The Certificate 3 Guarantee Program supports eligible individuals to complete their first post-school certificate III level qualification and increase their skills to move into employment, re-enter the workforce or advance their career.
FS Alliance is an approved Skills Assure Supplier, this means you may be able to access funding while studying with us. The Certificate 3 Guarantee Program is one type of funding offered by the QLD Government.
In this document, you will find all the relevant information on funding and how it relates to eligible students. If you choose to enrol and apply for funding, you will receive both a tentative enrolment email and a confirmation of enrolment which will provide you with the specific times, locations, and requirements for your enrolment.
If you complete a course under the Certificate 3 Guarantee arrangements you will be no longer eligible to access further funding under the Certificate 3 Guarantee Program.
You will receive and be required to complete a student training and employment survey within three months of completing or discontinuing the qualification.
For independent information please access the department’s Certificate 3 Guarantee student factsheet.
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for the Certificate 3 Guarantee program is set by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT). To be eligible for government assistance, prospective students must meet and provide evidence for the following eligibility criteria:
- Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency*
- Be a Queensland Resident
- Aged 15 years of age or older
- Not currently enrolled in, or attending school, Private RTO or TAFE or any University or other online study
- Not have completed or be currently enrolled in a Certificate III qualification or higher**
*This may include some humanitarian entrant or temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permit on the pathway to permanent residency. Contact FS Alliance for visa checks.
**A certificate III qualification completed at secondary school and/or a Certificate level I to Advanced Diploma qualification issued prior to 1995 has no impact on eligibility for funding.
Other Funding Options
Where a student has completed a certificate III qualification previously and/or they do not meet the above criteria they could consider undertaking a certificate IV qualification under Higher Level Skills funding.
Eligibility Evidence
Additional Evidence
Additional evidence to support Queensland residency, any of the following:
- Australian Electoral Commission document (e.g. acknowledgement of electoral enrolment letter or electoral enrolment card), must be valid at time of enrolment
- Contract of property purchase, lease / rental document, mortgage / land ownership certificate, must be valid at time of enrolment
- Electricity, gas or telephone account issued the last six (6) months
- Queensland local government rates notice, must be valid at time of enrolment
- Bank statement issued within the last six (6) months
- Official letter from Centrelink or the Australian Government Department of Human Services, must be valid at time of enrolment
- Australian Taxation Office assessment / Tax-file number confirmation notice, must be valid at time of enrolment
- Notice from the Court issued the last six (6) months (must contain seal/stamp).**
Fees and Charges
Co-Contribution Fees
Students receiving funding under the Certificate 3 Guarantee program must contribute towards the cost of their course/training. The co-contribution fees differ for each course; refer to the following table/s for pricing.
The price tables detail the fees and charges due prior to any outcome being reported. Fees are always rounded down.
Fees are broken down to a unit level so students can calculate the cost of their course accurately when they have Credit Transfers* applied.
Fees may be paid on your behalf by an employer or another third party (but not by FS Alliance). If you are required to pay fees personally you will be given a payment advice that details the total amount due and a payment schedule.
Fees are calculated by Course Fee – Credit Transfers = Total due. The fee for a Credit Transferred unit is calculated by dividing the Course Fee by the number of units, to give the cost per unit (i.e. Course Fee ÷ No. of units = cost per unit).
Example: If a course fee is $240 and the qualification contains 12 units and the student has 2 Credit Transfers, the course fees will be calculated as follows:
Work out the Credit Transfers first:
Course Fee ÷ No. of units = cost per unit
$240 ÷ 12 = $20 per unitThere are 2 units that are being credit transferred:
$20 x 2 = $40New Course Fee:
Original Course Fee – Credit Transfers = Course Fee
$240 – $40 = $200
*Credit transfers must be supported by a copy of the certificate, statement of attainment or USI transcript.
Students have the option of choosing multiple methods to pay for their course fees (i.e. Direct debit, Payment plan or over the phone by Credit Card), refer to the Fees and Charges Information Sheet for more details.
Concession
A student may access concessional pricing as follows:
- The Student holds a Health Care concession card or Pensioner concession card issued under Commonwealth law, or is the partner or a dependant of a person who holds a Health Care concession card or Pensioner concession card, and is named on the card; or
- The Student issues FS Alliance with an official form under Commonwealth law confirming that the Student, his or her partner or the person of whom the Student is a dependant, is entitled to concessions under a Health Care or Pensioner concession card; or
- The Student is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person. Acceptable evidence is as stated on the AVETMISS VET Enrolment Form.
- The student has a disability, (documented evidence from a medical practitioner must be provided)
- The student is an adult prisoner (evidence to be provided)
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Card.
Fee
Refund Policy
FS Alliance will refund in full any course fees, where a request to withdraw is received seven (7) days prior to course commencement. No refund is due when a withdrawal is within seven (7) days prior to commencement or after training has commenced, except for extenuating circumstances. Refer to the Fee Refund Information Sheet for full details.
Learner Support Services
FS Alliance Trainers and Support Officers provide students with real time assistance for any learner support needs. Students are required to disclose all needs that may impact their learning and participating prior to commencement of training.
During your induction or orientation, FS Alliance will assess your learner needs and you will be able to identify areas where assistance may be required. Our staff are always happy to help you whenever possible. If you are facing problems of any kind, please do not hesitate to contact an Administrative Assistant, Course Coordinator or your Trainer on 07 54 993 388 or admin@fsalliance.edu.au. We encourage you to take advantage of the support facilities available before any problems become an issue.
FS Alliance can provide access to specialist support for students who may have special needs, including assistance for:
- Language, literacy and numeracy
- People from disadvantaged backgrounds
- Persons from non-English speaking backgrounds
- People with disabilities
- People in rural or isolated locations.
Other services include:
- Career assessment: Assessing the student’s innate interests and personality to allow the student to make informed choices about their career plans and the course that is right for their needs
- Flexible assessment procedures: Our strategies allow for students to demonstrate outcomes in appropriately diverse ways
- Language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) assistance: We can assist with LLN barriers and/or help you to access appropriate specialised support.
