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?

Stage 2 – Update

Stage 1 EIF EOI closed for submissions on 4 November 2011. It is anticipated that stage 2 will open for shortlisted applicants in middle January for a close on 7 March 2012.  We recommend not waiting until then as it takes more than 6 weeks to prepare a competitive application.

During EIF Stage 1 closing and Stage 2 opening applicants should consider completing:

• EFTSL forecast modelling
• Course demand
• Financial modelling
• Regional economic impact assessment ($ per EFTSL)
• Signed collaboration agreements (Signed MoU)
• Detailed budget
• Architectural drawings
• Building space allocation
• Quantity surveying
• Stage 2 application

The Education Investment Fund

The Education Investment Fund (EIF) is one of three Nation-building funds established by the Nation-building Funds Act 2008.

The role of the EIF is to build a modern, productive, internationally competitive Australian economy by supporting world leading, strategically focused infrastructure investments. The EIF Regional Priorities Round (in draft mode) is being conducted differently from the previous rounds of the EIF to reflect its particular focus and purpose.

The purposes of this round will be met by concentrating investment in the higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors. It is expected that future rounds of the EIF will return to the established process of inviting applications for funding for projects that create or develop higher education, VET and/or research infrastructure, including from research institutions beyond higher education institutions.

Use of Funding

EIF funding under the Regional Priorities Round is primarily available for projects that create or develop higher education teaching and learning infrastructure or VET infrastructure.

EIF funding under the Regional Priorities Round is also available for research-related capital costs that are integral to a proposed teaching and learning or VET infrastructure project. Funding for projects which support research-related activities is only available where such a connection is established.

The purposes for which EIF Regional Priorities Round funding can be used include but are not limited to:

• constructing a new building or purchasing, refurbishing or extending existing infrastructure. This might include; building activities required to design and construct new facilities or refurbish existing premises; direct building costs associated with the construction of new facilities and the upgrading of existing premises (for example building, plumbing and electrical costs); purchase of an existing property, and/or purchase of land.
• purchasing, refurbishing or installing equipment essential to a project and any subsequent commissioning of that equipment.
• purchasing or refurbishing equipment that supports and enables teaching and learning, for example, technical equipment or information and communications technologies.

Non-capital costs equivalent to not more than 5% of the EIF Regional Priorities Round funding sought may be considered for activities that are required to set up any structures needed to manage the infrastructure, for example professional fees, governance structures, and legal fees related to the establishment of a business. Reasonable contingency fees (equivalent to not more than 5% of the funding sought) for possible cost escalations may also be included in EIF Regional Priorities Round Applications.

EIF Regional Priorities Round funding is not available for operational costs or minor capital works, maintenance projects, recurrent funding, or any projects outside the tertiary education sector.

EIF Regional Priorities Round funding for staff or student accommodation will only be provided where it can be demonstrated that the accommodation is integral to achieving the outcomes of a broader higher education or VET project and it can be demonstrated that the accommodation cannot be funded from other sources (such as by partnering with private sector organisations or from the applicant‟s own funds).

Funding is to create or develop infrastructure. EIF Regional Priorities Round funding will not be provided for infrastructure that has already been purchased or completed, or for servicing debt associated with past infrastructure expenditure.

Funding for the EIF Regional Priorities Round is strictly limited to a five year period, from financial year 2011-12 to the end of financial year 2015-2016.

Closing Time

EIF Regional Priorities Round Stage 2 applications must be submitted:

• electronically, via TED Online, by 3.00 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Wednesday 7 March 2012; and
• by posting or delivering ten (10) hard copies of the application (identical to that submitted electronically) which must be received by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations by 5.00 pm AEDT on Wednesday 14 March 2012 .

Further Assistance

We have raised over $50 M for clients  through the Education and Investment Fund (EIF). We have a 100% success rate. Call us on 03 9005 6789 to see how we can make your EIF Regional Priorities Round application more competitive.

Overview

The Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) is a component of the Australian Government’s Child Care Services Support Program. It is integral to implementing and supporting the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed National Quality Framework. The IPSP has four Program Elements that operate in an integrated way to support Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services to provide quality inclusive environments.

IPSP objectives

The objectives of the Inclusion and Professional Support Program are to promote and maintain high quality, inclusive education and care for all children in eligible early childhood education and care settings. This is achieved by increasing the knowledge and skills of educators, and the capacity of education and care services, through providing professional development, advice and access to additional resources and support.

This includes:

• professional development and workforce development that enhances the quality of ECEC services;
• access to a range of resources that educators need to provide care for all children;
• support to access additional educators or carers when required;
• flexible programs that support eligible ECEC services to be responsive to the needs of all children;
• good practice and continuous improvement in service delivery; and
• the readiness of ECEC services to become more inclusive.

Expert Assistance

We have extensive experience in assisting organisations prepare large grant applications. Typically we can assist with demonstrating:

• experience and understanding of inclusion principles, including cultural awareness and commitment to access and equity principles
• ability to plan for and deliver ISA activities in the nominated Region
• capacity and infrastructure to deliver ISA activities
• relevant knowledge and service delivery experience

Contact us on 03 9005 6789 or email us to see how we can make your application more competitive.

Closing Time:   2:00pm Canberra Time, Friday, 24 February 2012

Children’s Facilities Capital Program

The Children’s Facilities Capital Program supports the establishment of integrated children’s centres to:

• promote integrated and inclusive early childhood services that provide high quality programs to
• meet the educational and health care needs of young children 0-8 years
• improve access to early childhood services by children from vulnerable backgrounds
• enable providers of children’s services to increase service capacity in response to  government objectives
• achieve better learning, development and health outcomes through improved facilities
• support the co-location of integrated children’s centres with schools
• support the creation of family-friendly communities.

Integrated Children’s Centre Grants

Integrated Children’s Centre Grants contribute to the capital investment required to build community based, not-for-profit integrated children’s centres. These centres offer maximum convenience, flexibility and choice for parents by combining a range of services that a family may need to help raise young children.

Integrated children’s centres are key hubs for the community, bringing together a range of services where practitioners work in a way that delivers joined up education, care, health and support services to children and their families.

Integrated children’s centres offer quality early childhood education and care programs of a duration and cost that promotes accessibility and affordability for all families, including working families and disadvantaged or vulnerable families. This initiative supports families by contributing to the establishment of local, community based centres that respond to the needs of local families. In addition it preserves and strengthens community participation by supporting community organisations and making community infrastructure serve better as community assets.

Funding range of grant

Funding of $10.45 million is available for Integrated Children’s Centre Grants in 2011-12. This includes funds for the Grovedale Hub and Barwon Heads Kindergarten announced in the 2011-12 State Budget. Funding will be provided for 40% of total project cost (capped at $1.5 million per grant) is available.

Eligibility

The following organisations are eligible for funding under the program:

• local government
• community organisations
• government schools in partnership with local government or community service organisations.

 Applicants other than local councils are expected to demonstrate support for the project from their Local Government Authority to ensure the mandatory services are provided in the proposed new integrated children’s centre. Proposals must be submitted in partnership with the site owner and have endorsement that the land is available before the application can be considered.

Closing Date

4pm, Monday, 27 February 2012

Expert Assistance

We have an outstanding track record in obtaining infrastructure grants.

We can assist with demonstrating the proposed project:

• meets practical delivery requirements
•  meets the required definition of a Victorian Integrated Children’s Centre service model
• The centre will meet all relevant universal access requirements under the National Partnership for Early Childhood Education
• is consistent with all relevant service planning frameworks
• facilitates more integrated delivery of early childhood and family services consistent with the ‘Guiding Principles’ identified in Evaluation of Victorian children’s centres
• will improve access to universal and targeted services for vulnerable children or children and families experiencing disadvantage
• will help meet existing or projected unmet demand for kindergarten places without displacing other programs
• will support better quality early learning and development outcomes for children and their families

Contact us on 03 9005 6789 if your require assistance with the government grant application.

The Government announced in May 2009 that it would provide $400 million over four years, commencing in 2010, to assist universities to prepare for the new operational requirements of a demand driven funding system which will have new quality measures.

The SAF will provide funding support to eligible institutions to enable them to make the significant structural changes necessary to operate in a demand driven funding system.  This funding support will help institutions refocus their activities and missions in ways that will improve their long term sustainability and the quality of their teaching and learning.

These structural changes include the creation of new models of higher education institutions and formalised collaborations between higher education institutions and TAFE institutes.

Expected outcomes

In order to be considered for funding support, applications for structural adjustment projects must demonstrate that the project will contribute significantly to achievement of both of the following outcomes for the institution:

• Improved financial sustainability: institutions and campuses having the size, market alignment and agility necessary to be sustainable in a student demand driven funding environment; and
• Improved quality of teaching and learning provision: quality higher education provision regardless of student location and the mode of delivery of courses.

What is ‘structural adjustment’

For the purposes of the SAF, ‘structural adjustment’ means:

• consolidation of higher education institutions or campuses; and/or
• significant collaboration with TAFE institutes and/or other universities; and/or
• significant changes in the focus, organisation or operation of institutions or campuses; directed at achievement of the outcomes specified above.

Structural adjustment projects should not include recurrent expenditures unless expressly permitted by these guidelines.

SAF Stage 1 – Competitive funding round

On 19 July 2010, the SAF Program Administrative Guidelines were released and the competitive funding round opened. Applications for Step 1 of the competitive funding round closed on 8 September 2010.

To date, $6.9 million has been allocated under Step 1 of the competitive funding round while some universities have been invited to participate in Step 2 of that round.

• SAF Program Administrative Guidelines ( PDF 335KB | RTF 282KB)

Key dates for stage 1 – the competitive funding round:

SAF Stage 2 – Directed funding round

The Minister has directed DEEWR to invite a number of universities, which were unsuccessful in SAF Stage 1, to redevelop their unsuccessful application and apply for SAF funding in SAF Stage 2.

On 9 March 2011, the SAF Stage 2 Procedures and Instructions were released and the directed funding round opened.

Participation in SAF Stage 2 is by invitation only.

• SAF Stage 2 Procedures and Instructions ( PDF 496KB | RTF 4.0MB)

Key dates for Stage 2 – the directed funding round:

We have extensive experience with SAF bids. Contact us if you require assistance with your EIF application.

The Government’s $20 million investment will be used to leverage matched funding from the private and philanthropic sectors to enable new systems, achieve greater impact and innovation in service delivery to support highly disadvantaged Australians.

The Government will be consulting widely with the sector to garner views on the financial and business support needs of the social enterprise sector in Australia and to further scope the market for investment. The consultation aims to gather expert advice from the social, legal, financial and philanthropic sectors to inform the design and proposed structure of the SEDIF. This process will employ multiple forums, such as online and face-to-face information sessions.

The consultative approach to design and delivery of the SEDIF will encourage new partnerships between the finance, social and corporate sectors, demonstrating the new and better ways of working together to deliver services to disadvantaged communities and individuals.

This initiative demonstrates a transformative approach to effecting real innovation; building connections between organisations on the ground and larger institutions that together can leverage and utilise the resources and incentives to bring about improvements in service provision and new approaches to social change.

Call for SEDIF applications

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is calling for applications for  government grants  for the Social Enterprise Development and Investment Funds (SEDIF).

The Australian Government announced in July 2010 that it would provide a $20 million cornerstone investment to seed the establishment of at least two Social Enterprise Development and Investment Funds.

The principal objective of the SEDIF is to establish two or more investment funds which generate social impact investment in addition to financial return and increase capital for social enterprises in Australia through capacity building.

Contact DEEWR regarding the SEDIF through socialinnovation@deewr.gov.au.

• SEDIF Guidelines PDF 130KB
• Financial and Credentials Information Form XLS 34KB

Applications close 5pm (AEDST) 18 February 2011.