How to Find and Apply for Government Funded Leadership Courses

Enrolling in government funded courses can increase your chances of stepping into leadership positions or succeeding in a new leadership role. Government funded leadership courses in Queensland and Australia-wide also include vocational education and training that can equip you with a qualification.

If you are an organisation, you can find can also find subsidised courses for your staff that are offered by the state governments. This can help you develop strong leaders within your organisation, improving productivity and your bottom line.  

Each state has its own website for their subsidised training programs where you can find a training provider or specific course. Read our guide to finding and applying for government funded leadership courses across Queensland and Australia-wide.  

Queensland

The state government has established the Department of Employment, Small Business, and Training which covers government funded leadership courses in Queensland. The website offers information for individuals about VET, courses, pathways, subsidised training, initiatives, training providers and recognition of skills. 

Learn more about subsidised training and incentives here. 

This initiative covers free TAFE, Certificate 3 Guarantee, the User Choice Program, the Group training organisation pre-apprenticeship program, Skilling Queenslanders for Work, Trade Skills Assessment and Gap Training, VET in Schools, and Electrical Industry Trainer and Assessor Traineeship and Scholarship Pilot.  

You can check your eligibility here, search for government funded leadership courses in Queensland here, and find a training provider here.  

New South Wales

The New South Wales government has set up the Skills NSW program which offers subsidised and fee-free courses for individuals who are job seeking or looking to advance their skills.  

Included in this are NSW Fee Free part qualifications, which are short courses often referred to as skills sets or micro-credentials that are designed to give NSW citizens skills in priority and growth industry areas. 

In 2025, the NSW government is providing over 14,200 fee-free training placements across a range of vocational education and training part qualifications.  

For employers, NSW offers the Smart and Skilled program, which can strengthen your business by providing staff with vocational education and training. 

You can check your eligibility and search for courses here.  

Victoria

The Victorian government offers the Skills First which funds providers to deliver subsidised training for hundreds of courses.  

Skills First subsidised training includes qualifications and accredited short courses, including: 

• more than 500 accredited courses 

• more than 30 foundation skills programs 

• more than 80 skill sets 

The Skills First program makes learning more accessible for Victorians, providing funding for learners who need extra support, access to targeted, relevant training, and high-quality training aligned to workforce needs that students and industry can trust.  

Skills First funding is limited to 2 courses at a time and 2 courses in a year. 

You can check your eligibility here and search for courses here.  

Western Australia

The state government has established Skills Ready under Jobs & Skills WA. Skills Ready offers more than 130 fee free courses and skillsets to choose from across WA TAFE colleges and private training providers. It also covers 160 low fee courses reduced by half or more.  

There is an annual fee cap of $400 for jobseekers, youth up to 25 and concession holders, and $1,200 for all other students.  

Learn more and search for courses here. You can also contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre for free advice on how to choose the best training option, course, or qualification.  

South Australia

South Australia has launched its Skills SA initiative to help students, businesses and industry to thrive through skills and vocational education and training (VET). 

Subsidised training and fee free vocational education and training (VET) are available under Skills SA. You can check your eligibility here or learn more about financial assistance available here. You can also search for subsidised courses available here.  

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT Government, through Skills Canberra, contracts Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) to deliver subsidised training to eligible students.  

RTOs can apply to Skills Canberra for funding to deliver nationally accredited training for the following ACT Government training initiatives: 

• Australian Apprenticeships (User Choice) 

• Skilled Capital 

Check your eligibility for an Australian Apprenticeship here. You can browse courses offered under Skilled Capital here,  

Tasmania

Skills Tasmania is an initiative by the Tasmanian Government which funds training providers so they can deliver subsidised courses to individuals and businesses that wish to develop their skillset. It covers apprenticeships, traineeships and VET courses.  

You can learn more about the qualifications that are approved and funded in Tasmania here.  

Choose LMA For Your Government Funded Leadership Course

Leadership Management Australia offers government funded leadership courses for Queenslanders and Australians who are looking to broaden their skillset. We are a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which has graduated over 135,000 Participants through our Unique Learning and Development Process throughout Australia and New Zealand. 

When you choose a leadership course, note the difference between ‘training’ and ‘development’. When you undergo training, you are often exposed to rote learning methods which results in short-term benefits as knowledge is easily lost. Development, on the other hand, focuses on enacting changes in behaviour and attitudes that shape you to become a true leader.  

At LMA, our Unique Learning and Development Process focuses on the development of our participants, changing the way they think, work, act, and interact with others. We champion thought leadership – not trained learning.  

Our government funded leadership courses in Queensland and Australia-wide equip our participants with the skills to take on leadership roles and excel in their organisations. Learn more here or browse our courses here.