How does the Skills Solutions Partnerships (SSP) program work?
The Skills Solutions Partnerships (SSP) program provides a platform for collaboration between government, industry, TAFEs and dual sector universities to pilot new training approaches, including short courses and on-the-job learning models to address emerging workforce skills gaps in priority areas.
What defines a skills gap?
Applications will be considered from partnerships that have self-identified skills gaps and have exhausted existing strategies to address these skills gaps. Applicants will be required to outline any previous strategies to address these skills gaps and why they were unsuccessful.
What objectives should projects aim to address?
SSP seeks to identify pilot projects with the potential to:
- bring industry and education providers together to collaborate in a meaningful way
- respond rapidly to deliver timely training solutions to meet industry’s emerging skills needs
- upskill or re-skill workers and provide an opportunity for job progression or employment
- inform and provide ideas for system-wide reform, with the pilots providing a test bed for new approaches in developing training packages/credentials and on-the-job learning models
- demonstrate the benefits of partnerships to education providers and industry and establish lasting and sustainable relationships between them.
What industry sectors will the program support?
The following Victorian industry sectors are in focus for SSP, however proposals from other industry sectors may be considered on a case-by-case basis:
- Clean economy
- Construction
- Digital
- Healthcare and social services
- Manufacturing.
What kind of training solutions are in scope?
A range of co-designed training solutions is in scope, including:
- training at the Vocational Education and Training (VET) level or Higher Education level
- training that is accredited or non-accredited, or on a pathway to accreditation if accreditation is required
- establishing new courses or modifying an existing course (such as updated content, new approach to incorporate on-the-job learning, an accelerated course)
- course structures may be a micro-credential, a skill set, a unit of study or competency, or other options.
The definition of ‘short’ training course may range from one day (or less) to 3 months (or more).
Who is eligible to apply?
Lead applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible to apply:
- is a legal entity with an operating presence in Victoria;
- has a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and held that ABN on and from 1 January 2023;
- has been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on and from 1 January 2023;
- is one of the following:
- a dual sector university or TAFE headquartered in Victoria (and subject to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006); or
- a business industry group or professional association that has a direct role in supporting businesses in one of the eligible industry sectors in Victoria (as determined by the department); or
- a business leading on behalf of a group of businesses (such as a business with a large supply chain looking for joint training, or a business acting on behalf of a business network) located in Victoria; and
- has met all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards.
What kind of projects might be supported?
Projects which might be considered for co-design and subsequent funding include (but are not limited to):
- industry needing to implement new or emerging technologies where mainstream training solutions are not currently available
- meeting a change in regulations, policy or other requirements
- updating or modifying training, or approach to on-the-job learning, to better meet industry’s needs and prepare employees
- an add-on skill set to upskill or re-skill a workforce with existing qualifications or experience, such as industries in transition
- enhancing the talent pipeline through fast-tracking career changers into jobs, such as for entry level roles
- initiatives targeted at supporting under-represented cohort/s to join or progress in a workforce and supporting them to thrive
- adopting an innovative model of training that exists overseas but not yet in Australia, and contextualising for the Victorian workforce.
How will the Expression of Interest (EOI) process work?
The department will consider the information provided in the EOI and may contact the applicant/s for a meeting to discuss the proposal further.
If successful, applicants will be issued a letter of offer confirming their approval.
Approved EOIs must then undertake a co-design process that will support project partners to agree on the required training solution. The extent of co-design may vary depending on the complexity of the EOI proposal. The co-design process will employ a range of methods that could include meetings, roundtables or a series of workshops.
At the conclusion of the co-design, a facilitator will produce a report outlining the project partners’ mutually agreed training solution.
The department will review the report, and projects that are identified as being suitable for SSP funding as the most appropriate pathway will be invited to submit a grant application of up to $1.2 million for course design (if required) and pilot delivery of the training solution.
Pilots approved for grant funding will be required to develop and implement a quality training solution that meets industry needs; provides pathways to employment and/or job progression for training participants; and builds trust and enduring relationships between industry and education providers.
Grant funding will be provided on the basis that the lead applicant and partners provide a co-contribution equal to the funding being applied for (1:1 co-funding ratio). This can be made up of cash and/or in-kind contributions.
Our organisation submitted an application under the Workforce Training Innovation Fund (WTIF) or the Workforce Skills Set Fund (WSSF), but were unsuccessful. Can we apply to deliver the same project under Skills Solutions Partnerships (SSP)?
You may submit an EOI under SSP to deliver a project deemed unsuccessful through WTIF or WSSF. Before submitting, please review the SSP EOI guidelines carefully and contact the program team on SkillsSolutions@ecodev.vic.gov.au to discuss your project idea.
Do I have to help pay anything for the co-design stage?
No. All costs associated with the co-design stage will be fully funded by the department.
However, all project partners must attest that they will actively participate in the co-design process, including attending all workshops, where relevant.
Our partnership completed the co-design stage, but we haven’t been invited to submit a grant application. Why?
The reasons why your partnership is not invited to submit a grant application will be fully explained to you. This could include:
- all program funds have already been fully committed;
- through the co-design process it was found that a suitable training solution already exists, or is not required;
- the project was deemed by the department to be better suited for support under a different Victorian government initiative, or other funding mechanisms and you will be referred to those initiatives; or
- any other reason at the department’s absolute discretion.
When do Expressions of Interest open and close?
EOIs open at 9:00am (AEDT) on Tuesday 21 November 2023 and close at 11.59pm (AEDT) on Friday 15 March 2024 (unless funds are allocated earlier). Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as you are ready as applications are assessed once they are lodged.
How do I apply?
Businesses must apply through the Skills Solutions Partnerships program page.
Where can I go for more information on the program?
Further information on the program is available via the Skills Solutions Partnerships program page.
Businesses are also encouraged to read the Expression of Interest guidelines before applying.
To discuss your project ideas, email the Skills Solutions Partnerships program team at skillssolutions@ecodev.vic.gov.au.