School Leavers’ Guide 2026

The VET system provides training for around four million students annually for a wide range of occupations. VET is competency-based and directly job related. VET provides industry relevant skills for a broad range of employment opportunities to support a skilled workforce for employers.

Courses are offered through a variety of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) including:

• TAFE institutes;
• Private and enterprise training providers;
• Industry organisations;
• Professional associations;
• Adult and community training providers; and
• Universities.

Subsidised places and loans for study are available to students through the VET student loans program.

For more information on VET opportunities, including courses and training providers, you can visit: www.yourcareer.gov.au/learn-and-train/myskills

Universities offer a wide range of general and specific courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with subsidised places and loans for study available to students through the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP).

If you are considering going directly from school to university, it is important to fully explore university and course requirements. Look at prerequisite Year 11 and 12 subjects for courses, and the campuses at which they are offered.

You can visit the following websites to help you decide which university and which course is right for you: www.compared.edu.au, gooduniversityguide.com.au, and www.courseseeker.edu.au

Some universities also run enabling courses that can help you build your skills in preparation for study.

Approved private higher education providers are generally higher education providers which offer a range of fee-paying courses leading to a higher education award course.

You can visit www.compared.edu.au and www.courseseeker.edu.au to view and compare higher education institutes and courses.

Currently, only a few of these providers are approved by the Government to offer Commonwealth Supported Places. However, many of them can offer a HELP loan.

Further information on higher education can be found at: www.studyassist.gov.au

New South Wales and ACT www.uac.edu.au

Queensland www.qtac.edu.au

South Australia and Northern Territory www.satac.edu.au

Victoria www.vtac.edu.au

Western Australia www.tisc.edu.au

Tasmania www.utas.edu.au

An apprenticeship or traineeship kick starts your future with a paid job and structured vocational education and training. It provides you with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience while building important technical, business and service skills.

An apprenticeship or traineeship is offered in more than 500 occupations across the workforce including building and construction, health care, agriculture, manufacturing, automotive, tourism, beauty, hospitality, mining and digital technologies.

For more information you can visit www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au

Many providers offer alternative modes of study to tertiary students, such as online or distance education. You should check with providers directly.

Regional University study hubs also help students in regional, rural, and remote Australia participate in tertiary education.

Students who are enrolled at a university or VET provider can use a regional university study hub for a place to study and access staff support.

For more information, please visit regionaluniversitystudyhubsnetwork.edu.au

If you are a job seeker wishing to develop your reading, writing, maths skills to improve your chances of finding and keeping a job, the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program can help.

Training is delivered flexibly through full-time or part-time hours, via face-to-face or distance training. A work experience component can also be included in some cases.

To find out if you are eligible for this program and to be referred to a SEE provider, talk to Services Australia or your local employment service provider.

For further information about SEE visit: www.dewr.gov.au/skills-education-and-employment

HELP assists eligible students with their student contribution amounts or tuition fees at university and other higher education providers. Eligible students have access to deferred payment arrangements through HELP.

Further information about the HELP loan schemes can be found at www.studyassist.gov.au/help-loans

An Australian apprentice or trainee working in a skills need area may be eligible for an Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan (AASL) of up to $25,983 to help cover the costs of living and learning.

An AASL is an interest-free government funded loan that is paid in monthly instalments for up to six months at a time. Your debt is indexed annually and you will get a 20 per cent discount on your debt when you have successfully completed your apprenticeship.

You could borrow just a small amount over a few months or receive payments over the four years of your apprenticeship, up to the lifetime limit of $27,048 over the life of the apprenticeship (lifetime limit in 2026-27).

You choose how to spend the money. You could use the loan to cover living expenses, buy work equipment like tools or boots, or save your payments to buy a car. Whatever you do, remember you will have to pay the money back.

You will start repaying your AASL once you have reached the compulsory repayment threshold of $69,528 (2026-27). Repayments are made through the income tax system. For more information contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network in your region visit www.dewr.gov.au/skills-support-individuals/australian-apprenticeship-support-loans

You pay back your HELP debt through the tax system once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold.

In 2026-27, students will start repaying their HELP debts when their income reaches the minimum repayment threshold of $69,528.

The amount you repay changes with your wage. The more you earn, the higher your repayment will be.

For more information on HELP repayments, visit www.ato.gov.au

myGov is a simple and secure way to access government services online with one login and one password.

Create a myGov account and you can link your Medicare, Centrelink or other government services together in one place. You can also:

• get messages sent to your secure myGov Inbox;
• update your personal details
• apply for payments
• report your income to Centrelink
• lodge your Tax return.

To create a myGov account go to www.my.gov.au

Services Australia delivers a range of government payments and services to assist you.

You can visit the Services Australia website to access the payment and service finder to see what payments you may be eligible for: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au

Financial help may be available if you’re 24 or younger and a student or Australian Apprentice, or 21 or younger and looking for work.

To be eligible for Youth Allowance you must be 16 to 21 and 1 of the following:

• looking for full time work;
• studying part time and looking for work; or
• temporarily unable to work.

Eligibility is based on many things including:

• Your age and whether you are undertaking an approved course or activity;
• If you are dependent or independent;
• Income and assets tests; and
• Residency requirements.

Individual circumstances vary, so for more information visit: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/youth-allowance

Rent Assistance is a regular extra payment that may be available to you, if you receive certain payments from Services Australia. Thresholds and maximum amounts of Rent Assistance vary according to your individual circumstances.

You may be able to get Rent Assistance if you pay rent, live in Australia, and receive one of these payments:

• Age Pension, Carer Payment or Disability Support Pension;
• ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Austudy or Youth Allowance;
• Special Benefit;
• Family Tax Benefit – Part A at more than the base rate;
• Parenting Payment partnered and single; or
• JobSeeker Payment or Farm Household Allowance.

For more information you can visit: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/rent-assistance

If you are a student, looking for work, an apprentice, or on a low income you may be eligible for a Low Income Health Care Card. This card entitles you to get a prescription filled at a reduced cost, and other concessions.

For more information visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/low-income-health-care-card

ABSTUDY is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Study Assistance Scheme, which is a group of payments for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students or apprentices. ABSTUDY may assist you if you are:

• An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian;
• In an approved course, Australian Apprenticeship or traineeship; and
• Not getting another payment to study or train.

ABSTUDY can help with your study costs and housing if you need to travel to study. It can help with your costs for:

• Study;
• Housing;
• Living expenses; and
• Travel to your place of study each term or semester, if you need to study away from home.

For more information you can visit: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/abstudy

Job Jumpstart is the Australian Government’s digital service for young people seeking job search and employment planning information. It offers a range of information and resources, categorised into life stages for ease of use.

The website provides you with:

• Information on making informed choices about jobs and training, setting goals and personal presentation, talking to employers and workplace expectations;
• Insights into how different employers recruit and tips to get their attention, how to maintain a positive online presence as well as what skills and attributes are needed for different jobs and industries; and
• Practical information, templates, workbooks and videos to help you tailor résumés and cover letters, and prepare for interviews.

For more information please visit www.jobjumpstart.gov.au

Workforce Australia helps Australians find and keep a job, change jobs or create their own job, with personalised support delivered through an online service and a network of providers.

Individuals on income support with mutual obligation requirements who will benefit from more intensive assistance will be connected to a provider who will tailor support to help get them job-ready, and connected with suitable, secure employment.

For more information about Workforce Australia visit www.workforceaustralia.gov.au

The ADF is made up of three branches; the Army, Navy, and Air Force. You can find out more about the three services here: www.adfcareers.gov.au

The ADF General Entry pathway allows you to signup to any of the three branches of the military without prior experience or qualifications. You will receive role-specific training if you enlist, and you will be paid while you train, regardless of whether you are going for a technical, trade, or non-technical position. There is also a pathway for you if you hold an existing qualification.

You can find out more here: www.adfcareers.gov.au/careers/joining/ways-to-join

If you’re driven, ambitious, and looking to pursue a career in leading others, you should consider enlisting as an officer. You can pursue this through direct entry, or combine entry with study with the Defence Force.

Details are available here: www.adfcareers.gov.au/careers/joining/ways-to-join

Requirements vary from role to role, which is detailed here: www.adfcareers.gov.au/careers/joining/eligibility

The ADF Gap Year Program provides an opportunity for young Australians, who have finished Year 12 or equivalent, to experience 12 months in the military.

Participants in the Gap Year Program learn practical and leadership skills, enjoy a healthy and varied lifestyle, meet new friends and may even receive recognised qualifications to help progress their future career - all while getting paid.

For more information, please visit: www.adfcareers.gov.au/careers/gap-year

You can serve your country in a more flexible manner through the Reserves. The Reserves allows you to serve around your current schedule, while earning tax-free money.

Read more about the reserves here: www.adfcareers.gov.au/careers/reserves

Starting a business can be a rewarding and challenging career path.

The business.gov.au website, the Government’s primary website for the Australian business community is a single entry point for accessing information and resources from government to help businesses. The website provides information to help people plan, start or run their own business.

The Guide to Starting a Business is a step-by-step tool to help new business owners understand what’s ahead when starting a business in Australia, and is available at www.business.gov.au/Guide/Starting

There are also a number of programs aimed at helping you build your enterprise skills and develop innovative ideas, as well as providing sources of training and education.

These opportunities can be found on the business.gov.au website. The Grants and Programs search tool provides details of funding opportunities across the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and, in some cases, from local councils.

To access the search tool, visit www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs

Self-Employment Assistance Program helps you get a business idea off the ground or provides you with help for your existing business through services such as:

• Self-Employment Workshops
• Developing Business Plans
• Free accredited Small Business Training
• Business Advice
• Health Checks for your business
• Coaching for your Small Business.

The program is delivered in 51 Regions around Australia by Self-Employment Assistance providers.

To find a Self-Employment Assistance provider or for more information visit www.dewr.gov.au/self-employment-assistance

Your Tax File Number (TFN) is your personal reference number in the tax and superannuation systems. You keep the same TFN even if you change your name, change jobs, move interstate or go overseas.

Your TFN is an important part of your tax records, as well as your identity, so it’s important to keep it secure.

You must provide your TFN or a certificate of an application for a TFN when you apply for a study or training loan. You also need your TFN to be able to apply for government benefits, lodge your tax return electronically or get an ABN.

How to apply for a TFN will depend on your circumstances.

For more information visit www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/tax-file-number

For more information and guidance on how to start a new small business, you can visit:

• the SelfStart Hub at www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/coaching/starting-business
• the Starting a Business Guide at www.business.gov.au/guide/starting
• your local Business Enterprise Centre at www.becaustralia.org.au for one on one advice and help.

Speak to your GP about a Mental Health Treatment plan that lets you claim up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions with an eligible mental health professional under Medicare each calendar year. www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/mental-health-care-and-medicare

Providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds headspace.org.au

www.health.gov.au/our-work/medicare-mental-health-centres

au.reachout.com

13 11 14 lifeline.org.au

1300 22 4636 beyondblue.org.au

1800 551 800 kidshelpline.com.au

1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

1800 737 732 1800respect.org.au

Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system. When you enrol in Medicare, Services Australia pays some or all of the costs of your necessary health care.

If your doctor bulk bills, Medicare pay the cost directly to the doctor. This means you won’t have to pay anything;

You’ll need to pay for your appointment if your GP doesn’t bulk bill. You may be able to claim some of this money back from Medicare; and Medicare also help to make some medicines more affordable for you through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

For more information visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare

You get a Medicare card when you enrol in Medicare. You’ll usually be told your Medicare number straight away and your card will be sent to the address you provided in 3 to 4 weeks.

You can use a digital copy of your Medicare card as soon as you enrol. To use a digital version of your Medicare card, you need to:

• Download and sign in to the Express Plus Medicare app; and
• Select the Card tab on the home screen.

To enrol in Medicare you must live in Australia and be one of the following:

• An Australian citizen;
• A New Zealand citizen;
• An Australian permanent resident;
• Applying for permanent residency; or
• A temporary resident covered by a Ministerial Order.

You may already be listed on your parents’ Medicare card, however young people over the age of 15 may enrol on their own Medicare Card. If you are on your parents’ card, you can download a Medicare enrolment or transfer application form from the Services Australia website to get your own Medicare card.

You will need to provide some form of identification (like a passport or student ID). If you haven’t been enrolled before, you may need to provide eligibility documents.

Remember to take your Medicare card with you when visiting a doctor or when you have a prescription filled.

For more information visit: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/enrolling-medicare

A number of employers prefer or require their employees to hold first aid certificates.

You can find out more about some popular first aid courses at: stjohn.org.au/training or at www.australiawidefirstaid.com.au.

A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a reference number that links together higher education and training records from different providers, in different states, and across different years – all in the one record.

Students can view their higher education and training records or transcripts online through their USI account. They can also download or print their USI Transcript and share it electronically with providers and employers of their choice.

All students undertaking higher education and nationally recognised training must provide a USI to their provider unless exempt. It is free and easy to create and stays with you for life.

For more information please visit www.usi.gov.au

Voting is both your right and your responsibility as an Australian. It is compulsory for all Australians 18 years and older to enrol and vote (although you can pre-enrol when you turn 16). Failure to vote at an election can result in a fine.

If you believe you are already pre-enrolled, you can check your enrolment here: www.aec.gov.au

If you need to enrol for the first time for federal, state and local government elections, this can be done by filling out a single form, available from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website (select enrol to vote), post offices or your local Member of Parliament.

For more information visit www.aec.gov.au/enrol.

If you need to update your enrolled address, because you have permanently changed home, you should revise your enrolment after you have lived at the new residential address for a period of at least one month.

If you are temporarily living away from home (for instance for study), but intend to return, you do not need to update your enrolment. To update details, visit here: www.aec.gov.au/enrol/update-my-details.htm

Learn more about Australian Apprenticeships and the benefits of combining practical work and training.

Learn more about the eligibility criteria and how to apply for VET Student Loans.

Find courses and places to study using various search criteria and ratings on universities, campuses and courses.

Employment support services and programs.

For Medicare and Centrelink support services and programs.

Current labour market information including job prospects, employment rates and average incomes.

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system.

A flexible way to study toward a university degree off campus.

Provides information on a range of opportunities for volunteers.

Provides information on a range of career and job opportunities in the Australian Defence Force.

Australia’s directory of training available for school leavers, students, apprentices and employers throughout the country.

Provides students with information on survey results covering the higher education student life cycle from commencement to employment. It publishes overall satisfaction of current students and recent graduates, median salary received by recent graduates and full-time employment rates after graduation.

Compare undergraduate courses from top universities and higher education institutions. Find course information, entry requirements, admission processes and student satisfaction.

Provides information to students about Government assistance with higher education.

A fast, simple way to access government online services including Centrelink, Medicare and the ATO.