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Skilling Queenslanders for Work Initiative

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The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative was implemented on 1 July, 2007 and is one of the key components of the Queensland Skills Plan. The initiative has been reviewed in light of recent changes in the economy and labour market. Newly retrenched workers, young people, Indigenous jobseekers, the long-term unemployed and jobseekers who are most vulnerable are the primary focus of Skilling Queenslanders for Work.

The Productivity Places Program (PPP) is part of the joint Australian, State and Territory Governments initiative to provide additional training places for existing workers and job seekers. It's part of the Australian Government's Skilling Australia for the Future policy which in Queensland is being jointly managed by the Department of Education Training and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. A component of the job seeker training places will be administered through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

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Aim of the initiative

The aim of Skilling Queenslanders for Work is to maximise the skilled workforce by:

  • helping disadvantaged jobseekers get the skills and training they need to compete for full-time jobs
  • increasing community capacity to meet the changing needs of the labour market.

Who will be assisted

Skilling Queenslanders for Work will assist:

  • people who are employed 25 hours per week or less, and who are unable to secure a full-time job because they lack the necessary skills
  • long-term unemployed people
  • people with a disability
  • parents and carers
  • Indigenous Queenslanders
  • mature-age people aged 45 years and over
  • young people aged 15 to 19 years old in the compulsory participation phase of education and training - through the Get Set for Work and Youth Training Incentives programs
  • young people aged 18 to 24 years
  • people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including refugees and recently arrived migrants
  • people in, or at risk of, persistent poverty
  • recently retrenched workers
  • ex-offenders
  • people with low levels of literacy or numeracy through the Community Literacy Program.

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How assistance is provided

Organisations throughout Queensland can apply for funding to provide eligible jobseekers with a free assistance package tailored to meet their individual needs for employment and training, and the needs of the local labour market.

These packages can include:

Projects must include:

  • an initial up-front assessment to identify the skills and abilities of individual participants, so that a customised assistance package can be developed
  • delivery of the program
  • post-participation support for up to six months.

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Eligible organisations

Funding is not available to individuals, but to organisations to run employment and training projects for disadvantaged jobseekers in particular communities.

Eligible organisations include:

  • incorporated, community-based, not-for-profit organisations
  • local government authorities
  • education and training providers
  • unions, and industry and employer bodies
  • other organisations, at the discretion of DEEDI, if eligible organisations cannot provide services that meet the department's requirements.

If your organisation doesn't meet these criteria, you can still take part in Skilling Queenslanders for Work by forming a partnership with an eligible organisation.

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Expected outcomes

Organisations must specify what employment and further education or training targets the project is to meet. Required outcomes will vary according to the client group to be assisted and the type of assistance offered.

As a condition of the grant, providers are required to negotiate outcome targets which include:

  • full-time employment of more than 25 hours per week in a permanent, temporary, casual or self- employed capacity
  • part-time employment of less than 25 hours per week in a permanent, temporary, casual or self employed capacity
  • enrolment in an accredited vocational education and training course to gain a qualification
  • enrolment in a language, literacy and numeracy course
  • return to school.

Organisations will be assessed on how well the outcomes achieved compare with those specified in the application.

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Applying for funding

Interested organisations should use the following guidelines when applying for funding to join the network of providers delivering tailored assistance packages to jobseekers throughout Queensland.

For help with preparing an application for funding, phone the Employment Hotline 1300 369 925 to speak to a DEEDI employment officer.

If your organisation is receiving funds from another government agency (e.g. Job Services Australia) to deliver employment-related services, you must supply details of the steps you've taken to ensure that any proposed project will not duplicate or substitute for these services.

How grant applications are assessed

Locally-based committees consisting of representatives from community, industry, government, industrial unions, and Indigenous and youth organisations assess grant applications.

If your application is unsuccessful, you can request feedback from your local DEEDI regional office by phoning 1300 369 925.

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Assessment criteria

Criteria Components Description

Capacity to manage the project

 

Project management experience

Capacity of organisation to deliver and manage the project

Relevant experience in managing government grant funds and delivering similar projects

Recruitment strategies

Identified strategies to recruit participants from the target group

Target group

Experience in delivering similar assistance to the target group

Project supervision

Engagement of a suitably qualified supervisor and other experienced staff with relevant skills

Servicing community needs

 

Local network involvement

Evidence to support strong community presence within local area (e.g. local knowledge, fostered networks and relationships)

Community benefit

Long term benefit to the community—level of community needs being addressed

Assessment of the merits of the project and potential for community and participant benefit

Community development

Evidence of alignment or links with local planning processes (e.g. community economic development plans/strategic plans)

Community support

Extent to which local community stakeholders, employers, industry, service providers etc. are involved in the project

Strategies to assist participants

 

Accredited/non-accredited vocational training

Assessment of the effectiveness of the component for participants and its relevance to local labour market needs

Work placement or work experience

Assessment of the effectiveness of the component for participants and its relevance to local labour market needs

Customised assistance

Assessment of the effectiveness of other identified employment assistance, skills development, and support measures

Target group needs

Capacity to meet the needs of the target group in the geographical area

Links to other programs or services

Extent of links with existing training programs, other local initiatives, support services or other funding programs

Strategies to achieve outcomes

 

Projected outcomes

Level of employment and further education or training outcomes forecast

Previous performance

Demonstrated evidence of the organisation's ability to achieve forecast outcomes

Job search/job placement and post placement support

Details of job search activities and placement assistance to be provided (e.g. resume preparation, simulated interviews. Details of post placement support. Referrals for specialist assistance, counselling

Local network involvement

Extent of support from local employers, industry, Job Services Australia etc. that will contribute to sustainable employment outcomes

Labour market needs

Capacity to meet skills shortages and local labour market needs

Cost/value for money

 

Cost effectiveness

High-quality overall cost-effectiveness of the project, including factors such as total funding sought, length of project, number of participants, anticipated outcomes and vocational education and training to be delivered (training cost per hour)

Complementary funding

Level of complementary funding and assistance accessed from other sources

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How grant funds are paid

Grants are generally paid in instalments once the Memorandum of Agreement (PDF, 345 KB) has been executed, and no more than 30 days before the project starts.

Subsequent payments are made when requirements of the funding agreement are lodged, and organisations have spent 80% of their existing funds.

Funding conditions

If the grant application is successful:

  • organisations must enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with DEEDI and adhere to its conditions
  • funds must be spent on the project as described in the application.

What project funds can be used for

Grant funds must be used for the following costs directly associated with delivering the project:

  • wages and on-costs for project coordinator and delivery staff; contribution towards project administration or other staff
  • administration costs—rent, accommodation, office costs, telephone, postage, advertising, insurance and auditing fees
  • training costs (where it can be demonstrated that these cannot be met from other funding sources) for providers, trainers, materials or equipment, student enrolment fees
  • travel costs
  • an allocation for a management fee (which should not exceed 5% of the total grant amount) to contribute towards the operating costs of the organisation.

Organisations must also disclose all funding received from other sources.

Contract term

Contract terms of up to 12 months (with an option to extend for a further 12 months if an ongoing demand for employment services can be demonstrated) are available to first-time successful applicants for a grant.

Organisations with a proven ability to deliver employment projects and meet identified performance measures, and which can provide strong evidence of an ongoing demand for employment services may be offered long-term contracts of up to 3 years.

Organisations contracted for 12 months or more will have to satisfactorily complete an annual review, which will be a condition of the release of the following year's funding.

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How to apply

Applicants must consult with the local DEEDI office on 1300 369 925 when developing a draft proposal.

Applications must be submitted on the correct application for funding form (DOC, 510 KB). Use the Skilling Queenslanders for Work instruction booklet (PDF, 787 KB) to help with this.

As DEEDI bases its determinations only on the information in the application, applicants should ensure that this is complete.

DEEDI generally has two major funding rounds each year, and it is preferable that applications be submitted as part of these. However, if there is an emerging need for employment assistance, funding for projects to deal with this can be considered outside the rounds.

Appealing a Grant Funding Decision

You may request a review of a decision made by the Department in relation to provision of grant funding. This includes funding provided under the following programs:

  • Skilling Queenslanders for Work
  • Community Literacy
  • Get Set for Work
  • First Start
  • Youth Training Incentives
  • Participate in Prosperity
  • Productivity Places Program
  • Queensland's Green Army

Appeals must be lodged in writing to:

Director
Policy and Strategy
Employment and Indigenous Initiatives
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
GPO Box 69 BRISBANE QLD 4001

You will be notified in writing of the outcome within 15 working days from receipt of the appeal.

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Last updated 11 June 2010

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