How does the Skills Solutions Partnerships (SSP) program work?

The Skills Solutions Partnerships Program Round 2 supports industry to partner with TAFEs and dual sector universities to design and pilot new short courses and on-the-job training to address skills gaps in priority sectors outlined in the Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Statement.

What defines a skills gap?

Applications will be considered from partnerships that have identified a disparity between the skills industry needs and the actual skills employees possess, which may make it challenging for businesses to operate effectively and fill open positions. Applicants will be required to explain why existing training offerings do not meet industry needs, with reference to any relevant courses currently offered in the market.

What objectives should projects aim to address?

The objective of Skills Solutions Partnerships is to bring industry and TAFE or dual sector universities together to rapidly stand up new short courses and on-the-job training solutions that meet industry’s skilling needs in priority sectors.

It is anticipated that the program will develop a new pipeline of industry endorsed training products that have the potential to be integrated into the training system, will benefit multiple businesses in the sector (or other sectors) and are scalable to support a significant number of workers.

What industry sectors will the program support?

Skills Solutions Partnerships supports the priority sectors outlined in the Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Statement.

Preference will be given to advanced manufacturing and defence, circular economy and agribusiness sectors, unless applications from health technologies and medical research and digital technologies are compelling and score highly across all criteria.

This acknowledges that 3 of the 6 successful projects under Skilled Solutions Partnerships Program Round 1 were health sector projects and that digital technologies will likely be an enabler for possible projects in Round 2.

What kind of training solutions are in scope?

A range of training solutions are 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)
  • short courses such as micro-credentials, skill sets or other.

The training course must be able to be developed, delivered and evaluated within the grant funded pilot period.

Who is eligible to apply?

Lead applicants are eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria, as assessed by the department:

  • 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 2022
  • has been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on and from 1 January 2022
  • is one of the following:
    • 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)
    • 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
    • a TAFE or dual sector university headquartered in Victoria (and subject to the Education and Training Reform Act 2006).
  • has met all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards and holds a Victorian Government Fair Jobs Code pre-assessment certificate.

Through the EoI application, the lead applicant must identify the project partners and confirm that each meets the following eligibility:

  • is a legal entity with an operating business presence in Victoria
  • has a current Australian Business Number (ABN) and held that ABN on and from 1 January 2024
  • has been registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) on and from 1 January 2024
  • has met all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards and holds a Victorian Government Fair Jobs Code pre-assessment certificate.

What kind of projects might be supported?

Examples of projects which can 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
  • 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?

EoI applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

Criteria

Weighting

Criterion 1: The project targets a critical skill gap in a priority sector

a) Outline the skill gap that the proposed training solution will target and explain why these skills are required by industry.

15%

b) Provide evidence of the level of demand for the skill now and in the future.

10%

Criterion 2: The project partners include an appropriate mix of businesses and/or industry associations in the sector and a TAFE or dual sector university

a) Briefly describe the applicant’s and the project partners’ goods or services relevant to the proposed project.

10%

b) Briefly describe how you and your project partners will work together to maximise the impact of the co-design process.

5%

Criterion 3: The project proposes a new or innovative training solution that has potential to be integrated on a sustainable basis into the training system

a) Briefly explain why existing training offerings do not meet industry needs, with reference to any relevant courses currently offered in the market.

10%

b) Outline the proposed training solution and on-the-job learning model and explain how this solution is new or innovative.

10%

c) Outline how the training solution could be funded after the pilot.

5%

Criterion 4: The proposed training solution has the potential to benefit Victorian workers

a) Outline:

o the participants that will benefit from the proposed training

o how many participants are anticipated to be trained in the pilot

o what, if any, prior qualifications participants are likely to hold.

10%

b) Briefly explain how the new skills developed will benefit participants in their workplace, now and into the future.

10%

Criterion 5: The proposed training solution has the potential to benefit multiple businesses in priority sectors

a) Detail how the training could be scaled up after completion of the pilot to benefit a significant number of workers and multiple businesses in the sector, and other sectors if applicable. Include estimates and evidence of the numbers.

15%

If successful, applicants will be issued a notification confirming their invitation to undertake the co-design process.

How does the Expression of Interest application form work?

The Expression of Interest application form will ask the applicant to provide contact details, information regarding the eligibility of the applicant and partners, and information that addresses the program assessment criteria.

Once the applicant starts the application form process, they will be able to save and return to the form using the password the system provides and will be able to print a PDF copy of the form at any time. The PDF copy may be useful for discussions with partners.

Once the form is completed, the applicant needs to click ‘submit’ to submit the application form.

Applications must be submitted prior to the closing date to be eligible for assessment.

How will the Grant process work?

Projects that successfully complete the co-design process will have the opportunity to apply for a Skills Solutions Partnerships grant. These projects will be provided with the grant guidelines and invited to apply for a grant of up to $500,000 (with funding to be matched by the project partners) to develop, deliver and evaluate the training solution.

Grant applications will then be competitively assessed, with successful pilot projects to be delivered by the end of May 2026 and project evaluation to be completed by the end of June 2026.
Grant funding will be provided on the basis that the lead applicant and partners provide a co-contribution which is at least equal to the funding being applied for (1:1 co-funding ratio). Co-contributions can be made up of cash and/or in-kind contributions. The in-kind contribution may be up to 50% of the applicant’s total co-contribution.

Our organisation submitted an application under another skills response program (such as the Workforce Training Innovation Fund (WTIF) or the Workforce Skills Set Fund (WSSF), but was unsuccessful. Can we apply to deliver the same project under Skills Solutions Partnerships?

You may submit an Expression of Interest under Skills Solutions Partnerships to deliver a project deemed unsuccessful through another skills response program. Before submitting, please review the program guidelines carefully and contact the program team on SkillsSolutions@ecodev.vic.gov.au if you’d like to discuss your project idea.

Do I have to help pay anything for the co-design stage?

The department will engage the co-design facilitator and cover the costs of their services. Project partners will need to cover other costs, such as costs for their own staff participating in the co-designs, room booking fees, catering or travel, if required.

Partners successful in their Expression of Interest application must commit to actively participate in the co-design process, including attending all workshops.

Our partnership participated in the co-design stage but hasn’t been invited to submit a grant application. Why?

Projects may not progress to the grant application stage for reasons such as:

  • the project partners did not complete the co-design process
  • the project partners could not reach consensus on the pilot training solution
  • through the co-design process it was found that a suitable training solution already exists, or is not required
  • any other reason at the department’s discretion.

When do Expressions of Interest open and close?

Expressions of Interest (EoIs) open on Monday 19 May 2025 and will close at 23:59pm (AEST) on Friday 27 June 2025. Applications will be assessed after the closing date. The lead applicant will receive the notification of the outcome.

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.

Can I save my application and come back to it later?

Yes, you can save your application and come back to it later. Please follow the prompts at the bottom of the application screen.

Can I download a PDF of my application before submission so I can discuss it with my colleagues?

Yes, you may download a PDF of your application before submission. Please click on the “View PDF” button at the bottom of the application form.