Regional Education and Skills Program

A BHP funded initiative that supports education and skills development in regional Australia.

BHP & Aus Gov logo

Get funding for your studies

The Future of Work Partnership, formed by BHP and the Australian Federal Department of Education, has been established to provide educational opportunities in regional and remote Australia. 

To support skills development in these areas, the Regional Education and Skills Program provides eligible students with a financial contribution towards their tuition fees for a course of their choosing.

Applications are now open so if you’re considering studying paramedicine, find out if you’re eligible to have your APC course funded today!

Apply now

How does it work?

Apply for funding

If you’re accepted into the program, you could receive up to $15,000 towards your tuition fees for an eligible non-Bachelor degree course! The specific amount will be determined by the Future of Work Team based on the priority of your course and will be communicated after you have been accepted to the program.

You may also be eligible for a resources grant of up to $1000 to purchase tools that will support your studies.

Learn more

Choose a course

Whether you’re looking to upskill, change careers or simply try something new, the Regional Education and Skills Program is offering an incredible opportunity to study paramedicine no matter your goals. 

Our nationally recognised courses are designed so you can study online, which means you can enjoy flexibility while getting qualified. Find the best course for you today:

Program & application FAQs

The Regional Education and Skills Program is a BHP funded initiative that has been launched as part of the Future of Work Program to support skills development in regional Australia. The program will take the place of the 2022 Short Course Program, and eligible students will receive a financial contribution towards their tuition fees for a course of their choosing.

To be eligible for the program, candidates will be assessed against criteria to determine their eligibility including:

  • The industry area of study. Courses from a broad range of industry areas will be considered, however, key focus areas include health, early childhood education and care, engineering, construction, agriculture, IT and Business.
  • Course type. Students must be enrolled or in the process of enrolling in a course that commences in 2023 or 2024. Eligible courses include Certificate I-IVs, Diplomas, Associate Degrees, Advanced Diplomas, Bachelor’s Degrees, Undergraduate and Graduate Certificates, VET Skill Sets and Microcredentials listed on the national marketplace.
  • Place of residence. Students must live or work in one of the following regional areas to be eligible for the program: Bowen Basin and Mackay in Qld, Upper Spencer Gulf and Roxby Downs in SA, the Pilbara and Goldfields region in WA or the Upper Hunter Region in NSW.
  • Purpose and community contribution. Students must demonstrate how they will use the course to support their career progression and local community needs.

This program is designed to prepare people to become the regional workforce of the future. The target regions for the program are:

  • Bowen Basin and Mackay in Queensland
  • Upper Spencer Gulf and Roxby Downs in South Australia
  • The Pilbara and Goldfields regions in Western Australia
  • The Upper Hunter Region in New South Wales
  1. Access the application form here
  2. Reach out to [email protected] for further information if needed
  3. Complete the short online application
  4. If shortlisted, provide evidence of your enrolment and place of residence
  5. Receive an offer

For more information about the Future of Work Program, please contact [email protected]

Supporting regional students

Phillip Stewart | Regional WA

Father of three, Phillip, has been an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for more than 15 years and a volunteer firefighter for a decade prior to that. Having had the opportunity to study the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care with APC, Phillip shared, “Completing the diploma would arm me with additional skills that are much needed in our community.”

“As would be appreciated, being based in regional WA, at times communication can be challenging and this is when we need the additional knowledge for the treatment of our patients,” he said.

Applications now open

Be part of this rewarding initiative by submitting an application.

Not only could you join an incredibly resilient and successful regional workforce, give yourself the chance to make a real difference in remote communities while you’re at it. 

Start a career in paramedicine today!