What is Career Start, and How Can You Use It?

Getting your forklift licence can be more affordable than you think. Through Queensland’s Career Start program, eligible students can have a large portion of their training costs covered by the government when the licence is completed as part of a nationally recognised qualification.

What is the Career Start program?

Career Start is a Queensland Government training subsidy administered by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET). It replaced the Certificate 3 Guarantee on 1 July 2025. The government pays a subsidy directly to the RTO, and you pay a reduced co-contribution.

Two pathways

• General training - no employer required, ideal for job seekers
• Traineeship - employer-based, under a formal training contract

Am I eligible?

• Aged 15 or over and no longer at school
• A permanent Queensland resident
• An Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an eligible visa holder
• Not currently enrolled in another qualification

Forklift licensing through a Certificate III

When you study a Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations, your forklift training (LF licence, and LO for order-picking forklifts) can be built into the qualification. Instead of paying full price for a standalone licence, you come away with both the licence and a full nationally recognised qualification at a fraction of the cost.

Eligibility rules change from time to time, so the best next step is to contact our team to confirm your funding and current co-contribution before you enrol.