The objectives of the Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund (Fund) 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.

Applications for grants through the Fund will need to deliver on these objectives.

The Fund has up to $15 million available.

Applications must be for funding of between $40,000 (ex GST) and $2,000,000 (ex GST). This range accounts for the diverse needs across eligible organisations.

Applications are now open and close at 4:00pm on 23 November 2022. Late applications will not be accepted.

All questions should be directed to: skillsandsafety@agriculture.vic.gov.au. A representative of the Department will then call you to regarding your enquiry.

No, there are no plans for a future funding round through the Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund.

Successful applicants will be required to cooperate with any evaluation activity undertaken during and/or after completion of the project for use in program evaluation and DJPR marketing materials.

Progress reports will be included as key milestones in the delivery of the project.

After completion of the project, applicants must submit a report assessing the project’s success in meeting its stated objectives, outputs and outcomes.

It is the responsibility of successful applicants to put in place adequate collection arrangements to capture the appropriate data in relation to outputs and outcomes. Specific reporting requirements through the life of the project will be detailed in Grant Agreements.

As the Victorian State election will be held on Saturday 26 November 2022, the Victorian Government will assume a caretaker role from 6.00pm on 1 November 2022 until such time that either it becomes clear that the incumbent government will be returned, or when a new government is commissioned.

In line with the caretaker conventions, the incoming government will determine whether to proceed with this grant process and award the grants after the caretaker period.

Applicants should be aware that:

• all information about this grant process represents the position of the current government only, and is subject to change; and
• the incoming government may decide to not proceed with this grant process.

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

Organisations that are not Victorian 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 for the fund.

Organisations that are ineligible to apply for the Fund can partner with an eligible lead applicant on projects.

Examples of organisations that may want to partner on projects are:

• agricultural industry associations
• representative groups for the training sector.

An eligible organisation can only submit one application as lead organisation but may partner on multiple applications.

A lead organisation is the organisation that submits the application for funding and will receive all funding if successful. The lead organisation must meet the Fund eligibility criteria. The lead organisation may coordinate the project across a number of partner organisations.

Organisations that can demonstrate that projects will be delivered in Victoria, or who can demonstrate the benefit to Victoria if delivery is outside Victoria (e.g. through online delivery or at border communities) can partner on projects.

Funding is available for equipment, curriculum design, training delivery and other costs for projects that deliver new or revamped training that meets the Fund objectives.

The building of new infrastructure is not an eligible activity under the Fund. Refurbishment of existing buildings where there is a strong case that it is needed for delivery of the project, for example sound proofing, is eligible for funding. Capital refurbishment must not exceed a maximum of 25 per cent of the project costs.

Yes, you can. Project proposals can include costs to enable satellite delivery (such as room hire), freight and delivery, mobile units (e.g. trailers or dedicated vehicles). Applications will be required to demonstrate why they are needed and how new equipment and technology will be actively managed over the course of its life. Some items become outdated quickly (e.g. technology) or require ongoing and long-term maintenance, insurance and other costs (e.g. vehicles).

Funding is available for marketing costs to attract students to the training (design of promotional materials, production, advertising and other distribution costs) to a value no greater than 10 per cent of the total funding request.

Projects can relate to pre-accredited training programs, accredited courses, micro-credentialling (such as skill sets) or non-accredited training. The application needs to outline why the particular approach is proposed (e.g. why pre-accredited, or non-accredited).

Where training is not accredited, the applicant must demonstrate that industry has been consulted and that the proposed training is tied to an identified job opportunity or skills demand, or as preparation for further learning. Active consideration should also be given to the subsequent development of a credential accredited through the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).

Please refer to the program guidelines for further details on project eligibility.

Yes, you can. 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. Where a project is staged, all stages need to deliver benefits in their own right and not be reliant on the subsequent stages for the project to deliver on Fund objectives.

Yes, you can but you cannot claim the same project costs from multiple funding sources. If funding is secured from other Victorian Government programs, this will be checked as part of the due diligence process before a grant is awarded. This additional funding should be declared in your application.

Applications that leverage additional funding and in-kind contributions to maximise the value of the project will be looked favourably upon during assessment.

Yes, all training curriculum, teaching and learning resources designed and developed through a funded project will be shared with the Department of Education and Training directly and through the Vocational Education and Training Shared Learning Resources platform providing unlimited licence to government to use as appropriate. This includes curriculum associated with skillsets.

Successful applicants agree to licence developed materials including intellectual property rights to users of the learning resources when the resources are uploaded onto the platform.

* This FAQ was added on 17 October 2022.

Applicants must provide:

• A project plan for a project that meets the objectives of the Fund.
  • The plan should include information about budget, timing, governance, risk management, communications and marketing, evaluation, scalability and legacy plan.
  • The plan should be developed using the template provided.
• A detailed budget with robust rationale for expenditure.
  • Items (equipment or other products) over $20,000 (GST exclusive) should include either a copy of a quote from suppliers (either informal, e.g. email from supplier or formal, e.g. on letterhead) or a link to the website where the supplier advertises the equipment price. All items listed in the budget should be exclusive of GST.
  • All procurement costs (e.g. consultants) must follow the applicant’s approved procurement processes
  • The budget should be approved by the organisation’s Chief Financial Officer (or equivalent).
  • The budget should be developed using the template provided.
• At least one statement of support from an agriculture industry organisation such as an industry association or local agricultural business that details how the project will address future industry needs.
• Evidence of current status as an eligible organisation (e.g. Skills First, RTO or Learn Local Registration).

The level of detail in evidence provided in the application should be proportional to the size and complexity of the project (e.g. number of industry groups supporting the application).

If requested by the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (the Department), provide further evidence in relation to any of the eligibility requirements above.

The evidence provided in the application should be proportional to the size and complexity of the project. If required, further evidence may be requested by the Department when assessing an application.

Travel costs including transport, accommodation and meal allowances need to comply with the Australian Taxation Office Guidance on Accommodation allowances and expenses when travelling away from home for work.

More detailed information on eligible costs can be found in the Fund guidelines.

A maximum of ten attachments can be added to your application. There is a limit of 5MB per attachment. You may choose to combine statements of support into a single file if this helps reduce the number of attachments you wish to include. If you have any problems attaching documents to your application, please contact us at skillsandsafety@agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Attachments should be in Microsoft file or PDF formats.

Unless requested by the Department, you may not provide additional information or amend your application after the closing date.

Please contact us at skillsandsafety@agriculture.vic.gov.au to withdraw your application.

Eligible applications will be competitively assessed on how well they meet the assessment criteria outlined in the Fund Guidelines. Applications that score highly against each criterion will be assessed to ensure a spread of projects across regions and industry needs. The Fund Assessment Panel will then make recommendations for funding to the Ministers for Agriculture, Training and Skills, and Higher Education, who will provide final approval on provision of the grant and the amount of funding.

Applications are expected to articulate the project’s legacy plan, including how ongoing and future costs associated with the project will be managed and how the project benefits will be sustained once the funding ceases. This information should be detailed in the project plan.

At a minimum, eligible projects must provide at least one statement of support from an agriculture industry organisation such as an industry association or local agricultural business that details how the project will address future industry needs.

Yes, projects are expected to improve connections within all elements of the skills development pipeline from schools through vocational education and training, into higher education and ongoing skills development in the workplace. The strength of the connections and emphasis will differ between projects.

No, while applications should outline how the project will be made inclusive of all users it is not expected that each project will reach all of these user groups.

Yes, projects must consider the knowledge and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Department may contact you to provide further information in relation to your application.

Organisations are encouraged to contact the Department at skillsandsafety@agriculture.vic.gov.au to discuss your funding request prior to submission. This provides an opportunity to test your proposed project against Fund objectives and address significant gaps in the application.

The Fund is limited and will fund eligible applications in order of those that score highest against the assessment criteria, until all funds are allocated. This may mean that not all eligible applications will be funded.

The Department makes no representation that a grant will be made to any applicant and reserves the right to make no grants available under the Program.

Maybe. Applications for funding must be for a value of between $40,000 (ex GST) and $2,000,000 (ex GST).

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.

Applicants should expect to learn the outcome of their application by February 2023.