26Ten Workplace Grants

Program name:	26Ten Workplace and Get Ready Grants
Program open to:	a business that operates in Tasmania that employs workers on a paid or unpaid basis: an organisation or sole trader a private or not-for-profit organisation an industry association or peak body. local councils under the Local Government Act 1993 and council-owned businesses eligible government entities Registered Training Organisations and independent schools may apply in respect of their non-teaching workforces only.
Program open date:	6 March 2026
Program close date:	31 May 2026 (Workplace Grants) 1 February 2027 (Get Ready Grants)
Program purpose:	Improve reading, writing, maths, speaking, listening, and basic computer skills in your organisation with a 26Ten Workplace Grant. Improving the skills of your workers enables them to do their jobs better, providing mutual benefit to your organisation and to the individual workers.

The 26Ten Workplace and Get Ready grant programs are now managed by the Department of State Growth (Skills Tasmania) in partnership with 26Ten Tasmania. The two grant programs are key activities under the Ensuring Access to Foundation Skills specific policy initiative in the National Skills Agreement (2024-2028), which is a joint initiative between the Australian Government and the Tasmanian Government.

Program objectives

The 26Ten grant programs aim to support employers to help their workers to build the language, literacy and numeracy skills they need to do their jobs.

There are two grant streams that are designed to cover each stage of an applicant’s commitment to improving language, literacy and numeracy skills in their organisation.

26Ten Get Ready Grants

The purpose of 26Ten Get Ready Grants is to support organisations that are considering applying for a 26Ten Workplace Grant but are not sure where to begin.

26Ten Get Ready Grants are small grants (up to $5,000) that help organisations to employ an Adult Literacy Trainer to assist with identifying language, literacy and numeracy skills gaps among their employees and identify areas that are having the biggest impact.

Employers can then use the information gathered through their Get Ready project to write an application for a 26Ten Workplace Grant.

26Ten Workplace Grants

The purpose of 26Ten Workplace Grants is to support organisations to run a project to help its workers improve their reading, writing, maths, speaking, listening, and digital skills. At least 50% of the project activities must be activities that deliver training and support to workers to improve these skills.

Eligible applicants can apply for up to $65,000 to deliver activities such as:

training for staff about how to work with staff or clients with low reading, writing or everyday maths skills
development of resources for use within the project
activities to improve workplace communication (including plain English)
surveys, consultations, research to determine the literacy needs of workers
digital literacy programs may be considered as an enabler to literacy skills development, where the digital component is no more than 50% of the project proposal.

Each 26Ten Workplace Grant is intended to cover one project for 12-months.

Employers are expected to contribute by releasing workers from their regular duties to participate, provide encouragement and support for them to participate, and provide necessary resources such as computers and training rooms. Employers are also expected to demonstrate a commitment to continue supporting workplace literacy and numeracy after the project is completed.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a grant an applicant must be:

a business that operates in Tasmania that employs workers on a paid or unpaid basis, and fit into one of the following categories:
- an organisation or sole trader
- a private or not-for-profit organisation
- an industry association or peak body.
local councils under the Local Government Act 1993 and council-owned businesses
eligible government entities, inclusive of public non-financial and public financial corporations (as set out in Tasmania’s Financial Management Framework administered by the Department of Treasury and Finance) and Local Governments. This includes Government Business Enterprises and State-Owned Companies.
private Registered Training Organistions and independent schools may apply in respect of their non-teaching workforces only.

Applicants must also be financially viable for the duration of any grant made under the Program. A financially viable entity is one that is not under external administration, is not being wound up, dissolved, or trading while insolvent nor where a liquidator has been appointed.

Other eligibility conditions apply. See the 'Grant Program Guidelines' below for more information or contact us for support.

How to make an application

Grant Program Guidelines

The Grant Program Guidelines outline the eligibility and application requirements for this grant and must be read prior to applying.

Make an application via SmartyGrants

Applications must be submitted online using the SmartyGrants online grant management system. The application process requires applicants to address selection criteria and attach supporting evidence.

Questions in relation to the use of the online application form or SmartyGrants may be answered via the online Help Guide or on the SmartyGrants’ Applicant FAQ page. Applicants can also email service@smartygrants.com.au or call 03 9320 6888. Support Desk hours are 9 am – 5 pm (AEST), Monday through Friday.

Adult Literacy Trainer Register

The 26Ten Adult Literacy Trainer Register is a register of people with the right qualifications and experience to deliver workplace literacy projects.

Contact the Skills Tasmania Grant Program Manager to introduce you to trainers from our register. You can employ them with your own training budget or apply for a 26Ten Workplace Grant.

A 26Ten Workplace Grant could fund a trainer to provide on-site training part-time for up to two years.

Success stories

Read how 26TEN has made a difference for Tasmanians. These stories show what better literacy and numeracy and clearer communication has meant for them, their families and their communities.

CatholicCare Tasmania – 26Ten Grant

Bluegum Grounds Maintenance

John, CEO & Founder, Forager Food Co.

Anthony Houston, Houston’s Farm

Rodney, Civil Earthworks Manager, Duggans

Deb, Adult Literacy Trainer

Neil, adult learner, Fonterra Spreyton

Previous grant recipients

2023-24

St Vincent Industries / Work & Training
Civil Contractors Federation / TasTAFE
Centacare Evolve Housing
Hamlet Inc.
Huon Aquaculture
Burnie Community House / Burnie Child and Family Learning Centre / TasTAFE
NOSS Bluegum Grounds Maintenance / Work & Training
Cameron of Tasmania
Starting Point Neighbourhood House
Northern Suburbs Community Centre

2022-23

Burnie Community House
Blueline Laundry New Town
Blueline Laundry Kings Meadows
Launceston City Mission
Launceston City Mission – Burnie
Mitchell Plastic Welding
Choice Support
St Vincent Industries
Cameron of Tasmania
Hamlet Inc.
Glenorchy City Council
Interact Australia
NOSS Bluegum Grounds Maintenance

Need more information?

Contact the Grant Program Manager on 03 6165 4817 or 26TenWorkplaceGrants@skills.tas.gov.au.