What is JobTrainer?

The federal and state governments created the JobTrainer initiative to help get young people and job seekers work in a wide range of industries suffering skills shortages. To date, over 300,000 training places have been added to the initiative, as well as extra funding to subsidise some or all tuition fees.

Job seekers and young people, including school leavers, can now take full advantage of subsidised training to learn skills for in-demand jobs, in areas such as health, aged and disability care, IT and trades.

Am I eligible?

Anyone can apply for a JobTrainer place in an identified priority course. Priority courses include aged care, early childhood education and care, disability care, and digital skills programs. 

To apply for any other JobTrainer place, you must be:

  • 17 to 24 years of age when the course starts; or
  • a job seeker of any age, where a job seeker is defined as a person who: holds a valid and current Health Care Card issued by the Commonwealth, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran’s Gold Card, or is a dependant of an accepted concession card holder; or is unemployed.

You must not have commenced a full qualification under JobTrainer before. You can commence only one qualification and one skill set under JobTrainer, even if they don't complete your course, so consider your training choices carefully.

Discover where JobTrainer could take you

JobTrainer
View video transcript [PDF 245KB]

What training can I do?

JobTrainer at Swinburne can get you job-fit with a huge range of diplomas, certificates and short courses to choose from. Browse below for training on offer.

*identified priority course

*identified priority course

*identified priority course

Are you an employer?

JobTrainer could support you to pay apprentice and trainee wages, so you can keep your staff working. Read more on the government’s Your Career and Australian Apprenticeships sites.

Frequently asked questions

JobTrainer is a joint federal and state government initiative which provides additional funding to increase access to free or low-fee training places for young people and job seekers who have been most affected by the COVID-19.

JobTrainer complements the existing subsidised training available under Skills First as well as Free TAFE.

Please click through to the course page you are interested in via the above list for specific start dates and to apply.

Your application will be assessed against the eligibility criteria and your offer letter will outline if you have been offered a low or fee-free tuition place – as well as any fees you may be required to pay.

Any legally accepted proof of age documentation is accepted e.g. driver’s license, passport, photo ID proof of ID card.

If you are over 24 years and a job seeker we accept the following supporting evidence:

  • a current and valid Health Care Card issued by the Commonwealth, Pensioner Concession Card or Veteran’s Gold Card;
  • a separation certificate from your employer;
  • a letter from an employer or company receiver on company letterhead stating that you have been made, or will be made, redundant or retrenched; or
  • if you don’t have one of the three previous accepted evidences, a signed self-declaration that you are currently unemployed.

You should apply for the course you’re interested in via its specific course page as soon as possible. We will review your application against the eligibility criteria and your offer letter will outline whether you have been offered a government-subsidised, low or fee-free place at Swinburne. Your offer letter will also outline any fees you may be required to pay.

Yes! If you have previously enrolled in a Free TAFE course you can still apply for a JobTrainer course (if you meet the eligibility criteria). Your application will be assessed and your offer letter will outline whether you have been offered a government-subsidised, low or fee-free place at Swinburne. Your offer letter will also outline any fees you may be required to pay.

If you enrol in a course under the JobTrainer initiative that is also on the Free TAFE list, and you have not enrolled in a Free TAFE listed course previously (at any organisation), you may be able to apply to complete a Free TAFE course in the future.

Yes. An asylum seeker who is participating in the Asylum Seeker VET Program is exempt from the citizenship and residency requirements and so can participate in JobTrainer.

Further information on the JobTrainer Fund is available on the Your Careers website and the My Skills website.

Explore more

  • Swinburne Skills and Jobs Centre

    Qualified career support could be just a call or email away. Whether you’re just starting out or changing career, take advantage of Swinburne Skills and Job Centre’s free, government-funded career and jobs service.

    Find out more (Swinburne Skills and Jobs Centre)

  • Free TAFE for Priority Courses

    Check if you’re eligible for Victorian Government-subsidised training. If so, you can access the Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative to have your tuition fees covered when you study an approved course.

    Find out more (Free TAFE for Priority Courses)

  • Skills First program

    Skills First is a Victorian Government program that can help you access vocational education and training. If you’re eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your training.

    Find out more (Skills First program )

Interested in a JobTrainer course?

The best way to determine your eligibility is to apply for the course you’re interested in! Click the course link above and apply on that page.

You can also get more info on fees below.

Learn more