Help - Any ideas???

[C~Q]

I am almost finished my Cert 3 in Fitness which will only enable me to work as a gym instructor which is basicly someone that works on the floor of the gym and doesn't do much! I signed up knowing that I would be doing my Cert 4 following the cert 3 after which I would be a qualified personal trainer.

The problem now is my husband and I have seperated and i'm not going to be able to afford to do the cert 4 I really, really don't want to work on the gym floor for years, people only do it as a stepping stone to becomming a PT.

Does anyone know if there is anyway of doing certificates other than a pprivate college? I think I can do it at TAFE but it's on the gold coast and I think thats going to work out too expensive with cc and petrol etc. Is there any kind of help from CL if you're not studying full time? Or any help paying for the course? I really don't want to give up on it all now but I feel like i'm stuck and i'm so frustrated.

TIA

[Lulu]

Yeah there is help from Clink but I think its only if you qual for PP. It depends on the caseload of the course, I can find out for you tomorrow if BG doesnt already know the answer.

Its about $75 a f/nite (??) and its called PES.

[C~Q]

Great, if you could find out that would be great I do qualify for PP. Does the PES affect any other payments? Will I get that and less something else?

$75 a fortnight would be good. I think we paid back the cert 3 at $150 a fortnight so half would go a long way...

[Lulu]

Nah, its an extra. You wont lose anything else.

[luna moth]

Don't forget that if you're working in the industry (i.e. on a gym floor) then your course is tax deductible. Last year I deducted my $1000+ in fees (also had some other deductions) and got nearly $3000 back, so don't forget to factor that in!
Also, it's really annoying, but Qld TAFE fees are WAY higher than any other state. Write to Anna Bligh about it. I do. A lot.

[briggsy's girl]

hiya hun

if you qualify for PPS (which it sounds like you do) and are studying, you MIGHT qualify for PES (pensioner education supplement) - you need to be studying a specific portion of a full time case load to be able to qualify. it's around $62 for a full time student (or anyone studying over 50% full time case load) - if you're part time (25-50%), you get a portion of that.

as to funding for the course, there is nothing c'link can offer in that way. you will have a pensioner concession card if you're on PPS, so may be eligible for a discount on course fees via the TAFE. if not, the only other option is to sign up with a job network member (via c'link) and speak to them about course funding. it's not easily available though...

hope that helped

BG