Equity Services

Participation in Vocational Education and Training leads to improved life and work opportunities. Through Equity Services, Skills Tasmania administers funds which are available to registered training organisations and community groups to improve access to VET and employment. As some people experience barriers to full participation in training and work, it also means that there are significant numbers of people disengaged from the workforce and from contributing to Tasmania?s economic and social wellbeing.

Current trends in demographic change mean that there is an even greater need for all people to gain skills and experience to be part of the economic and social life of the state.

Certain groups may need assistance to overcome the barriers to identifying, accessing and completing training as well as successfully making the transition into work. These groups will not always be the same and currently Skills Tasmania identifies the following target groups for increasing involvement:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people
• Migrants and humanitarian entrants
• Older men and women
• People with a disability
• Prisoners and offenders
• Women

Equity Services works collaboratively with all levels of government, the community, industry, the training sector and employment services to develop plans and programs to overcome barriers to participation.

Equity Services informs policy and strategy within Skills Tasmania. It provides input into National and State reporting as well as developing and monitoring the following  two state plans.

1. oana mallacka 2007-2008 [Word 2.6MB] is the Tasmanian Plan of Action for increasing Aboriginal people?s access to vocational education and training. It was originally developed in 2001 in response to Partners in a Learning Culture ? National Strategy and Partners in a Learning Culture -Blueprint for Implementation.  Following the review of Partners in a Learning Culture in 2003, resulting in the identification of six new priority areas for actions, oana mallacka was also reviewed and emerged with the same six priority areas. The specific actions focus on improving and increasing the VET participation and achievement rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Tasmania.
    
2. Equal Partners [PDF 762KB] is the Tasmanian Plan of Action for increasing opportunities for people with a disability in vocational education and training. Equal Partners was written as a response to Bridging Pathways - National Strategy and Bridging Pathways ? Blueprint for Implementation. In Tasmania, the Equal Partners Reference Group reviewed Equal Partners Stage 1 during 2004 and developed a new set of actions to form Equal Partners Stage 2, 2005 onwards. The actions in Equal Partners Stage 2 aim to make a significant contribution to the success of people with a disability in accessing VET and employment opportunities in Tasmania.

Equity Resources

Equity Funding programs 2009/10

2009/10 Equity Support Program-Small Grants closing date Thursday, 21 May 2009

2009/10 Skills Equip competitive tender