Career Taster Program

More about Career Tasters

A Career Taster is a short, hands-on learning experience that allows you to step into real or simulated industry environment and try out different jobs. Career Taster programs are delivered one day per week for up to ten weeks.

Depending on the study area of your preference, you may:

• Work in a simulated health or community services setting
• Build or create something in a workshop
• Cook, bake or provide customer service
• Use automotive, electrical or digital tools

The fully funded Career Taster Programs have been designed to fit around high school subjects, allowing you to get a head start on your learning journey while maintaining studies at school.

Explore our programs

The Career Taster programs* will offer you the options to experience a variety of industry areas, including:

• Vehicle trades: Explore different areas of the vehicle industry which may include light and heavy vehicles, electric cars, vehicle engineering, marine mechanics and marine craft construction.
• Engineering and electrical: Students will try out practical skills across areas such as electrotechnology, energy systems, autonomous tech, engineering trades, or electrical controls.
• Construction trades: Get hands‑on in areas like carpentry, finishing trades, plumbing, cabinetmaking, shopfitting and landscaping.
• Health and community services: Explore areas like health, aged care, or community services to learn practical ways people are supported.
• Information technology and business: Discover more about game design and digital design, screen and media, web design, cybersecurity, networking, hardware and coding.
• Agriculture, animals and plants: Explore careers working with animals and plants, small and domestic animal care, large animal care and maintenance, science careers, horticulture, landscaping and land care.
• Hospitality and tourism: Explore new skills in cooking, baking, travel and event management.
• Personal services: Learn creative skills in hair, beauty, make‑up and nails, plus discover how massage and fitness support wellbeing.
• 2032 Olympics: With the 2032 Olympics coming, explore careers in coaching, athlete development, e‑sports or sports broadcasting.

*Please note that not all study areas are available in all locations. Please contact your school or TAFE at School team for further information.

How the program works

• Designed specifically for Year 10 students
• Delivered as short, practical programs over a limited period
• Focused on hands-on learning rather than assessment
• No formal qualification is awarded

Career Tasters help you feel more confident about what comes next, whether that’s picking subjects, doing more training, or exploring careers.

Next steps

It’s important to note that successfully completing this program will not give you a formal qualification or any Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) credits. But after finishing your Career Taster program we can help you take the next step, whether that's a TAFE at School Course or a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.

Eligibility criteria

To take part in the Career Taster program you must be a Year 10 student enrolled with a Queensland high school (this includes home schooling and distance education). You must also be able to arrange travel to the relevant TAFE Queensland campus where the program is offered.

In order to apply for the Career Taster program you will also need to have a Unique Student Identifier (USI). Your USI is a reference number that creates a secure online record of your training and qualifications from recognised training providers in Australia. You can quickly and easily create your USI online. To create a USI visit the Australian Government’s Unique Student Identifier website.

Interested Year 10 students are encouraged to apply. TAFE Queensland will complete the funding checks and advise students of their eligibility.

What it costs

There is no cost to eligible students. The Career Taster program is fully funded by the Queensland Government for Year 10 students.