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Skills First for training providers

To help more Victorians access training the Victorian Government is subsidising places in hundreds of courses that lead to real jobs.

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Students, are you looking for information about eligibility for Skills First? Check your eligibility for Skills First funding.

Overview

The Skills First program funds training providers to deliver subsidised courses and skill sets. Training is subsidised where there is a demand for jobs in related priority industries.

The program provides:

Skills First subsidised training includes 450 accredited courses and over 60 skill sets (accredited short courses).

Meeting future skills demand

Skills First is informed by the Victorian Skills Plan, which provides a skills roadmap for Victoria. Together, they ensure that all communities have access to education and training. They help industries to grow their workforces and strengthen Victoria’s economy.

For more information, visit the Victorian Skills Plan(opens in a new window) website.

Contracts and compliance

To receive Skills First funding, training providers deliver quality training that meets the needs of learners, industry and the economy.

Subsidised providers enter into contracts with government to ensure that public funds are well spent.

The Victorian Government places strict requirements on Skills First training providers. It also reviews the funding it gives them each year. This ensures they are providing value for money and supporting students to complete training that will lead to real outcomes.

The Training Needs List focuses on meeting demand for skills needs in Victoria.

The list outlines the courses and skill sets for which training providers can offer subsidised tuition.

It is regularly reviewed, and courses are added and removed as required to respond to Victoria’s skills needs.

Subsidy rates

Skills First provides higher subsidies for priority areas, including:

Additional funding

Additional funding is provided on top of course subsidies to support:

Training providers funded by Skills First must offer concessions on their standard fees to create extra savings for learners. The concession fee must not be more than 20 per cent of the standard tuition fee.

Training providers funded by Skills First must also offer fee waivers to eligible students. This means that the student does not need to pay tuition fees. Eligible students include:

Other targeted funding includes:

Training providers can set their fees according to the cost, specialisation and nature of their training. Fees may include course tuition fees and non-tuition fees (for example, material fees or student services fees).

Supporting TAFEs

The Victorian Government recognises that TAFEs are at the heart of Victoria’s training system and the engine room for Victorian jobs. TAFEs have a distinct role as public providers to:

Skills First requires TAFEs and dual-sector universities to work collaboratively to meet the expectations of government, industry and students.

There is funding each year to recognise their distinct role as public providers.

This funding delivers key initiatives to support students, such as the Victorian Free TAFE program.

Free TAFE gives eligible Victorians access to a range of qualifications and short courses, with no tuition fees. Visit the Free TAFE website to find out more.

Skills First eligibility for students

Skills First gives students of all ages high-quality training in skills that employers are looking for. We want your training to lead to a job, not just a certificate.

For information about student eligibility for Skills First visit the Victorian Skills Gateway.

Skills First and community training providers

Skills First provides funding for Learn Locals, which are community-based organisations. They include not-for-profits and neighbourhood houses that deliver training for their local community, including accredited VET training.

They provide skills and training with a focus on individual needs and tailored programs for students. This includes older people, people with special needs and those from diverse cultural backgrounds.

For more information about Learn Locals, visit the Learn Local website.

Collaboration with industry

Government fosters partnerships between industry, TAFEs and other training providers to drive innovation. It aims to ensure Victoria has the skilled workforce it needs now and into the future.

Further information on industry engagement can be found on the Victorian Skills Authority website.

Education & trainingStudents

Updated 26 March 2026

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