Clear fees. Clear expectations.
Understand how course fees are disclosed, when payments are due, how subsidised co-contribution fees work, and what happens if you withdraw, transfer or Paradigm Training Group is unable to deliver an agreed service.
Your exact fees are confirmed before enrolment and payment.
This page explains PTG's general payment, refund and fee-protection arrangements. The exact fees that apply to you depend on the training product, delivery arrangement, funding eligibility and any optional services you select.
Do not rely on this general page alone.
Before enrolment or before any fees are required to be paid, PTG provides or directs each student to course-specific information setting out the training to be provided, all fees, costs and charges, payment terms, applicable refund arrangements, and any obligations or liabilities associated with the training.
Fee-for-service
Deposits, staged payments and course-specific fee schedules.
Subsidised training
Career Start co-contribution fees and progression payments.
Refunds & withdrawal
How refunds are assessed and how to request withdrawal.
Prepaid fee protection
How the $1,500 prepaid-fee threshold applies.
Full-fee training with clear staged payment arrangements.
Fee-for-service applies where a student is not accessing a government subsidy for the relevant training. The total course fee and payment schedule are shown in the applicable Course Details and confirmed as part of enrolment.
Deposit or course fee at enrolment
For fee-for-service courses costing more than $1,500, PTG's ordinary payment structure is an initial payment of up to $1,500, with the remaining balance collected later in accordance with the agreed payment schedule.
Where the total course fee is $1,500 or less, the applicable course fee may be payable at enrolment unless an approved payment arrangement has been made.
Payments are linked to the agreed schedule
Any remaining course balance must be paid in accordance with the payment schedule supplied for the enrolment. Payment dates may be linked to progression through online theory, practical training, assessment or another agreed milestone.
Unless PTG agrees otherwise in writing, all agreed course fees must be paid before completion and before AQF certification documentation can be issued.
Payment plans may be available on application. A payment plan is only approved once PTG confirms the arrangement and payment schedule. Students should contact PTG before a due date if they need to discuss an existing arrangement.
Career Start co-contribution fees.
Eligible students accessing Queensland Government subsidised training may be required to make a co-contribution towards the cost of training. Funding eligibility and fee arrangements are confirmed before enrolment.
Total co-contribution
PTG publishes the applicable co-contribution fee for funded offerings, including concessional and non-concessional rates where applicable. The student's course-specific documentation confirms the total fee before enrolment.
Maximum 30% upfront
Under PTG's current Career Start fee arrangements, no more than 30% of the total co-contribution fee is collected before training commences. The remaining amount is invoiced at agreed progression points.
Student or another payer
The co-contribution fee may be paid by the student or on the student's behalf by an employer, family member or another eligible third party. PTG cannot waive or pay a mandatory co-contribution fee on the student's behalf where the funding rules prohibit this.
Balance paid as training progresses
Remaining co-contribution fees are charged at agreed progression points and before course completion. For PTG courses structured as online theory followed by a practical workshop, the current standard arrangement is for the remaining 70% to be paid after completion of the theory component and before the practical workshop can be booked, unless the student's course-specific written payment schedule states otherwise.
Eligibility, concessional status and use of a Queensland Government subsidised training entitlement can affect the amount payable and a student's future access to subsidised training. PTG confirms the applicable funding arrangement with the student before enrolment.
Queensland Career Start informationAMPA and external maritime costs are shown separately.
Some PTG maritime pathways include or offer an AMSA Mandated Practical Assessment (AMPA) as a separate service.
Where an AMPA fee applies, the amount is displayed on the relevant Course Details page and enrolment documentation. Current applicable PTG maritime course pages list an AMPA fee of $500.
The PTG AMPA fee is separate from fees charged by AMSA or other external organisations. The applicable PTG AMPA fee must be paid before participating in the booked AMPA. Payment does not guarantee a satisfactory AMPA outcome, an Interim Certificate of Competency, or issue of an AMSA Certificate of Competency.
Course-specific AMPA fee disclosed before payment.
AMSA application fees are external to PTG.
Eligibility requirements still apply.
No certification outcome is guaranteed by payment.
Under PTG's current payment terms, an AMPA fee is not refundable once the assessment booking has been confirmed, subject to any rights that cannot lawfully be excluded and any remedy applying if PTG is unable to provide the booked service.
Course fees and external costs.
Inclusions and exclusions vary by training product. Your Course Details page identifies the items relevant to your enrolment.
Your PTG course fee may include
- Online learning and learner resources.
- Scheduled training and assessment.
- Use of PTG facilities, vessels and training equipment where relevant.
- Reasonable further training or reassessment opportunities where included in the course arrangement.
- Issue of applicable AQF certification documentation after successful completion and satisfaction of required conditions.
External costs may include
- AMSA application and regulatory fees.
- Medical or eyesight assessment costs.
- Marine-radio certification or examination fees where not included.
- Identity documents, photographs or third-party verification costs.
- Travel, accommodation and meals.
- Personal clothing, PPE or equipment identified as a student responsibility.
- Other charges imposed directly by an external organisation.
Refunds depend on when and why training ends.
Refunds are assessed under PTG's current Fees, Charges and Refund Policy and the written terms applicable to the student's enrolment. The summary below explains the general position.
Student withdrawal
Where a deposit has been paid, PTG's current detailed refund schedule provides for an administration amount equal to 5% of the course cost to be retained, with additional funds paid returned to the payer.
The current detailed refund schedule provides for an administration amount equal to 10% of the course cost to be retained, with additional funds paid returned to the payer.
PTG may consider a proportional refund based on services not yet delivered and the circumstances of the withdrawal. Compassionate or compelling circumstances may be considered and supporting evidence may be requested.
Government-funded students
An upfront co-contribution payment is refundable where the student withdraws before training has commenced, subject to the applicable written terms.
Progression-based payments relating to a unit of competency are generally not refundable once training for that unit has commenced, in accordance with PTG's current policy.
Approved refunds are returned to the original payer, such as the student or sponsoring party, unless another lawful written arrangement applies.
Your undelivered training is protected.
If PTG cancels or is unable to provide training or assessment for which a student has paid, PTG will provide an appropriate remedy in accordance with the applicable terms. This may include a refund for undelivered services or transfer to an equivalent available course or service at no additional cost.
Withdrawal, refund and transfer requests.
Contact PTG as early as possible when your circumstances change. Written requests create a clear record and allow the correct fee position to be assessed.
Submit the request
Refund and withdrawal requests should be submitted in writing. Include your full name, contact details, enrolled course and the reason for the request. Supporting documents may be requested where relevant.
PTG reviews the circumstances
PTG considers the timing of withdrawal, training and assessment already provided, payments already made, the applicable fee schedule, and any supporting circumstances.
Outcome provided
PTG's current Student Handbook states that refund decisions are processed within four weeks of receiving a complete refund application. Approved refunds are returned to the applicable payer.
Complaints and appeals remain available
A student who disagrees with a refund or administrative decision may use PTG's complaints and appeals process as set out in the Student Handbook.
Tell us before the scheduled training date.
PTG's current Student Handbook provides that a transfer or practical workshop change may generally be requested once without penalty where the request is made in writing at least 10 business days before the scheduled training, the requested place is available, and any fee difference is settled.
Additional transfers, late changes, extensions or re-enrolment may attract an administration or cost-recovery charge. Where a charge applies, PTG will disclose the amount or basis of the charge before the student agrees to the changed arrangement.
The $1,500 threshold.
The 2025 Compliance Requirements contain specific protections when an RTO or third party receives more than $1,500 in prepaid fees from or on behalf of an individual for the same VET course.
PTG's ordinary fee-for-service payment structure is designed so that an individual student is not required to prepay more than $1,500 for training and assessment services that have not yet been delivered, unless an applicable compliant fee-protection arrangement is in place.
The threshold concerns prepaid fees for services not yet delivered.
Multiple smaller prepayments for the same VET course are considered together.
Where protection is required, PTG must use a measure permitted by the 2025 Compliance Requirements.
How payments can be made
PTG accepts payment by EFT, credit card and approved employer invoice arrangements. Payment instructions are supplied with the relevant invoice or enrolment information.
When an agreed payment is not made
Students and sponsoring parties are responsible for paying agreed fees by the required due dates. Where fees become overdue, PTG may pause access to future scheduled training or practical activities until an appropriate payment arrangement is resolved.
All agreed fees must be paid.
AQF certification documentation is issued after the applicable assessment and completion requirements have been met and all agreed fees associated with the training product have been paid.
Where a student has met the relevant training-product requirements, completed or withdrawn as applicable, and paid all agreed fees, PTG issues the applicable AQF certification documentation within the timeframe required by the 2025 Compliance Requirements.
Your statutory rights continue to apply.
PTG's payment, cancellation and refund terms do not exclude, restrict or modify rights that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation. Where a statutory cooling-off or other consumer right applies to a particular transaction, that right is not displaced by this policy.
Check these five things.
If any of the information below is unclear, contact PTG before making a payment or completing your enrolment.
Confirm the exact fee for the training product and delivery arrangement.
Know the initial payment, future due dates and any approved payment plan.
Check resources, practical training, assessment and other included services.
Identify external, regulatory, travel, equipment or other student-paid costs.
Understand what happens financially if your circumstances change.
Documents and information to review.
Student Handbook
Full information about fees, refunds, transfers, complaints and student responsibilities.
Open handbook Course-specific feesCourse information
Check current course fees, inclusions, exclusions, delivery and enrolment requirements.
View courses Queensland GovernmentCareer Start
Independent information about Queensland Government subsidised training and eligibility.
View Career Start National VET regulator2025 Standards for RTOs
Information about the Standards applying to ASQA-regulated registered training organisations.
Visit ASQATalk with Paradigm before you pay.
We can explain the fee schedule for your course, funding arrangement, payment plan, invoice, withdrawal or refund request.
Paradigm Training Group | RTO 41059 | General payment terms summary. Course-specific written information provided before enrolment and payment applies to each individual enrolment. Last reviewed: August 2026.