Skills Equip - background information

Skills Equip is an annual equity focussed competitive tendering program for the delivery of accredited training.

All registered training organisations are eligible to submit a proposal under the Skills Equip program.

Targets for Training

Training participants are most likely to include people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, parents returning to work, older people, migrants and refugees, people living in rural areas and prisoners and offenders.

Four Training Programs

Four broad programs will be offered under Skills Equip; these are the:

• Aboriginal Training Program
• Return to Work and Study Program
• Women’s Access Program
• Meeting Literacy and Numeracy Needs

Training Objectives

Skills Equip aims to develop or enhance basic work skills, but will also provide skills necessary to perform higher level duties. Submissions for training programs consisting of units or full qualifications from Certificate 1 to Advanced Diploma will be considered.

It aims to address the needs of those who face barriers to training and workforce participation by:

• Promoting innovative training programs based on community consultation in employment linked areas;
• Increasing awareness of the training needs for the program’s target groups;
• Increasing literacy and numeracy skills through the funded delivery of relevant accredited training; and
• Developing the skills of women wishing to return to study or the workforce.

Community Consultation

Proposals from registered training organisations must provide evidence of consultation within communities to indicate demand.

All proposals for delivery to Aboriginal people must provide evidence of consultation with the Aboriginal community.

Partnership proposals

Skills Tasmania encourages cooperation between training organisations, online access centres, neighbourhood houses, industry and other community associations so that a successful outcome can be achieved for participants.

Funding Rounds and Timelines

In 2009

End September – Skills Equip funding will be advertised in regional newspapers. Date to be advised.

End October – Deadline for submissions. Date to be advised.

30 April 2010 – Training must have commenced and no further enrolments can be taken after 31 December 2010.

To apply for funding see Skills Equip - tender documents

For further information contact Marion Wilcox, Senior Policy Officer-Equity on (03) 6233 7115 or email marion.wilcox@skills.tas.gov.au.