18 Dec 2023 - Skills Facts 286

In today's newsletter:

• 2024 Apprentice and Trainee Training Fund now open
• Tasmania signs on to the National Skills Agreement
• Train Now Fund available
• 2023 Tasmanian Employers of Choice announced
• Australian Government funding announced for Fee-Free TAFE
• Skills Ministers set national priorities for 2024
• Australian Training Awards
• Industry Partnerships Program funding available to support business and industry needs
• Season’s Greetings from Skills Tasmania

2024 Apprentice and Trainee Training Fund now open

The 2024 Apprentice and Trainee Training Fund (ATTF) is open for applications.

Grants are available to endorsed registered training organisations for funds to subsidise the cost of delivering training, assessment and learner support services for Tasmanian apprentices and trainees in 2024.

The ATTF is a rolling program that is released annually. Applications for each annual round close at the end of the applicable calendar year.

For information about how to apply, go to www.skills.tas.gov.au/funding/attf to access the Grant Program Guidelines and link to the online application form.

The Qualifications approved and funded in Tasmania page on our website provides details on which qualifications are available for funding under this program, along with the level of funding subsidy paid by Skills Tasmania.

Renewal of 2023 Apprentice and Trainee Training Fund agreements into 2024
Skills Tasmania endorsed registered training organisations that are contracted to deliver training under the ATTF in 2023 will be offered to renew their agreements for 2024. If this applies to your RTO, we will contact the nominated representative from your RTO in the coming weeks to provide the renewal offer.

Enquiries should be directed to the Grant Program Manager on (03) 6165 6027 or by email at attf@skills.tas.gov.au

Tasmania signs on to the National Skills Agreement

The Tasmanian Government has announced its commitment to the new five-year National Skills Agreement, which will come into effect on 1 January 2024.

The National Skills Agreement is a partnership between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, working in collaboration to ensure that the national VET system provides high-quality, responsive and accessible education and training to boost productivity, deliver national priorities and support Australians to obtain the skills and capabilities they need to obtain well-paid, secure jobs.

This has been a significant body of work for Skills Tasmania on behalf of the Tasmanian Government over the past three years and provides a clear approach for governments to work together to address shared challenges and capitalise on shared opportunities in the VET system.

Details of the Agreement can be found at www.dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/national-skills-agreement.

Train Now Fund available

Skills Tasmania reminds registered training organisations (RTOs) that the rolling Train Now Fund remains open.

The Train Now Fund provides grants for nationally recognised training in skill sets that meet an immediate or unexpected industry or enterprise training need and/or an immediate or unexpected learner training need.

This program complements the strategic, longer-term funding provided under Skills Tasmania’s Building a Skilled Workforce program.

Applications can be submitted any time before 30 June 2024, or until funds are fully allocated.

For information about how to apply go towww.skills.tas.gov.au/funding

Enquiries can be directed to the Grant Program Manager on 03 6165 6060 or trainnowfund@skills.tas.gov.au

Australian Government funding announced for Fee-Free TAFE

4,600 new Fee-Free TAFE positions have been announced for Tasmania as part of the $8.9 million in Australian Government funding.

Fee-Free TAFE supports training in areas of high demand, provides access to priority cohorts - including the most vulnerable - and helps students by removing financial barriers to study. The places will be available in Tasmania from January 2024.

The latest announcement between the Australian and Tasmanian governments builds on the success of the existing Fee-Free TAFE program in Tasmania.

Further information and course details are available at TasTAFE www.tastafe.tas.edu.au/fee-free

2023 Tasmanian Employers of Choice announced

The 2023 Tasmanian Employers of Choice have been announced with fifteen businesses and organisations selected for their commitment to wellbeing, belonging and people practices that build successful workplaces.

Applications were received from 29 organisations across a range of industry sectors and business sizes across the state. All shortlisted applicants received a site visit by an assessment panel to talk to the leadership team and staff about their experiences working there.

The following organisations have been recognised as 2023 Tasmanian Employers of Choice:

• Blue Line Laundry
• Northern Suburbs Community Centre
• GHD
• Scala The Training Company
• Hill Street
• 2PM Services
• St Lukes Health
• Wrest Point
• Francesca Accessories
• Marinova
• Woolworths Finance Shared Services
• Festival of Voices
• Bulk Nutrients
• Kingston Beach Dental
• Kiely Plumbing

Applications for the 2024 Employer of Choice program will open in 2024. You can keep up to date here www.business.tas.gov.au/managing/employer_of_choice/recognised.

Industry Partnerships Program funding available to support business and industry needs

Endorsed registered training organisations, Tasmanian employers, businesses and industry groups are encouraged to consider IPP funding to support industry and business needs.

Funding is available for a range of activities including training-related equipment and resources for learners.

Skills Tasmania has amended the eligibility requirements, particularly:

• Industry peak organisations with a physical presence in Tasmania’ are now eligible to apply as either a lead applicant or a partner for both small and large grants.
• Partnership arrangements must be inclusive of multiple participants in the training and workforce development system. This means all applications must include:
  • a Skills Tasmania endorsed RTO, and
  • other participants in the Tasmanian training and workforce development system (ie. a Tasmanian-based employer, Tasmanian-based industry peak organisation or peak organisation with a physical presence in Tasmania).

Up to $50,000 is available for small grants and $250,000 for large grants with a total of $2 million in funding available for allocation under the 2023-24 round of the program.

Applications for small grants can be submitted any time before 5:00pm, 1 May 2024 or until funds are fully allocated.

Expressions of interest for large grants will be accepted at any time, with full applications closing at 5:00pm, Friday 8 March 2024.

More information, including on how to apply, is available at www.skills.tas.gov.au/funding

Skills Ministers set national priorities for 2024

Tasmania hosted the Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council in Hobart on 17 November to discuss implementation of the new 5-year National Skills Agreement, national priorities for skills and training, and the agenda for the Council’s national reform work in 2024.  

This meeting provided the opportunity for Skills Ministers to have a look at vocational education and training in Tasmania including the success of Tasmania’s Regional Jobs Hub Network of seven hubs across the state, and its relevance to other jurisdictions nationally. Further updates on the National Skills Agreement are expected in the coming month.

A Communique from the meeting can be found at www.dewr.gov.au/skills-commonwealth-state-relations/resources/skills-and-workforce-ministerial-council-communique-17-november-2023

Australian Training Awards

The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards that showcase best practice in vocational education and training (VET).

This year’s event was held in Hobart on Friday 17 November with more than 700 people in attendance from around the country including apprentices, trainees, vocational students, employers and training organisations all vying to be named the top vocational education and training ambassador.

Congratulations to all this year’s finalists and winners.

For further information visit the Australian Training Awards website.

Season’s Greetings from Skills Tasmania

Skills Tasmania wish you and your families a very happy festive season. Stay safe and we look forward to working with you in 2024.

Our office will close from Monday, 25 December 2023, reopening on Tuesday, 2 January 2024.