Fee-Free and Subsidised Courses in Australia: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Every Australian state funds a number of places each year so eligible domestic students can study nationally recognised vocational qualifications at no cost or reduced cost. This guide explains what the subsidy actually covers, who counts as eligible, what each state's program is called, and what happens between your first enquiry and your first class.
The same question comes up on the phone every week: "The website says free — is it actually free?"
For someone who meets the criteria, yes: the tuition component is zero. But a lot is packed into "meets the criteria" — residency status, which state you live in, and what you have already studied. This guide unpacks it.
What the subsidy covers, and what it does not
Governments subsidise tuition. The state pays the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) per enrolled student, and the price you see drops to zero or to a small fixed amount.
Usually outside the subsidy:
- Materials, uniforms and footwear (some providers include these, some charge separately)
- Official fees for police checks and Working with Children Checks
- Travel and meals during placement
- Re-assessment and deferral fees
Who counts as eligible
The detail varies by state, but four things are checked almost everywhere:
1. Residency status. Subsidised places are for domestic students — Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens and certain humanitarian visa holders. Student visa holders are generally not eligible and enrol in fee-for-service or international courses instead.
2. Which state you live in. The money comes from a state government, so you normally have to live in that state. Living in Sydney and applying for a South Australian subsidised place usually does not work.
3. Age and school status. Most programs require you to be at least 15 or 16 and no longer at school.
4. What you have already studied. This is the one people miss. In several states, holding an existing Australian qualification at the same or a higher level affects your eligibility. Already having a Diploma may rule out a subsidised Certificate III. The rules differ by state and there are exceptions — do not decide this one yourself.
What each state calls its program
Using the right name makes searching much easier:
| State | Common program name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | Smart and Skilled / Fee-Free TAFE | Subsidy set per qualification code; some courses are fully fee-free |
| QLD | Certificate 3 Guarantee / Fee-Free TAFE | Aimed at people without a Certificate III or above |
| WA | Lower fees, local skills | Selected courses drop to a low fixed fee |
| SA | Subsidised Training List | Only qualifications on the list attract a subsidy |
Program names and the list of covered courses are revised periodically, so no article stays accurate forever — always check the current state government and provider information.
Fee-free, subsidised, fee-for-service, international
Every course on FastSkill carries a fee type:
- Fee-free — tuition is zero for applicants who qualify.
- Subsidised — the state covers most of it and you pay well below the commercial rate.
- Fee for service — no subsidy, or you do not qualify for one; you pay the provider's price.
- International — for student visa holders and other non-domestic applicants; different pricing and entry requirements.
The same qualification can carry different fee types in different states. CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support is a good example: there is a fee-free intake in Queensland, subsidised intakes in NSW and SA, and the same provider runs a fee-for-service option for people who do not qualify.
What happens between enquiry and first class
- Take the check. The 30-second eligibility check asks about your status, your state and your prior study, and gives a preliminary read.
- An advisor calls. Bilingual, usually within one business day. This step maps the rough answer onto a specific intake — which classes have places, and whether the start date suits you.
- Documents. Typically proof of identity (passport or PR visa), proof of address, and a USI (Unique Student Identifier — you can create one at this point if you do not have one).
- LLN assessment. A language, literacy and numeracy check run by the RTO. Most Certificate III courses use this instead of requiring an IELTS score.
- The provider confirms your subsidy eligibility. This is the real answer — everything before it is a prediction.
- Enrol and start.
Three common misunderstandings
"It says free, so I'll get it free." Fee-free means the intake has subsidised places, not that every applicant automatically receives one.
"My English isn't good enough." Most Certificate III courses do not require an IELTS score, and the LLN check is an assessment rather than a filter. Courses are designed for learners whose first language is not English — though they are taught in English, and that is worth preparing for.
"I'll enrol in something now and switch later." As above, an existing Australian qualification can affect later subsidy eligibility. It is worth thinking about where you spend your first subsidised place.
Next
- Not sure whether you qualify: take the eligibility check
- Want to browse first: all open courses
- Concerned about visa status: what PR holders, student visa holders and temporary visa holders can study
- Already have a field in mind: Aged & Disability Care · Early Childhood · Community Services