What is the Future Skills for Future Jobs Grants Program?
The Future Skills for Future Jobs Grants Program is a grant opportunity to support innovative projects that promote market diversification and aim to increase the number of Australian Apprenticeship commencements.
Background
The ACT Government has committed $990,000 in 2020-21, which includes funding provided by the Australian Government under the National Partnership on the Skilling Australians Fund (the National Partnership), to increase the number of Australian Apprenticeship commencements (including Australian Apprenticeships, pre- apprenticeships, pre-traineeships, and higher apprenticeships) in the Territory.
The Future Skills for Future Jobs Grants Program Guidelines are for group training organisations (GTOs) and registered training organisations (RTOs), businesses, employers and industry. They provide information on the process for submitting an expression of interest and co-developing a project plan for the Future Skills for Future Jobs Grants Program.
Funding
Funding of $990,000 is available under the Future Skills for Future Jobs Grants Program in 2020-21.
The maximum amount of funding that can be sought is limited to $300,000 per expression of interest. There is no minimum amount per expression of interest, and no limit on the number of expressions of interest an applicant can submit, providing they are for different project proposals or for specific services delivered by a partnering organisation or consortium.
Projects that seek the maximum funding amount will need to demonstrate a strong return on investment in the form of training commencements.
Eligible Projects
In line with the focus of the National Partnership, projects must:
- include industry partners, or be industry led
- identify new pathway opportunities for Australian Apprenticeships
- promote market diversification and productivity
- contribute to achieving the ACT’s targets under the National Partnership.
Expressions of interest should focus on projects that embody innovative approaches and collaborative models that result in increased Australian Apprenticeship commencements in the ACT.
Expressions of interest should demonstrate:
- evidence of demand for workforce skills by employers or industry
- how the proposed activities are intended to lead to an Australian Apprenticeship pathway
- how business (employers) will be involved in the project development and implementation
- partnership or consortium opportunities that will support the project outcomes
- how the intended project outcomes will be sustained into the future
- a break-down of project costs
- value for money.
Expressions of interest must also clearly define the project scope and milestones, which should not create dependency on ongoing government funding beyond the life of the project.
Expressions of Interest will be accepted between 11 January 2021 and 18 February 2021. Funded projects must commence before 30 June 2021 and conclude by 30 June 2023.
Future Skills for Future Jobs Grants Program funding is available for projects that will support an increase in Australian Apprenticeship commencements. Funding for the delivery of Australian Apprenticeships training will continue to be available under the ACT Australian Apprenticeships User Choice Program (subject to the qualification and participant eligibility requirements).
Eligible Applicants
Expressions of interest may be submitted by individual businesses and organisations, including (but not limited to):
- employers
- industry associations
- Community organisations
- group training organisations
- registered training organisations.
Where a project includes nationally recognised training, the RTO delivering the training must hold a Training Initiative Funding Agreement.
Projects should also align with one or more of the following Skilling Australians Fund and ACT Government priorities:
- occupations in demand
- occupations with a reliance on skilled migration pathways and/or
- industries and sectors of future growth including, but not limited to, the following priorities:
- tourism
- hospitality
- health, ageing, and community and social services
- engineering
- manufacturing
- building and construction
- agriculture
- digital technologies.
- ACT-specific industries targeted for expansion, including:
- defence
- cyber
- renewable energy
- space and spatial science
- tourism.
- trade apprenticeships
- rural, regional and remote areas
- targeted cohorts, including:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people with a disability
- youth at risk (aged 15-24 years)
- long-term unemployed
- mature-aged workers
- women in trades
- veterans.
- industries and communities experiencing structural adjustment
- industries significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Timing
Applications close 18 February 2021.
