What is Skilled Capital?

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Skilled Capital is an ACT Government funded training initiative that provides heavily subsidised access to nationally recognised qualifications for eligible individuals living or working in the ACT. For 2025–26, Access Recognised Training is seeking funded places across three hospitality qualifications: 

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1. SIT20322 Certificate II in Hospitality;

2. SIT40422 Certificate IV in Hospitality; and 

3. SIT40521 Certificate IV in Kitchen Management. 

 

For the 2025–26 release, Access Recognised Training will be submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the ACT Government. This application outlines the number of funded places we’re seeking across each funded qualification. As part of the EOI process, we are required to demonstrate genuine demand from industry. That’s where employers like you come in.

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To support our application, we must submit Letters of Support from local employers who are interested in offering subsidised training opportunities to their staff. These letters help show Skills Canberra that there is strong industry backing for the qualifications we are seeking to deliver and can directly influence the number of funded places we’re awarded.

 

There’s no cost or obligation to proceed. If funded places are approved, we will contact you first to confirm uptake before any enrolment is finalised.

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If you are interested please complete our Expression of Interest Form.  

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Key Dates

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• 2 September 2025: The ACT Government opens the Expression of Interest (EOI) period for Registered Training Organisations.
   

• By 20 September 2025: Letters of Support from interested ACT hospitality employers are due to Access Recognised Training to strengthen our submission.
   

• 23 September 2025 (COB): Final EOIs must be submitted to the ACT Government.
   

• Late October 2025: The ACT Government will assess all EOIs and release final place allocations to RTOs.  It is unlikely any RTO receives all products or total places requested due to budget and skills needs. 
   

• From November 2025:  Skilled Capital enrolments will open, subject to the number of funded places awarded. 

 

Letters of Support

 

As part of Access Recognised Training’s Expression of Interest to the ACT Government, we are invited to submit evidence of industry and employer support. Applications that demonstrate real demand, backed by local employers, are considered more favourably during the government’s assessment process. 

What to include in your support letter: 

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• Be provided on your official business letterhead
   

• Include a short statement of support for Access’s funding application
   

• Mention which qualification(s) are relevant to your business
   

• Outline the number of staff you’d likely nominate (provide your best estimate)
   

• Be signed by someone authorised to act on behalf of the business. 

 

Sample Support Letter - Template

 

Please let us know if you would like assistance in drafting your Letter of Support. 

 

Please note: Submitting a Letter of Support does not bind the employer in any way. You are not making a financial commitment or locking in enrolments. It is simply an expression of interest that indicates your organisation’s support for the qualifications Access is seeking to deliver.​

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What Happens After Funded Places Are Allocated?​

 

1. We Contact Supporting Employers First

Employers who submitted a Letter of Support or Expression of Interest will be contacted directly. We’ll confirm the number of funded places received and discuss next steps, including staff eligibility and preferred delivery arrangements.

 

2. Should You Decide Whether to Proceed

There is no obligation to take up the places offered. You’ll have the opportunity to confirm how many staff you wish to enrol, or decline if your circumstances have changed or delay enrolments.  Funded places allocated to Access will remain available until all places are filled or until 30 September 2026, whichever comes first. No enrolment will proceed without your approval.

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Once confirmed, Access will support you in promoting the opportunity to your staff. This may include:

• Providing marketing materials such as posters, flyers or brochures

• Running short info sessions at your venue

• Assisting with internal communications such as emails, intranet posts, or staff newsletters

 

3. Staff Eligibility and Enrolment Checks

We will work with you and your staff to:

• Confirm eligibility under Skilled Capital criteri

• Complete the required enrolment documentation

• Conduct an Initial Skills Assessment (including LLN)

• Prepare a tailored Training Plan for each participant

 

Students must, for the duration of enrolment:

• be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible visa holder, or a New Zealand passport holder resident for more than six months

• be living or working in the ACT

• be at least 17 years of age

• not be enrolled in or attending school or a year 12 program

• must not already be funded for the same or equivalent training product under another government initiative (with limited exceptions for different specialisations)

• cannot enrol in a training product they completed in the past 7 years (with limited exceptions where replacements combine products).

Access will verify eligibility evidence before enrolment in line with ACT requirements.

 

4. Training Delivery Begins

All training will be delivered via our work-based training model, designed to minimise disruption and provide practical, workplace-relevant learning. Participants will receive ongoing support, monitoring and assessment throughout the course.

 

5. Progress Updates and Completion Reporting

We’ll provide regular updates on participant progress and work with you to ensure smooth delivery from commencement through to completion and certification.

 

6. Tuition Fees & Subsidies

The ACT Government covers a significant portion of each qualification under the Skilled Capital initiative. However, students or their employers are required to make a small co-contribution toward their training. Tuition fees are published on the ACT Qualifications Register and must meet the ACT’s minimums. Concessions may apply per ACT rules. Access charges only the minimum published fee and does not charge extra for additional support services funded under Skilled Capital. 

 

7. ​​​​​​Fee Exemptions

The student tuition fee will be waived in full for:

• Students who hold a valid Commonwealth concession card (e.g. Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card)
   

• Students who can provide documented evidence of genuine financial hardship

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All applications for fee exemptions are assessed confidentially and in accordance with our Fee Policy.