National Workforce Development Fund
$558 million over four years to support training and workforce development in areas of current and future skills need.
Overview
The National Workforce Development Fund allows eligible organisations to apply for funding to support the training of existing workers and new workers in areas of identified business and workforce development need. The National Workforce Development Fund is part of the Australian Government’s Building Australia’s Future Workforce package.
What is the National Workforce Development Fund?
Through the National Workforce Development Fund the Australian Government will provide $558 million over four years to support training and workforce development in areas of current and future skills need.
Australian Government funding will be supplemented by a co-contribution from industry with government contributing at higher levels for small businesses. Under the National Workforce Development Fund, enterprises will identify their current and future business and workforce development needs. The enterprise would then apply for funding to support the training of existing workers and new workers in the area of need.
What kind of training and services will be funded?
Enterprises will be able to purchase the training they need in the format that suits their business to deliver valuable nationally recognised qualifications to their workers.
Training undertaken through the National Workforce Development Fund must be for an Eligible Qualification (a nationally endorsed qualification or a Training Package Skills Set recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework). For new workers these qualifications include Certificate II, III, IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma for new workers. For existing workers these qualifications include Certificate III, IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma.
Want to apply for funding?
National Workforce Development Fund is available to support training and workforce development in all sectors of the economy where there are occupations in demand. The first funding round, which closed on 30 September 2011, made available $73 million in funding for all sectors of the economy with a focus on construction ($25 million) and aged care ($25 million).
A further $50 million in National Workforce Development Fund is now available for the following three priority areas:
- Priority 1 – $15 million to support the resources sector, as well as those sectors where the effects of the resources boom are particularly acute.
- Priority 2 – $15 million to support organisations and regions that are facing structural adjustment and reform challenges, particularly in the manufacturing and tourism sectors.
- Priority 3 – $20 million to support up-skilling and skills deepening across all sectors of the economy.
What is the level of industry contribution?
Large enterprises will contribute 66 per cent of the cost of training, medium enterprises 50 per cent, and small enterprises 33 per cent.
Who Can Apply?
Organisations eligible to participate in the National Workforce Development Fund include enterprises, professional associations, industry bodies, other lead agents representing a consortia of enterprises, and Employment Service Providers.
Organisations seeking to participate in the National Workforce Development Fund must work with the relevant Industry Skills Council to submit an application to the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Those wishing to participate need to contact an Industry Skills Council prior to the submission of an application.
How to apply
To apply to participate in the National Workforce Development Fund, organisations will need to work with their relevant Industry Skills Council. During the application stage, Industry Skills Councils will assist organisations to develop enterprise based training proposals. Applications for further funding in 2011-12 may be submitted by organisations to Industry Skills Councils up until 31 March 2012. Approval of proposals will be made by the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills.
Application Forms
To obtain an application form, access the TED online site, register as a TED online user and download the application form for the National Workforce Development Fund (the Fund). An Australian Business Number (ABN) is required to download the form. Once downloaded the form may be completed offline. Once completed the form will need to be uploaded to the site and submitted.
Expert Assistance
We have extensive experience in assisting organisations obtain competitive grants in the education space. Contact us on 03 9005 6789 or via email.
For this grant we can assist with demonstrating the:
- extent to which the proposed project relates to an identified priority sector, region, occupation or skills need
- rationale for the proposal
- capacity of the organisation and its employees to benefit from the proposed project
- proposed training is in addition to existing training efforts, or training that would otherwise not be provided
- value for money in regards to the justification of the cost of training
- proposed project targets priority groups and sectors.
- capacity of the proposed organisation to implement the proposed projects
We can also assist with preparation of:
- A training needs analysis
- A workforce development plan in support of the rationale for the proposal.
