Skills First Funding

Skills First

Skills First provides students of all ages, high quality training with skills employers are looking for.

We want your training to lead to a job, not just a certificate

We want your training to lead to a job, not just a certificate. The best place to start when you want to commence training is to find out if you are eligible for a government-subsidised training place. You will also want to research and choose the training provider that is going to meet your training needs. VFA Learning is a contracted Skills First provider. We offer Skills First funding for the following courses:

SS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness

SIS50321 Diploma of Sport (Coaching)

CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

HLT52015 Diploma of Remedial Massage

22316VIC Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy

Before you enrol

Before you enrol in a course with VFA Learning we will provide you with the following information:

what you will have to pay (Statement of Fees)

any concessions that may apply and what evidence you need to receive a concession

any conditions that may apply to refunds.

You may be eligible for a loan

Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for a concession – which will reduce any fees you may need to pay. Concessions on tuition fees are available for government-subsidised training in all courses below Diploma level and for training at any level, including at Diploma level and above for Indigenous students. Students undertaking training at the Diploma level and above may also be able to access financial assistance in the form of a VET Student Loan from the Australian Government.

Find out more about VET Student Loans

Skills First Student Eligibility

In order to be an Eligible Individual in respect of any training, an individual must be either:

an Australian citizen;

a holder of a permanent visa; or

a New Zealand citizen;

enrolling and commencing training in a course or qualification provided by the Training Provider between the Commencement Date and 31 December 2017 inclusive; and either:

under 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in nationally recognised training;

over 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in nationally recognised training as an Apprentice (not Trainee);

iv) over 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in training in the Victorian Certificate of Education or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (Intermediate or Senior); or

v) over 20 years of age (as at 1 January in the year of commencement of training) and enrolling in nationally recognised training in a course that is at a higher qualification level than the highest qualification held at the time of the scheduled commencement of training.

In addition to meeting the above requirements, an individual is only eligible to:

Commence a maximum of two courses subsidised through the Skills First Program in a calendar year. Where an individual is enrolled in a course(s) that is scheduled to commence at a later date in that calendar year, this course(s) must be counted for the purpose of this clause when assessing eligibility;

undertake a maximum of two courses subsidised through the Skills First Program at any one time;

commence a maximum of two government subsidised courses at the same level within the AQF in their lifetime; and

commence a maximum of two government subsidised accredited courses with the title ‘Course in…’ in their lifetime.

NOTE: Prospective students enrolling in qualification/s subsidised by the Victorian Governments under the Skills First Program should understand that enrolling in the qualification/s may affect their future training options and eligibility for further government subsidised training under Skills First