Am I eligible for CSQ funding? It is the first question most people ask us. CSQ funding can take a big chunk off the cost of your ticket, so it is worth knowing where you stand before you book.
Construction Skills Queensland funding is not as complicated as it looks. This guide walks you through who is eligible, how the gap fee works, and what it means for the courses we run.
What is CSQ funding?
CSQ stands for Construction Skills Queensland. It subsidises training for the Queensland construction industry, from short courses through to higher qualifications.
When you are eligible, CSQ pays part of your course fee straight to your training provider, and you pay the rest. The part you pay is called the gap fee. It is usually a lot smaller than the full price of the course.
Funded training is available on many of the courses we run at Diggerman Training, from machine tickets to work at heights. The subsidy is different from one course to the next, so the gap fee changes depending on what you book.
Am I eligible for CSQ funding?
CSQ funding comes with eligibility criteria, and not everyone qualifies for every course. The rules are set by CSQ, and the honest answer to “am I eligible?” is that it depends on your situation and the course you are chasing.
Here is the good part. You do not have to work it out on your own. When you enquire, we check your eligibility for you, confirm which courses you can get funded, and tell you the exact gap fee before you commit to anything. If CSQ funding applies, our office confirms it with you and sorts the paperwork CSQ needs. No guesswork, no surprises on the invoice.
If you are not eligible this time, it is not the end of the road. Plenty of people pay the full course fee and still get real value out of it, and we will help you pick the right tickets either way.
What CSQ funding is worth on our courses
The saving depends on the course. Here is what eligible students pay on some of the courses people ask about most:
- Machine tickets like the excavator ticket: full fee $965, gap fee $350
- EWP (under 11m): full fee $475, gap fee $200
- Work safely at heights: full fee $300, gap fee $120
- Dogging licence: full fee $1,740, gap fee $500
These are the fees for eligible students. If CSQ funding does not apply to your course or your situation, you pay the full fee, and we will always tell you which one applies before you book.
Prices are correct as of September 2026. Course fees can change, so check the course page for the current fee before you book.
Chasing more than one ticket? Our machinery bundles line courses up back to back so you save a trip, and we will talk you through how funding sits across a bundle.
How the gap fee works
You never hand money to CSQ. CSQ pays its share directly to us as your registered training provider, and that brings the price down. You only ever pay the gap fee, and you pay it to us.
Because the subsidy is set per course, the gap fee on a one day ticket looks different to the gap fee on a five day licence. That is normal. When you enquire, we line up the course, your eligibility and the gap fee in one go, so you know the real number before you turn up.
Real people, real tickets
Most of the people we train are not lifelong operators. They are career changers, upskillers, and people getting back into work. Funding is often what makes that first step affordable.
“When I first parked out the front of Diggerman Training I was a super nervous young woman wanting a career change. As soon as I walked in to the reception I was welcomed by the Diggerman team and they made me feel comfortable and at ease. […] Now I have my dream job as a New to Industry Operator driving haul trucks which carry up to 240 tonne, thanks to the boys at Diggerman.” – Ella
“Great bunch of guys, recently emigrated from NZ, they gave me sound advice about which courses to do and how to make myself work ready. Plus a great deal for non funded CSQ person. Recommend!!” – Eugene
The short version
- CSQ funding helps pay for construction training in Queensland, and it is available on many Diggerman Training courses
- Eligibility criteria apply, and they depend on your situation and the course you choose
- With funding, you pay only the gap fee, which is a lot less than the full price
- The gap fee changes from course to course, and eligible students pay as little as $120 on some tickets
- We check your eligibility and confirm the exact fee before you book
Courses mentioned in this article: – RIIMPO320F – Conduct civil construction excavator operations – RIIHAN301E – Operate elevating work platform – RIIWHS204E – Work safely at heights – CPCCLDG3001 – Licence to perform dogging
Not Sure If You Qualify? Let Us Check
If you have read this far and you are wondering whether you are eligible, the easiest thing to do is ask. Tell us which ticket you are after and a bit about your situation, and we will check your CSQ eligibility, confirm the gap fee, and sort your booking in one go.
We train people across the Sunshine Coast, and we run on-site training in Brisbane and the regions for businesses getting a crew ticketed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the exact eligibility rules for CSQ funding?
The eligibility rules are set by CSQ, and they apply per course rather than being one blanket rule. Rather than guess, the simplest way to know for sure is to ask us. When you enquire, we check your eligibility against the course you want, and if funding applies our office confirms it and handles the paperwork. If you want to read the rules from the source, CSQ sets out its funding for workers on the CSQ website.
Q: How much does CSQ funding save me?
It depends on the course. On many machine tickets, eligible students pay a gap fee of $350 instead of the full $965. On shorter courses like work safely at heights, the gap fee is smaller. We confirm the exact figure for your course before you book.
Q: Do I pay CSQ directly?
No. CSQ pays its contribution straight to us as your training provider. You only ever pay the gap fee, and you pay it to Diggerman Training.
Q: Which courses are CSQ funded?
Many of our machine tickets and high risk work licences are funded, but not every course is. Some are full fee only. Tell us which ticket you are after and we will tell you whether funding applies.
Q: What if I am not eligible for CSQ funding?
You can still do the course at the full fee, and plenty of people do. We will give you honest advice on which tickets are worth it for the work you are chasing, funded or not.
Q: How do I apply for CSQ funding?
You do not have to sort it out on your own. When you enquire with us, we check your eligibility, talk you through your funding options, and confirm the subsidised price. If CSQ funding applies, our office confirms it with you and collects the documents CSQ needs.
