:
Qualification Code and Name
HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection
MSL20122 Certificate II in Sampling & Measurement
MSL30122 Certificate III in Laboratory Skills
MSL40122 Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques
MSL50122 Diploma of Laboratory Technology
MSM30318 Certificate III in Manufactured Mineral Products
MSM30116 Certificate III in Process Manufacturing
New workers Co-contribution fee
$800
$600
$800
$800
$1000
$1400
$1400
Existing Workers Co-contribution fee
$800
No subsidy available
No subsidy available
No subsidy available
No subsidy available
No subsidy available
No subsidy available
* New workers are full-time employees hired within the last three months OR part-time employees hired within the last 12 months.
** This co-contribution fee is divided into three instalments, invoiced approximately every three months.
The Student Contribution Fees will be refunded to the appropriate payee where one of the following is met:
ABC cancels the course in which the student has enrolled.
The student cancels their enrolment prior to the commencement date of their course.
Cost of Living Payment – ACT Initiated Financial Support
The ACT Government provides a Cost of Living Payment to assist apprentices and trainees with personal expenses while undertaking their training. Eligible apprentices and trainees who are active in their training on 1 July 2025 will receive:
$250 payment to assist with general cost of living, and
An additional $250 (total $500) for those in their first year of training, to support the cost of tools, equipment or other training-related expenses.
Payments are made directly to the individual, not the RTO or employer.
To be eligible the student must:
Reside in the ACT
Be employed by an ACT employer
Be active in their training contract on 1 July 2025
Provide their full name (as per training contract), date of birth, mobile number, bank account details, and the name of their qualification
Payments are processed by the ACT Government and may take up to four weeks from submission of the online application.
Fee Concessions
Some funded apprentices and trainees may be eligible for a fee concession, which can reduce or remove the co-contribution fee charged by ABC. See Application for Fee Concession Reimbursement form.
To be eligible the student must:
Must not have been fee-for-service (unfunded)
Hold a current Health Care Card or Pension Card, or
Can demonstrate genuine financial hardship
Note: If the student is under 18, the concession may be based on the parent or guardian's eligibility.
Where a concession is approved, the ACT Government reimburses ABC up to $500, and ABC will waive any remaining fees, resulting in no cost for the student.
Fee Exemptions
In some cases, no tuition fees can be charged at all, meaning the apprentice or trainee is fully exempt from payment.
A full fee exemption applies when:
ABC delivers the training to their own apprentice or trainee.
The apprentice or trainee changes employer but recommences within 12 months, in the same qualification and with the same training provider.
The apprentice or trainee is moved to a different RTO due to a change of RTO process, not by choice.
The student is an ASBA (Australian School-based Apprentice) and the school is the RTO delivering the training.
State Funding
Government funding and subsidy programs are available across Australia to support skills development, and nationally recognised training.
Whether you're an individual looking to upskill or an organisation seeking to train your workforce, there may be funding opportunities available to help reduce the cost of training.
Select your state or territory below to explore available funding programs, eligibility requirements, priority qualifications and the latest funding information relevant to your region.
Not sure where to start?
Our team can help you understand available funding options and identify the most suitable training pathways for your organisation or career goals.
Select your state below to get started.
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