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VET funding contracts

Contracts between the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and TAFE and training providers for the delivery of government-subsidised training under the Skills First program.

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Skills First training providers

Training providers must meet the requirements of the VET funding contract and guidelines to receive government-subsidised funding for their delivery of Skills First training.

This page contains the current funding contracts and guidelines.

Contracted training providers should refer to contract notifications on the Skills Victoria Training System (SVTS) for the latest information about their contract obligations.

View the list of Skills First training providers.

2026 contracts

These VET funding contracts apply to students commencing training from 1 January 2026:

2026 standard VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 1.1 PDF 685.26 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 standard VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 1.1 Word 296.62 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 TAFE VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 1.1 PDF 684.61 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 TAFE VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 1.1 Word 283.63 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 dual sector VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 1.1 PDF 693.63 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 dual sector VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 1.1 Word 271.81 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 guidelines

Eligibility

These guidelines describe the requirements that training providers must apply when assessing and evidencing a student’s eligibility for Skills First.

Guidelines about determining student eligibility and supporting evidence:

2026 guidelines about eligibility - version 1.1 PDF 499.19 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 guidelines about eligibility - version 1.1 Word 388.95 KB (opens in a new window)

Fees

These guidelines describe the requirements about tuition fees and other fees associated with Skills First training, and the financial and accountability requirements for fees.

2026 guidelines about fees - version 1.1 PDF 349.84 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 guidelines about fees - version 1.1 Word 336.74 KB (opens in a new window)

Apprenticeship/traineeship training delivery

These guidelines detail additional requirements that training providers must apply when delivering Skills First training to apprentices and trainees.

2026 guidelines about apprenticeship/traineeship - version 1.0 PDF 343.55 KB (opens in a new window)

2026 guidelines about apprenticeship/traineeship - version 1.0 Word 339.57 KB (opens in a new window)

Skills First quality charter

This charter explains what the department expects from training providers in their provision of key aspects of training services under the contract.

Skills First quality charter PDF 226.71 KB (opens in a new window)

Skills First quality charter Word 122.67 KB (opens in a new window)

Fact sheets, guides and resources

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This fact sheet explains the key Skills First requirements for apprentices and trainees and where to go for more information.

Apprentices and trainees PDF 177.52 KB (opens in a new window)

Apprentices and trainees Word 137.74 KB (opens in a new window)

The department’s audit strategy has been developed to help training providers understand the audit program and how to prepare for funding and quality assurance audits and reviews.

Skills First audit and review strategy PDF 367.68 KB (opens in a new window)

Skills First audit and review strategy Word 541.75 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet helps training providers understand the requirements for notifying the department about a change in control and other significant changes, such as changes to CEO, ownership or operations.

Change in control PDF 129.39 KB (opens in a new window)

Change in control Word 124.88 KB (opens in a new window)

This guidance document helps training providers understand the department’s approach to ensuring compliance with the terms of the contract, and how the department responds when a concern or issue arises.

Compliance expectations and framework PDF 123.46 KB (opens in a new window)

Compliance expectations and framework Word 208.08 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains the student concession entitlement, how to check and document a concession, the department’s payment contribution and the training provider’s reporting requirements.

Concessions PDF 229.39 KB (opens in a new window)

Concessions Word 227.85 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet helps training providers understand and comply with the disallowed person requirements in the contract.

Disallowed person requirements PDF 102.7 KB (opens in a new window)

Disallowed person requirements Word 155.7 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet helps training providers understand how to meet the department’s expectations when using electronic signatures.

Using electronic signatures PDF 183.75 KB (opens in a new window)

Using electronic signatures Word 160.23 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains what training providers must sight and retain when checking a student’s evidence of eligibility for Skills First training.

Sighting and retaining evidence of eligibility PDF 234.51 KB (opens in a new window)

Sighting and retaining evidence of eligibility Word 155.41 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet is designed to help training providers meet the department’s expectations for documenting evidence of participation under the Skills First program.

Evidence of participation PDF 282.72 KB (opens in a new window)

Evidence of participation Word 301.97 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains student entitlement to Skills First Free TAFE programs.

Free TAFE PDF 215.74 KB (opens in a new window)

Free TAFE Word 143.39 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet gives a simple overview of the VET funding contract’s main features.

Key features of the contract PDF 211.75 KB (opens in a new window)

Key features of the contract Word 253.13 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains how training providers should consider a student’s literacy and numeracy as part of a pre-training review.

Literacy and numeracy for pre-training review PDF 178.15 KB (opens in a new window)

Literacy and numeracy for pre-training review Word 125.06 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains how payments work under the Skills First program.

Payments under Skills First PDF 117.75 KB (opens in a new window)

Payments under Skills First Word 232.47 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet gives an overview of requirements for online training and assessment.

Quality in online delivery PDF 106.99 KB (opens in a new window)

Quality in online delivery Word 179.35 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet gives an overview of the key recordkeeping requirements.

Recordkeeping requirements PDF 149.14 KB (opens in a new window)

Recordkeeping requirements Word 221.84 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains the contract arrangements for Skills First skill sets, including allocations, student eligibility and enrolment, skill sets, fees and payments, and reporting.

Understanding skill sets PDF 102.6 KB (opens in a new window)

Understanding skill sets Word 125.26 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains how training providers should apply the Skills First eligibility requirements, including the limits on the amount of training and eligibility exemptions.

Student eligibility for Skills First PDF 399.96 KB (opens in a new window)

Student eligibility for Skills First Word 301.46 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet summarises the rules about the type of information training providers must give students at various stages in their training.

Student information and protection PDF 210.08 KB (opens in a new window)

Student information and protection Word 167.41 KB (opens in a new window)

This fact sheet explains what training providers need to know before enrolling a student under 17, including the different rules for sighting and retaining a student’s exemption from school attendance.

Students under 17 PDF 175.95 KB (opens in a new window)

Students under 17 Word 161.79 KB (opens in a new window)

This guide explains the transition to superseding or replacement training products under Skills First.

Guide to superseding training products PDF 237.05 KB (opens in a new window)

Guide to superseding training products Word 167.41 KB (opens in a new window)

This guide clarifies the definitions, processes, evidence and reporting requirements that apply to withdrawn subject and program enrolments.

Guide to withdrawals PDF 240.01 KB (opens in a new window)

Guide to withdrawals Word 178.02 KB (opens in a new window)

Additional resources

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Commonwealth Acts

To view A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, see: A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, and for more Acts. Refer to ComLaw.

Victorian Acts

For copies of the below Acts, see Victorian legislation and parliamentary documents.

For information on the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and related documents, including the AQTF essential conditions and standards for initial and continuing registration, visit the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC).

This internal audit tool is to help training providers check they’re meeting their obligations under the VET funding contract.

2026 Skills First internal audit tool Word 411.87 KB (opens in a new window)

2024 practical placement guidelines PDF 230.93 KB (opens in a new window)

2024 practical placement guidelines Word 168.61 KB (opens in a new window)

2024-25 standard VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 3.0 PDF 630.55 KB (opens in a new window)

2024-25 standard VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 3.0 Word 303.18 KB (opens in a new window)

2024-25 TAFE VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 3.0 PDF 621.66 KB (opens in a new window)

2024-25 TAFE VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 3.0 Word 292.1 KB (opens in a new window)

2024-25 dual sector VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 3.0 PDF 627.41 KB (opens in a new window)

2024-25 dual sector VET funding contract - Skills First program - version 3.0 Word 261.93 KB (opens in a new window)

Contracts prior to 2024-2025 can be accessed through the Skills Victoria Training System. If you are unable to locate a specific contract, please contact us at training.operations.assurance@djsir.vic.gov.au.

For copies of purchasing guides, refer to Victorian purchasing guides.

For a copy of Victorian VET student statistical collection guidelines and other related documents, refer to VET data collection.

Contract terminations

The department has a public duty to ensure government funds are used appropriately when training providers deliver Skills First training to students.

We can terminate a VET funding contract if we identify a training provider’s serious non-compliance with its terms.

Since 2015, the department has terminated VET funding contracts for 63 training providers.

Training provider information is presented in this format:

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Contact email: training.operations.assurance@djsir.vic.gov.au

Education & trainingStudents

Updated 15 January 2026

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