Government Funded Courses
Government Funded Training
We have been approved to deliver Government Funded Training in Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. Fee for service training is available in all states and workplaces.
We show our commitment to all our students by providing programs that:
- Are industry current and relevant
- Provide excellent employment opportunities
- Provide study pathways for students who wish to continue with their studies
- Cater for students with disabilities/special learning needs of all ages
- Customised to suit individual students
Victorian Government Funded Training
National Food Institute has been awarded the Victorian 2026 Standard VET Funding Contract, Skills First Program, and is able to offer eligible individuals subsidised training positions in 2026. We offer a range of courses in Food Processing, Supply Chain Operations, Baking, Horticulture, and Artisan Fermented Products.
Please note that all Skills First funded programs are available for regional Victoria delivery only, including workplace-based training and online delivery to students who live in regional Victoria.
Tuition fees may still apply to eligible individuals. Individuals who hold a relevant concession card will be charged a reduced concession fee. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are not required to pay tuition fees.
Funded Programs — 2026 Skills First Scope
The following programs are on NFI's 2026 funded scope (traineeship delivery, regional VIC only). No other programs should reference Victorian Skills First funding on the website:
- Certificate II in Baking (FBP20221) — Traineeship
- Certificate II in Horticulture (AHC20422) — Traineeship
- Certificate II in Supply Chain Operations (TLI20421) — Traineeship
- Certificate III in Food Processing (FBP30121) — Traineeship
- Certificate III in Supply Chain Operations (TLI30321) — Traineeship and Non-apprenticeship/traineeship
- Certificate IV in Artisan Fermented Products — Non-apprenticeship/traineeship
-
Eligibility Criteria Citizenship/Visa Requirement
To meet the eligibility criteria you will be required to be either:
- An Australian Citizen
- The holder of a permanent Australian residency visa; or
- a New Zealand Citizen;
Under Clause 17 (Schedule 1) of the VET Funding Contract Skills First Program, we may exempt a student from the citizenship eligibility criterion if the applicant has a original referral letter from either the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre or the Australian Red Cross Victims of Human Trafficking Program.
Anyone who does not meet the Citizenship/Visa Requirement will not be eligible.
Up Skilling Requirement
As of 1 January 2023, the Skills First upskilling requirement has been completely removed. This means that you can enrol into a Skills First subsidised training course, regardless of the highest qualification you hold. For example, if you hold an Advanced Diploma or a Degree, you can enrol in a Skills First subsidised Certificate II.
How many courses am I eligible for?
Skills First funding is limited to:
- 2 courses at a time
- 2 courses in a year
Find out more about Skills First.
In addition, eligible students can begin up to two subsidised courses in a year as long as you are not undertaking any more than two subsidised courses at a time.
For full details of eligibility requirements for Victorian students and to check if you are eligible, visit www.skills.vic.gov.au.
When eligible individuals access Government Funded Training, this may affect future opportunities to access additional government funded training.
-
Enrolment Process National Food Institute take a lot of care to ensure that the course you wish to enrol in is appropriate and most suitable for you at the time.
To help us make this determination, you will undergo a short pre-enrolment interview with a RTO Authorised Delegate who will ask you few short questions and get you to complete a language literacy and numeracy evaluation. This will also assist us in making sure we provide you with the required support throughout your studies.
The process is very simple and the Delegate will guide through answering all of your questions to ensure you have full understanding of the course you wish to enrol in.
-
Required Documents What to bring to you enrolment appointment?
- Evidence of your citizenship/residency status:
Either an Australian Birth Certificate, Current Australian Passport, Current New Zealand Passport, Naturalisation Certificate, Current Green Medicare Card, Formal documentation issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship confirming Permanent Residence or for Asylum Seekers and Victims of Human Trafficking a signed declaration by a relevant referee. - Evidence of your age:
Either a Current Drivers Licence, Current Learners Permit, Proof of Age Card or Keypass Card. - Any concession cards that you may hold:
Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans Gold Card (or evidence you are a dependant spouse or dependent child of a person who holds one of the above cards with your name listed on this card).
- Evidence of your citizenship/residency status:
NSW - Smart and Skilled
National Food Institute has been awarded a NSW Smart and Skilled VET Funding Contract. This Smart and Skilled Entitlement Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program enables National Food Institute to offer eligible individuals subsidised training positions. We offer a range of courses in Food Processing and Supply Chain Operations.
Tuition fees may still apply to eligible individuals. Individuals who hold a relevant concession card will be charged a reduced concession fee. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are not required to pay tuition fees.
This Smart and Skilled Entitlement Apprenticeships and Traineeships Program enables National Food Institute to offer eligible individuals subsidised training positions in 2018. We offer a range of courses in Food Processing and Warehousing Operations.
Tuition fees may still apply to eligible individuals. Individuals who hold a relevant concession card will be charged a reduced concession fee. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are not required to pay tuition fees.
-
Eligibility Criteria Citizenship/Visa Requirement
To meet the eligibility criteria you will be required to be either:
- Living or working in NSW (determined by postcode of the usual place of residence or place of work); or
- Lives in a defined interstate NSW border area and is a Australain Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and
- An Australian Citizen; or
- A permanent Australian resident; or
- A humanitarian visa holder; or
- A New Zealand Citizen; and
- Is aged 15 years or older; and
- Is no longer in secondary education
To find out if you are eligible for Smart and Skilled Training visit smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au.
Your eligibility for a government-subsidised Smart and Skilled course no longer depends on your previous qualifications:
- From 2016, all students, regardless of the level of any previous qualifications held, are able to access subsidised Smart and Skilled training up to Certificate III level. This means that even if you have a higher level qualification you may still be eligible to re-train to enter (or re-enter) the workforce.
- You can also enrol in subsidised training at Certificate IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level, depending on the availability of funding for these courses.
Previous qualifications do not affect eligibility, but may affect the student fee.
When eligible individuals access Government Funded Training, this may affect future opportunities to access additional government funded training.
-
Enrolment Process National Food Institute take a lot of care to ensure that the course you wish to enrol in is appropriate and most suitable for you at the time.
To help us make this determination, you will undergo a short pre-enrolment interview with a trainer and assessor who will ask you few short questions and get you to complete a language literacy and numeracy evaluation. This will also assist us in making sure we provide you with the required support throughout your studies.
The process is very simple and the trainer will guide through answering all of your questions to ensure you have full understanding of the course you wish to enrol in.
As well in NSW under the Smart and Skilled Program we are required to use a Notification of Enrolment Process.
National Food Institute must only carry out notifications of enrolment via the Portal in accordance with the following process (the Notification of Enrolment Process).
Consent
Provider must first obtain the consent of the Prospective Student to the Department’s use of the Prospective.
- The Prospective Student signing or electronically accepting (including by ticking a check box) a consent form that includes the wording set out in Schedule 1 of the Operating Guidelines (Detailed below).
- The Prospective Student verbally providing their consent provided that a consent statement is recited to the Prospective Student or is made available for the Prospective Student to read.
The following is an example of the consent wording as outlined in the Operating Guidelines.
CONSENT TO USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION TO THE NSW DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
I understand and agree that personal information (information or an opinion about me), collected from me, my parent or guardian, such as my name, Unique Student Identifier, date of birth, contact details, training outcomes and performance, or sensitive personal information (including my ethnicity or health information) (together Personal Information) collected by [insert name of the Provider] may be disclosed to the NSW Department of Industry (Department).
The Department may disclose my Personal Information to other Australian government agencies, including those located in States and Territories outside New South Wales.
The above government agencies may use my Personal Information for any purpose relating to the exercise of their government functions, including but not limited to the evaluation and assessment of my training, the determination of my eligibility to receive subsidised training or for any Fee Exemptions or Concessions. My Personal Information may also be disclosed to other third parties if required by law.
I consent to the collection, use and disclosure of my Personal Information in the manner outlined above.
I also acknowledge and agree that the Department may contact me by telephone email or post during or after I have ceased subsidised training with National Food institute for the purposes of evaluating and assessing my subsidised training.
-
Required Documents What to bring to you enrolment appointment
- Evidence of your citizenship/residency status:
Either an Australian Birth Certificate, Current Australian Passport, Current New Zealand Passport, Naturalisation Certificate, Current Green Medicare Card, Formal documentation issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship confirming Permanent Residence. - Evidence of your age:
Either a Current Drivers Licence, Current Learners Permit, Proof of Age Card or Keypass Card. - Any concession cards that you may hold:
Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Concession Card or Veterans Gold Card (or evidence you are a dependant spouse or dependent child of a person who holds one of the above cards with your name listed on this card).
- Evidence of your citizenship/residency status:
Traineeships
A traineeship is a great way to get a head start in a chosen career or to retrain for the career you have always wanted.
A traineeship provides a nationally recognised qualification and on-the-job experience. It combines time at work with training and can be completed full-time, part-time or while you are still at school.
If you are an employer looking to up-skill your employees, please talk to us about what courses are available to be undertaken as a traineeship in your location.
