Potential funding opportunities in Queensland

 

Each of the opportunities listed below have conditions applicants need to comply with. There may also be time limits on availability, a limited number of successful applicants or other restrictions which determine whether an application is successful.  

 

·       Career Start is a Queensland Government program that provides subsidised training places for Certificate II and III courses, including some maritime qualifications.[1] including Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal) Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 Near Coastal) and Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Master up to 24 metres Near Coastal) qualifications at Whitsunday Maritime Training Centre[2] and Queensland TAFE.[3]The Career Boost Program offered by the Queensland Government pays a subsidy to training providers for selected training to reduce the cost to students.[4] The subsidy may be  available for MAR40324: Certificate IV in Maritime Operations (Master up to 45 metres Near Coastal) at Whitsunday Maritime Training Centre[5] and MAR40224: Certificate IV in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 Near Coastal) at Queensland TAFE.[6]

·       Queensland provides Fee-Free TAFE for the Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal) under the VET in Schools program[7] which is provided at TAFE Queensland.[8]

·       The Travel and accommodation subsidy provides funding for travel and accommodation expenses of school-based apprentices and trainees in Queensland who have to travel to attend training at their training provider. It is not specific to maritime apprentices and trainees. The training provider must be the closest RTO offering the qualifications. The travel distance must be a minimum of 100 kilometers return from their usual place of residence.[9]

Potential funding opportunities for trainees and employees across Australia 

 

Maritime scholarships and traineeships

·       Maritime Employees Training Limited (METL) offers 24-month Integrated Ratings traineeships for training and sea time. Trainees are selected on merit and can complete their training at either South Metropolitan TAFE in Fremantle or the Australian Maritime College in Launceston. Upon completion of all requirements they obtain the MAR30220 Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Integrated Rating) and the (AMSA) issued occupational licence: Integrated Rating Certificate of Proficiency. METL pays the college fees, arranges and pays accommodation, meals and travel as required, and pays the trainee wages.[10]

·       The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has partnered with the University of Tasmania (UTAS) to offer several maritime scholarships, including[11]:

o   AMSA Vocational Near Coastal Seafaring Scholarship[12]

o   AMSA Sara Bool Women in Maritime Engineering Scholarship[13]

o   AMSA First Year Access Scholarship for Maritime Studies.[14]

·        The Australian Mariners Welfare Society offers maritime scholarships to the children of seafarers or ex-seafarers to study maritime courses at an RTO.[15]  The scholarship awards $3,500 per semester for course fees, living and travel expenses to students who have low or moderate means.

Scholarships for specific groups

·       The Sisters of Charity Foundation Tertiary Scholarship Program offers two scholarships for young people (27 years or under) who have been in out of home care, such as foster care (either currently or in the past).[16] The university scholarship is valued at up to $30,000 and the TAFE scholarship is valued at $5000. The scholarship is not specific to maritime studies.

·       The Pinnacle Foundation offers annual scholarships and mentoring to people between 18-26 years of age who identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and are undertaking education in a public tertiary institution (university or TAFE).[17] The scholarship is not specific to maritime studies.

·        Australian Veterans' Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT) offers annual education scholarships for children and grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans. Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enrol in a tertiary course at an Australian university, TAFE or a registered training organisation. Eligibility criteria include being able to demonstrate financial hardship.[18] The scholarship is not specific to maritime studies.