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Resolve your SPER debt
As a hardship partner with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER), TAFE Queensland is providing the opportunity for eligible people in financial hardship to reduce their SPER debt, by completing a course.
How it works
Fee-Free TAFE courses have been specifically chosen based on local skills demand and advice from industry. Completing training in these high-priority areas will guarantee you graduate with in-demand skills and strong job prospects. With Fee-Free TAFE training you can feel confident for what comes next, knowing you’re job ready with the industry-relevant skills employers are looking for.
If you are in financial hardship and have an existing SPER debt, you can register your interest in reducing your debt through a work and development order, by undertaking a TAFE Queensland course.
If you meet the course and funding eligibility criteria and courses are available, you may be approved by SPER to reduce your debt by up to $1,000 per month.
If you enrol in a course with TAFE Queensland and are approved to undertake a work and development order, your order will not start until your course does. This means that you may be subject to enforcement action by SPER if you don’t have a current payment plan for your debt until the start date of your course. You can apply for a payment plan at qld.gov.au/sper or call SPER on 1300 365 635.
Eligibility criteria
Funding eligibility criteria
To be eligible for Fee-Free TAFE funding, you must be:
- an Australian or New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency
- a Queensland resident
- no longer at school
- not currently enrolled in training.
Students from the following priority groups are strongly encouraged to apply:
- First Nations Australians
- young people aged 17-24
- people out of work or receiving income support
- unpaid carers
- women facing economic insecurity
- women undertaking study in non-traditional fields
- people with disability.
Please refer to the Fee-Free TAFE page for more information.
TAFE eligibility criteria
Please check that you meet any entry requirements for your chosen course.
SPER work and development order eligibility criteria
You may be eligible to undertake a work and development order if you are in receipt of one of the following*:
a) Department of Veteran Affairs benefit (you will need to provide a letter):
a. Incapacity, disability, etc.
b) Or Centrelink benefits (you will need to provide evidence):
o Abstudy
o Age pension
o Austudy
o Carer payment
o Disability support pension
o JobSeeker payment
o Parenting payment
o Sickness allowance
o Youth allowance
- And have debt that is eligible for a work and development order. Some debts, including compensation and restitution, cannot be included in a work and development order.
* New Zealand applicants who are not yet receiving Centrelink benefits, please contact SPER for ‘Approval to Sponsor’ email’.
Seize your opportunity with Fee-Free TAFE
The career of your dreams is within reach thanks to Fee-Free TAFE. Follow your passion with over 70 industry-recognised courses to choose from. With a range of skill sets, certificates and diplomas available, now’s the time to get job ready with Fee-Free TAFE.
Get started
Application is a two-step process. We will review your course application and will contact you with your offer. We will also assess your eligibility for a work and development order. SPER will advise you directly whether you are approved for a work and development order. Applications must be submitted and processed before the course starts.
STEP 1 – register to undertake a work and development order
Review the courses on the Fee-Free TAFE page and complete the registration form on this page (please ensure you upload your income support evidence document here). The details collected through the registration form will be used to verify your outstanding SPER debt. Once you have completed the form, click ‘complete registration’.
STEP 2 - apply for a course
You will then be asked to complete an application form for your preferred course. This step may require you to re-supply some of your details.
Register now
Please note that not all courses are available at all locations. Course availability will be confirmed by the TAFE Queensland Customer Service team.
More information
Find out more about SPER’s work and development orders or other ways you can deal with your SPER debt.