Open Call for Skills Solutions Partnerships Program (Australia)

Objectives

• The objective of the Skills Solutions Partnership program is to bring industry and TAFE or dual sector universities together to rapidly stand up new short courses and on-the-job training solutions that meet industry’s skilling needs in priority sectors.
• It is anticipated that the Skills Solutions Partnership program will develop a new pipeline of industry endorsed training products that have the potential to be integrated into the training system, will benefit multiple businesses in the sector (or other sectors) and are scalable to support a significant number of workers.

Priority Sectors

• EoI applications addressing skills solutions supporting the 5 priority sectors outlined in the Victorian Economic Growth Statement are eligible to apply:
  • Advanced manufacturing and defence
  • Agribusiness
  • Circular economy
  • Health technologies and medical research
  • Digital technologies.

Types of Training

• The following reskilling or upskilling training options are in scope:
  • training at the Vocational Education and Training (VET) level or Higher Education level
  • training that is accredited or non-accredited
  • establishing new courses or modifying an existing course (such as updated content, new approach to incorporate on-the-job learning, an accelerated course)
  • types of courses may be a micro-credential, skill set or other.

Funding Information

• Upon successful completion of the co-design process, partnerships will have the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to $500,000 (with funding to be matched by the project partners) to pilot their new training solution.
• Grant applications will then be competitively assessed by the department, with successful pilot projects to be delivered by the end of May 2026 and project evaluation to be completed by the end of June 2026.

Outcomes

• The program aims to achieve the following outcomes:
  • New or innovative training products have been rapidly delivered
  • Industry in priority sectors has access to the workers they need to fill immediate skills gaps
  • Partnerships have developed a collaborative model than can be adopted or adapted and scaled up to meet training needs across industry
  • Insights from the program are informing the long-term response to skills shortages

Eligibility Criteria

• The lead applicant must meet the following criteria, as assessed by the department, to be eligible to apply:
  • is a legal entity with an operating presence in Victoria’
  • has a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and held that ABN on and from 1 January 2022
  • has been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on and from 1 January 2022
  • is one of the following:
    • a business industry group or professional association that has a direct role in supporting businesses in one of the eligible industry sectors in Victoria (as determined by the department)
    • a business leading on behalf of a group of businesses (such as a business with a large supply chain looking for joint training, or a business acting on behalf of a business network) located in Victoria
    • a TAFE or dual sector university headquartered in Victoria (and subject to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006).
    • has met all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment
  • Standards and holds a Victorian Government Fair Jobs Code pre-assessment certificate.

Ineligibility Criteria

• The following entities are not eligible to apply:
  • a Commonwealth department, agency or body
  • Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
  • non-Victorian accredited dual sector universities and TAFEs
  • a State department, agency, entity or other body established under the Public Administration Act 2004 (VIC) or equivalent legislation of another Australian jurisdiction
  • unincorporated associations
  • individuals/sole traders

For more information, visit Business Victoria.