Skills NT grant

The Skills NT grant policy and application procedures have been developed to provide stakeholders with the must do actions when managing, assessing, and approving grant applications.

The Skills NT grant is designed to be targeted and responsive, aiming to enhance economic participation for Territorians through engagement in VET. The grant focuses on several key areas:

• supporting equity groups
• creating skilling pathways
• building skills for industries and occupations that are in high demand
• implementing innovative approaches to apprenticeship and traineeship delivery
• improving outcomes for Aboriginal Territorians
• increasing the availability of training in regional and remote areas.

Additionally, the grant can provide funding for specific activities that help increase the number of participants completing VET programs.

The Skills NT grant funding can be provided for:

• Skilling delivery
• Skilling support, or
• a combination of the two.

Skilling delivery funds

The Skilling Delivery funds are designed to support VET programs that equip students with the skills and knowledge required for employment through nationally recognised training or accredited courses.

It also aims to address skill gaps by focusing on equity groups, strengthening skilling pathways, supporting workforce development for high-demand industries and occupations, promoting innovative approaches to apprenticeship and traineeship delivery, and enhancing opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians, particularly for those who live in regional and remote areas.

Skilling support funds

The Skilling support funds are designed to provide for specific activities that support the delivery of VET and increase the number of participants completing nationally recognised training. Skilling support funds may include, but are not limited to:

• mentoring to complement the delivery of nationally recognised training or accredited courses
• non-accredited training, such as industry-specific skills development or foundational skills support
• reasonable administration costs that contribute to the success of VET delivery, excluding standard training expenses.

Skilling support funding must accompany delivery of nationally recognised training or accredited courses.

Conditions of the grant

The Skills NT grant is for the delivery of VET, a nationally recognised qualification, skillset or units of competency and support for the delivery of VET in one or more of the defined focus areas:

• equity groups
• skilling pathways
• skills building for industries and occupations experiencing high demand across NT
• innovative approaches to apprenticeship and traineeship delivery
• Aboriginal Territorians, particularly in regional or remote locations.

VET delivery is funded in accordance with the private provider Annual Hours Curriculum (AHC) rates.

Who can apply

The following entities are eligible to apply for the Skills NT grant:

• registered training organisations (RTO)
• industry associations
• businesses and organisations with an ABN that have been operating for at least one year.

Joint applications are permitted, provided a lead applicant is identified to drive the program.

Note: The department reserves the right to decide, at its discretion, if an applicant meets the criteria.

How to apply

• Complete the Skills NT grant application form on the GrantsNT website.
  • go to https://grantsnt.nt.gov.au/.
• Provide the required supporting information, including:
  • ­the nationally recognised qualification, units of competency, or skill set for which you are requesting training or support funds
  • the RTO that will deliver the training or alternative providers
  • ­a training delivery plan outlining the course content, schedule, and delivery method
  • ­quotes from suppliers with the expertise and experience needed when requesting Skilling support funds
  • ­the occupational outcome that the grant will support
  • a business case with evidence of engagement and support from industry, business, and the community.

What cannot be funded

Skills NT grant funds cannot be used for:

• activity that can be funded by Australian Government or other NT Government grant programs
• capital expenditure
• recurrent activities
• core business
• supplementing funding in an existing project
• activity that provides, or may be perceived to provide, commercial advantage
• an established fee for service market
• development of NT Government or Australian Government employees.

Assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed against the program objectives and anticipated outcomes that applicants have provided in the application form.

Applications will be reviewed in consultation with the relationship manager. The review will involve confirming alignment with the intent of the program, based on the following criteria and weighting:

Other considerations

Applications will also be considered based on the grant focus areas, including:

• ability and expertise of service providers to manage and deliver the proposal and all its components
• defined focus area
• industry outcomes
• employment outcomes
• value for the Territory
• previous performance where applicable.

As part of the assessment process, the department will conduct business checks and other due diligence procedures.

For partnership projects, including joint applications or collaborations where an RTO engages an industry association, business or community, advice may be sought from appropriate organisations to assist in ascertaining the viability and relevance of the proposed project and contribute to its development.

The department will establish funding agreements with successful applicants. Successful applicants will have 30 days in which to accept or decline a grant offer. Following acceptance, applicants will have an additional two months to sign a funding agreement otherwise the grant will be withdrawn.

Funding is not recurrent, and grants will be allocated on a one-off basis.

The department may offer a grant that is less than the amount requested. Grants will be paid in instalments as set out in the funding agreement.

Applicant

The applicant is responsible for:

• submitting the application and supporting documentation through GrantsNT
• providing true and accurate supporting information as requested by the department.

Grant owner

The department’s grant owner is responsible for managing the:

• overall grant context
• policy and procedures
• application form and templates for reporting and acquittal
• application and contract management systems
• approved payments
• storage of records according to the relevant retention and disposal schedule.

Relationship managers

Each grant agreement will have a relationship manager, who may be from the Department of Education and Training or another NT Government agency, particularly for regional and remote grants.

Each grant agreement will have a relationship manager who will:

• provide accurate advice to applicants
• define key performance indicators (KPI), milestones and grant values
• notify all applicants of assessment outcomes
• collate performance reports and milestone reports.

Department of Education and Training relationship manager

In addition to the responsibilities set out in section 6.3, the relationship manager with the department is responsible for:

• acknowledging the receipt of applications
• assessing all the applications received in a fair, transparent and consistent manner in accordance with the conditions of the grant
• ensuring payments are made for all approved applications where KPIs and milestones have been met.

Other NT Government agencies relationship manager

In addition to the responsibilities set out in section 6.3, the relationship managers that are external to Department of Education and Training are responsible for:

• providing regular updates of grant performance to the Department of Education and Training
• coordinating and communicating good news stories on a regular basis.

Legislation and policy

• Training and Skills Development Act 2016
• Student eligibility VET policy

Resources

• Delivery allowance for VET funded programs
• Private provider AHC rates
• Buy Local Plan
• National Skills Agreement