Funding

Current National Funding Projects

National Workforce Development Fund

The National Workforce Developmen Fund provides $558 million over four years to industry to support training and workforce development in areas of current and future skills need.

Organisations are eligible to apply for funding if they operate in a high priority sector or if the occupations in which they are seeking to train their workforce are in local or national demand. Proposals for funding may be submitted by lead organisations to Industry Skills Councils on an ongoing basis until all funding available for the financial year has been allocated.

Professional associations and industry bodies may submit an application to the relevant ISC to coordinate on behalf of smaller enterprises seeking to participate in the program. This approach is encouraged so that proposals meet localised training needs.

Training undertaken through the Fund must be for an Eligible Qualification (a nationally endorsed qualification or a Training Package Skills Set recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework) that addresses the identified training and skills development needs of the PO. For new workers these qualifications include Certificate II, III, IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma for new workers.

Further information http://www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/Programs/SkillTraining/nwdf/Pages/default.aspx

Apprenticeship/ Traineeship employer incentives

The Australian Government has introduced a number of initiatives to assist employers who take on an Australian Apprentice (the term apprentice includes trainees).  Employers of Australian Apprentices may be eligible to claim a completion incentive payment of up to $3,000 for employing an Australian Apprentice at the Certificate III to Advanced Diploma level (subject to meeting the required eligibility criteria).

Employers of an Australian Apprentice may be eligible for financial assistance through:

  • Standard, Additional and Special incentives
  • Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
  • Assistance for Australian Apprentices with Disability
  • Support for employing an Australian School-based Apprentice

Assistance on all aspects of Australian Apprenticeships can be obtained from an Australian Apprenticeships Centre. To contact an Australian Apprenticeships Centre, please call the Australian Apprenticeships referral line on 13 38 73.

Workplace English Language Literacy (WELL)

The WELL Program is funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).  Each project includes a employer co-contribution of between 20 and 50%.   The main aim of the program is to assist employers to train workers in English language, literacy and numeracy skills.  The training needs to be related to job-related workplace training and is designed to help workers meet current and future employment and training needs.


Current State Funding Programs

User Choice Traineeships

The Queensland Department of Education and Training has approved training delivered under the water operations package to be "Priority One" for User Choice Traineeships at both the Certificate II and III level.  This means all new and existing employees are eligible.  The process for accessing these traineeships:

  1. Choose an RTO.  Details of those eligible to deliver these traineeships are available here by typing in the search phrase "NWP" and clicking on the RTO links.  NWP20107 is for Cert II and NWP30107 is Cert III.  Details of each RTO's specialisations, delivery and costs are available here.  Contact skills@qldwater.com.au if you are interested in training offered by an RTO which is not registered for User Choice.
  2. Contact them and ask for a quote based on the number of people you have, advising that your people will be eligible for a User Choice traineeship.  The quote will need to have a compulsory student services fee, a cost for the training, plus costs for travel/ face to face delivery if that is what you require.  Agree on a price and level of service.
  3. Contact the Australian Apprenticeships Centre servicing your region by typing in your postcode here. The AAC will arrange to complete documentation required for signing the trainee up and assess eligibility for other funding, including Commonwealth incentives.
  4. The AAC will confirm approval and the training can commence.
    Costs will vary depending on the qualification chosen, number of trainees, amount of face to face delivery and other factors.  Contact skills@qldwater.com.au for assistance in interpreting your quotes.

Strategic Investment Fund

Skills Queensland is administering the SIF which provides up to $50 million of funding per year to provide industry and enterprises with the capacity to directly influence where public funding for skills and workforce development is invested, as well as to shape the nature of the strategies implemented.

Key priorities for the fund include:

  • improving the qualifications profile by providing certificate III or higher qualifications to Queenslanders without a trade, tertiary or training qualification
  • improving the productivity of the existing workforce through higher level training linked to post-trade, technical and other critical occupations, and pathways to higher education
  • supporting the development of trade skills to address critical industry skills shortages, inlcuding pathways into apprenticeships
  • improving access to training opportunities for Indigenous Queenslanders
  • increasing non-government investment in VET in Queensland.

The 2011/2012 SIF Funding has been allocated.