Online information session
Thanks to all who attended the information session for the Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund on Tuesday 4 October 2022.
A recording of the information session is available on this page.
Program overview
The Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund (Fund) is a Victorian Government initiative supporting TAFEs and other training providers to deliver high-quality, modern and flexible training that will ensure students can carve out careers in agriculture.
Grants valued between $40,000 and $2,000,000 are available for eligible training providers for projects that deliver on the Fund objectives, which are to ensure that:
- Victoria develops a more productive agriculture sector supported by targeted training and skill development that is delivered by Victoria’s TAFE and training sector.
- Victoria’s training system is delivering the right training that is modern, meets the needs of the agriculture sector and delivered by trainers with the appropriate capability to ensure the agriculture industry has the skilled workforce for the future.
- Victoria’s training system is better connected as an agricultural skills development pipeline, from schools through vocational education and training, into higher education and ongoing skills development in the workplace.
- Victoria’s training system is inclusive of all users, ensuring Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, people living in remote areas, long-term unemployed, women, and people living with disabilities are supported to engage in agricultural training.
- Victoria’s agricultural training system incorporates Aboriginal knowledge and practices and involves and attracts more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The Fund is part of the Victorian Government’s $50 million four-year Agricultural College Modernisation Program to skill the next generation of Victoria’s farmers and delivers on recommendations of the Future of Agriculture Training Review.
Program guidelines
Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund Guidelines (PDF 16241.22 KB) 
Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund Guidelines | Accessible (DOCX 59.73 KB) 
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Applications for funding close at 4pm on 23 November 2022.
Available funding
Applications must be for a value of between $40,000 and $2,000,000. This range accounts for the diverse needs across eligible organisations.
Given the limited funds available, applicants are encouraged to consider the scalability of projects, such as how they can be set up as stages or modules, should only partial funding be available.
An eligible organisation may only submit one application as lead organisation but may partner on multiple applications. This is to encourage collaboration across organisations.
Eligibility criteria
Eligible entities
The following organisations are eligible to apply:
- Victorian TAFEs
- Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) holding a current Skills First VET Funding Contract
- RTOs who do not hold a current Skills First VET Funding Contract but have demonstrated experience delivering specialised training in agriculture in Victoria
- Learn Locals
The project must be delivered in Victoria.
Eligible projects must be endorsed by industry, such as through an industry association / organisation or relevant local business.
Ineligible entities
Organisations that are not TAFEs, do not hold a current Skills First VET Funding Contract, are not RTOs that offer specialised training in agriculture in Victoria, or are not Learn Locals are ineligible to apply.
Organisations that are ineligible to apply in their own right for the Fund can partner with an eligible lead applicant on projects. Examples of organisations that may want to partner on applications are:
- agricultural industry associations
- representative groups for the training sector.
Project eligibility
Funding is available for:
- curriculum design and delivery
- equipment, technology and capital refurbishment
- other costs that relate to delivering a proposed project.
More information on eligible and ineligible expenses and illustrative examples of projects are detailed in the Program guidelines.
How to apply
- Carefully read the Program guidelines and refer to the Frequently asked questions provided.
- Consider speaking to the Department for application support (see Section 6.3 of the Program guidelines) as such support is only available
- Compile all necessary supporting documents to apply as detailed in the Section 3.3 “Mandatory Documentation and Information Requirements” section of the Program guidelines.
- Submit application via the online application form, addressing all selection criteria and providing all necessary documentation.
- Await email confirmation of application submission. Please check junk/spam folder if confirmation email cannot be seen in your inbox.
Online information session for the Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund
Program guidelines
Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund Guidelines (PDF 16241.22 KB)
Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund Guidelines | Accessible (DOCX 59.73 KB)
Templates
Project Plan template (DOCX 108.03 KB)
Project Plan template | Accessible (DOCX 40 KB)
Budget Template (XLSX 29.24 KB) 