If you are an Asylum Seeker or a trafficked person, you may be able to receive financial support to study a vocational course of your choice here at Chisholm TAFE

Changes to funding now allow Asylum Seekers and trafficked persons to access government subsidies from the Victorian Government without having to meet citizenship/residency requirements to study in Victoria.

What is the Asylum Seeker VET Program?

The Victorian government has expanded the Asylum Seeker Vocational Education Training (VET) Program to exempt eligible asylum seekers from the usual citizenship criteria required for participating in a Skills First training course.

The expansion of the program includes a range of new measures that increase Skills First accredited training places, broaden eligibility, lower fees, and make a wider range of subsidised courses available to eligible asylum seekers.

In addition to subsidising Skills First courses, the expanded program is funds two limited pre-accredited programs, the Asylum Seeker Learning Plan (ASLP) and the Asylum Seeker Language and Literacy (ASLL) program.

Under the Asylum Seeker VET program, the Victorian Government provides a limited number of exemptions from the usual criteria for undertaking government-subsidised accredited Skills First training courses.

What is Skills First funding?

Skills First funding is provided by the Victorian government to assist with the costs of your study. If you are eligible, the government will contribute to the cost of your training, which reduces the amount will need to pay.

Who can apply?

Students must hold a valid visa to participate in the subsidised Asylum Seeker VET Program.

Valid visas and criteria for this program are:

  • Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV)
  • Temporary Protection Visas (TPV)
  • Bridging Visa class E (BVE)

Victims of human trafficking who have referrals from the Australian Red Cross (ARC) are also eligible.

How to apply

Asylum seekers

If you are an asylum seeker, ASRC can provide you with the completed forms confirming you are eligible. Bring these form to Chisholm.

Alternatively you can apply directly at Chisholm and we can validate your VISA, using Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)

Contact 1300 517 459 for an appointment to discuss your career and study.

Trafficked persons

If you are a trafficked person, the ARC will provide you with the completed forms that confirm you are eligible for enrolment. Bring these forms to Chisholm.

Alternatively you can apply directly at Chisholm and we can validate your VISA, using Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)

Contact 1300 517 459 for an appointment to discuss your career and study.