The Short Courses program offers targeted training in key competencies and micro credentials to help workers and businesses address specific skills needs. Subsidised by CSQ, these courses are selected based on industry demand, industry consultation, and regional industry needs.
The CSQ subsidy contributes to the cost of training and assessment for eligible participants, providing flexible upskilling options.
Note: Funding is only available for units where competency is achieved. Failure to achieve competency incur a normal course fee.
At a minimum, participants must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident, or participant on a valid visa (prescribed by CSQ) who have been employed in the Queensland Building and Construction Industry for six months or more and, for Short Course Civil Program only, is aged 15 years or older.
They must also be an eligible worker in Queensland, or an unemployed eligible worker who has been unemployed for no more than six months in Queensland.
This program targets participants in the Queensland Building & Constructions Industry who meet all the participant and program eligibility requirements.
This program does not target workers from other industries or individuals enrolled in a Queensland secondary school program, contracted trainers or assessors, or existing workers of an RTO, and employees of an Authority.
It also excludes participants who are:
An eligible worker is someone who is an employee or Self-employed worker, who can demonstrate primary and substantial direct involvement in the Queensland Building and Construction Industry doing:
Not all employees of a Local Council are eligible for the CSQ funding. An employee who is working for the division of Local Council who is performing the scope of work relevant to the building and construction industry is only eligible for the Short Courses Civil
Administration and clerical workers are not eligible for the Short Courses program.
Apprentices and trainees who meet all participant and program eligibility criteria are eligible for the 25/26 Short Courses program, with the exception of the following units of competency:
UEECD0007, UEEEL0002, UEEL0029, UEEEL0030, UEEEEL0040. Regardless of the timing, the subsidy is not payable, where the training required forms part of their training plan to complete their apprenticeship or traineeship.
It refers to a participant’s active and ongoing participation in hands-on construction work. This means their main job tasks directly contribute to building or civil construction activities — not just support, admin, or coordination roles. They must be personally performing construction-related work as a core part of their role, regularly and meaningfully, not occasionally or indirectly.
An eligible participant may only be funded for a maximum of8 short courses in total across either building or civil (including major projects) or a combination of both during the program delivery period. A limit of three high risk work and three mobile plant units of competency apply. Failure to disclose this information at enrolment will result in participants being invoiced for the full cost of the course.
You will not funded for a unit of competency if it has already been completed. This also includes when a unit of competency is superseded and equivalent to a new version. Exception applies where it is identified as an approved refresher course. For the list of approved refreshers please contact the Admin team.
Not all visa holders are eligible for CSQ funding. A participant who holds a valid visa, as prescribed by CSQ, who has been employed in the Queensland Building and Construction Industry for a period of 6 months or more as an eligible worker is eligible for the CSQ subsidy.
Contact our admin team for a full list of prescribed visas.
