Free in ‘23 Initiative

From 1 January 2023, a number of full qualifications and short courses skill sets across a range of priority industry areas will be fee free. 

Student eligibility:

Open to all students that are eligible for public funding, except enrolled secondary school students

• All New Start Traineeships are included in this program
• Existing Worker Traineeships are excluded from this program
• Continuing students can access fee free settings from Jan 1 2023

Existing worker traineeships:

An existing worker is defined as a person employed with the same employer continuously for more than three months, full time or 12 months casual or part time, or a combination of both, immediately prior to the commencement date of a training contract. 

Payment Options:

On enrolment, students will take up one of the following options:

• Pay the full amount of fees and charges (if it is below $1500.00);or
• Request approval to pay fees by instalments
• Funded programs will be invoiced in accordance with DTWD’s Fees and Charges Policy 2023
• For trainees, confirmation from the employer to invoice that employer for the course fees (and other charges as applicable) that relate to that participant. 

Clients who fail to take up one of the above options will not be deemed as participating in training. 

Waiving of Fees:

Following the Department of Training and Workforce Development’s ‘VET Fees and Charges in 2023’ policy regarding Fee Waiver Guidelines, Students may make an application for fees to be waived on the grounds of severe financial hardship. Determination of severe financial hardship is determined on a case-by-case basis by HLT. Students are responsible for submitting the appropriate form and providing the required information.

Concessions:

HLT will charge full fees, as per DTWD’s Fees and Charges Policy 2023, however, the following students are entitled to the concession rate on course fees subject to proof of eligibility:

• Persons, and dependents of persons, holding a pensioner concession card: a repatriation health benefits card issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs; or a health care card.
• Persons, and dependents of persons in receipt of services from the following Commonwealth support or employment services programs:
  • Workforce Australia or
  • ParentsNext
• Persons and dependents of persons in receipt of AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY.
• Persons and dependents of persons in receipt of the Youth Allowance.
• Persons and dependents of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution
• Secondary school-aged persons, not enrolled at school

For the Workforce Australia, or the ParentsNext program appropriate evidence of a student’s eligibility for concession is a letter from the Commonwealth services provider confirming the student’s participation in the program. 

To be eligible for a concession proof of eligibility must be shown at the time of sign up/enrolment. If no proof is produced, full fees will be charged. If the concession is valid for the full enrolment period, then all eligible units the student enrolls in within that period attract the concession rate. If the concession is valid for part of the enrolment period, then only eligible units the student enrolls in on or after the start date and prior to the expiry of the concession attract the concession rate. 

Temporary Residents Persons holding one of the following visa types are to be treated as Australian residents for fee charging purposes and are eligible for fee waivers and concessions:

• Holders of a subclass 309, 444, 785, 790, or 820 visa;
• Secondary holders of a temporary visa of sub-class 457 or 482 visa;
• Holders of a Bridging Visa E (subclasses 050 and 051) where the visa holder has made a valid application for a visa of subclass 785 or 790;
• Ukraine citizens who are holders of a visa sub-class 449 or 786;
• Afghan citizens who are holders of a visa sub-class 449; and
• Holders of a bridging visa who are eligible to work, and who have made a valid application for a subclass 866.

Appendix A: Indicative Course Fees for Traineeship/Priority Industry Training Program/Participation – Work Readiness

The maximum course fee for non-concession students undertaking a targeted fee relief course in 2023 is $1200. For concession students and youth, the maximum course fee for undertaking a targeted fee relief course in 2023 is $400. These maximums apply per course in 2023.

Government Funded Training Programs require a fee contribution which is determined yearly by The Department of Training and Workplace Development (DTWD) and published in the DTWD VET Fees and Charges Policy.

As a Government Contracted Training Provider we must adhere to the following Policy Statement:

Fees and charges for students undertaking publicly funded vocational education and training (VET) in Western Australia must be collected in accordance with the provisions of the Vocational Education Training Act 1996, Vocational Education and Training (Colleges) Regulations 1996 and/or, where appropriate as specified in contractual arrangements with Training Providers" and current DTWD fee rates.

Fee contribution amounts published - "The Student tuition fees are indicative only and are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Additional fees may apply such as student service and resource fees".

Fees for Service fees published are the fees for training programs that are not funded or for a person who is ineligible for a funded training program.

New Worker Traineeships may entitle the Employer to Government Incentives. Please speak with a Representative from an Apprenticentre to find out if your employee is eligible.

Download the WA Government VET Fees and Charges Policy