How to Get a Free Certificate III? — Government Funded/ Subsidised Training Available To Migrants

In this blog post, we will explain what a Certificate III is, the benefits of having one, how you could complete one for free, and everything else that you need to know about it. I’d also be sharing with you guys, my experience when I completed my free Certificate III in Individual Support.

What is a Certificate III?

A Certificate III in Australia is a type of qualification that qualifies an individual to undertake skilled work in their chosen field. It can also serve as a pathway for further education/ learning, i.e. to advance to a Certificate IV or a diploma. An accredited qualification is nationally recognised and meets all AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) requirements.

What are the benefits of having a Certificate III?

There are significant benefits that come with having a Certificate III, specifically when it comes to educational and professional advancement. Having one has become the standard or the minimum qualification that you’d need to be able to work in many industries. In the childcare industry for example, the minimum qualification needed to be a qualified early childhood educator or childcare provider is a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care.

Aside from assisting individuals to gain skills to secure employment or advance in their careers, many people go on to completing a Diploma or sometimes an even higher degree, soon after having completed their Certificate III.

How I got my Certificate III for free

It was September last year when I’ve enrolled myself in a Government funded training for a Certificate III in Individual Support, just five months after I’ve arrived in Australia. It was organised by a multicultural association in my town. If you’ve read my previous blogs, you’d know that I had a bit of an unfortunate start, employment wise, here in Australia. This is why I was really keen on completing a Certificate III as I knew that it would open better employment opportunities for me.

One day, I’ve found out through an acquaintance that a multicultural association in our town usually organises a Government funded Certificate III. The enrollment process wasn’t really all that complicated. I went to their office and they asked me a few questions to find out if I was eligible. They also asked for some documents. The ones that I remember them asking me copies of are my passport, Australian ID documents (driver’s license, medicare etc.), my visa grant, my Unique Student Identifier (USI), and my AFP clearance.

Back then, I was still on my Bridging visa but I was still eligible for the program because I was on a pathway to permanent residency through the Partner visa that I was applying for. I had to organise a USI for my self before they could confirm my enrollment. It was easy to do, I did it all on the USI’s website. I was also asked to complete some sort of a language, literacy and numeracy test. No need to worry though since it was not a difficult test at all.

I didn’t pay a single cent.

Right after I’ve completed my certificate III, I managed to secure better employment. I now work for the company where I did my placement in. I remember being rejected for the same job at the same company before I had my certificate III.

How long does it take to complete a Certificate III?

I just want to quickly discuss this before we move on to the actual list of state funding programs. The amount of time that it takes to complete a Certificate III depends on a number of factors.

• The course that you want to study. Some may take longer than others.
• Who your provider will be. Some providers may be able to offer you the course for a shorter period of time.
• The number of hours you can commit, whether you’ll be studying full time or part time. The more hours that you can commit to studying the course in a week, the quicker you’ll complete it. 

I also want to mention that there are different delivery methods that can be offered to you by different providers. You can study on campus (in a classroom) or by distance (online/via correspondence). You can pick whichever works best for you.

Government funding/ subsidies available for migrants

Each states and territories have their own subsidised/ free training. Their aims, offers, and eligibility criteria are quite similar but with slight differences. Read on below to know if you’re eliglible for a government funded certificate III in your respective state. 

Queensland

Queensland’s Certificate III Guarantee program supports an eligible individual in completing their certificate III level qualification. The program aims to increase a Queenslander’s skills to help them to move into employment, re-enter the workforce, or in advancing their careers. It provides free training in high priority qualifications.

Eligibility:

• You must be a Queensland resident
• You must be 15 years old or over, and are no longer at school (except for some VET in Schools students)
• You must not hold, or be enrolled in a Certificate III level or higher qualifications
• If you are either:
  – an Australian citizen
  – an Australian permanent resident (this includes humanitarian entrants)
  – a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits and is on a pathway to permanent residency.
  – a New Zealand citizen

If you want to know which courses are available under this program, visit the Queensland Skills Gateway. They also provide information about what the course covers, the careers that they lead to, as well as the approved training providers.

New South Wales

Eligibility:

• You must be living and working in New South Wales
• You should be 15 years old or over
• You should no longer be at school
• If you are either:
  – an Australian citizen
  – an Australian permanent resident
  – a humanitarian visa holder
  – a New Zealand citizen

For more information on this program, visit the Smart and Skilled FAQs page.

South Australia

The South Australian government may pay a part of your course fees if you want to study a course that will equip you with skills that employers need. You may be able to receive this government subsidy based on your current employment status and the previous training that you’ve completed.

Eligibility:

• You must be 16 years old or over
• You must not be enrolled at school (with some exemptions)
• If you are either:
  – an Australian citizen
  – an Australian permanent resident
  – an eligible visa holder
  – a New Zealand citizen

Victoria

Victoria has the Job Trainer program which is a joint initiative of the Commonwealth and Victoria’s state government. This program provides additional funding to increase access to low fee or even free training for the benefit of job seekers.

There are courses on offer under this program for a wide range of industries that are identified as a sector in need of skills employment growth. 

Eligibility:

• You must be a Victorian
• You must be 17 to 24 years old when the course starts; or
• A job seeker of any age
• If you are either:
  – an Australian citizen
  – an Australian permanent resident
  – an asylum seeker
  – a New Zealand citizen 

Australian Capital Territory

This program offers the community of the ACT with access to quality training with the aim of filling in critical skills needs areas across different industries. The courses available through this initiatives ranges from certificate III to advanced diploma.

Eligibility:

• You must be living or working in the ACT
• At least 15 years old
• You should not be enrolled in or attending secondary school or college (with some exemptions)
• If you are either:
  – an Australian citizen
  – an Australian permanent resident
  – a New Zealand citizen that’s been a resident for 6+ months
  -an eligible visa holder

Tasmania

Tasmania’s JobTrainer Fund is a collaborative initiative between the Australian and Tasmanian Governments. The program supports no-cost training (a range of full qualifications and skill sets) for Tasmanian job seekers, school leavers and young people.

Eligibility:

• You must be a Tasmanian
• 17 to 24 years old at the start of the course; or
• a Job seeker of any age
• If you’re either:
  – an Australian citizen
  – an Australian permanent resident
  – a New Zealand citizen

Northern Territory 

Eligibility:

• Resident of the Northern Territory
• You must have the skills and capabilities to undertake training and to actively engage in employment.
• If you are either:
  – a job seeker
  – receiving an income support payment
  – underemployed i.e.  employed on a casual or part time basis, and working less than 35 hours per week, and willing and able to work additional hours
  – a school leaver or young person – 17 to 24 years of age 
• If you’re one of the following:
  – an Australian citizen
  – an Australian permanent resident

Western Australia

Western Australia’s Job Ready offers free programs that create employment pathways to participants.Some of the courses that are currently available through this program are Ageing and Disability, Bricklaying, and Infrastructure (Civil Construction).

Eligibility:

• All residents of Western Australia, including some temporary visa holders.
• If you’re 15-24 years old at the time of enrolment (school students excluded)
• Secondary school-aged but are not enrolled at school
• JobSeeker or JobKeeper payment recipients
• Recipients of (and their dependents) Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY 
• If you are or a dependent of a person holding a pensioner concession card, Health Care Card, Repatriation Health Benefits Card, and the dependents of inmates of a custodial institution.

References:

https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/providers/funded/certificate3
https://smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au/
https://www.skills.sa.gov.au/
https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/s/jobtrainer
https://www.skills.act.gov.au/skilled-capital
https://www.skills.tas.gov.au/about/current_projects/jobtrainer/jobtrainer_courses
https://nt.gov.au/learning/adult-education-and-training/free-training-courses
https://www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/pathways

Disclaimer All content and information in this post is for purposes of sharing my experiences only, does not constitute professional advice and does not establish any kind of professional-client relationship.

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