Not For Profit (NFP) community based organisations can now combine forces with Registered Training Organisations to help more Queenslanders gain useful qualifications that will get them into the workforce – and can receive a government grant to set up such new programs that combine training with valuable additional support.
Under “Skilling Queenslanders for Work”, $420 million has been committed over six years 2015-16 up until 2020-21, aiming to get 54,000 underprivileged Queenslanders into work. In the current financial year, $80 million will be available in grants to NFP applicants to help 10,000 people enter workforce. There are two funding round every year, and the second round for 2018 opens on 1 August.
Grants are available under seven program streams:
- Community Work Skills – Funds community-based organisations to deliver tailored support and assistance to participants to help them gain nationally recognised skills and qualifications. This includes a mix of career advice, job preparation skills, foundation skills and individual case management.
- Work Skills Traineeships – Funds paid work placements on community, public works and environmental projects for up to six months. Participants undertake a Work Skills Traineeship (Certificate I in Business, Construction, Conservation and Land Management, Hospitality or Retail Services) that integrates vocational skills with on-the-job training.
- Ready for Work – Funds community-based organisations and school Parents and Citizens’ and Parents and Friends’ associations to deliver basic job preparation and employability skills courses up to 6–8 weeks to unemployed youth aged 15–24 years to get them ready for work.
- Get Set for Work – Funds community-based organisations to deliver intensive employment and training assistance over 12 months to 15–19 year old early school leavers and disadvantaged young people to transition them to the workforce, undertake further education and training or return to school.
- Youth Skills – Funds community-based organisations to assist 15–24 year olds engaged with Youth Justice Services or Queensland Corrective Services, to undertake nationally recognised training and provide integrated learner support.
- Work Start incentives – Is an incentive program that rewards private sector employers ineligible for the Back to Work employer support payments with a one-off $10,000 payment or a $20,000 Youth Boost, after a qualifying period, if they employ after 1 July 2018 a Queenslander in a traineeship or apprenticeship who has participated in a Community Work Skills, Work Skills Traineeships, Get Set for Work, Ready for Work or Youth Skills project.
- First Start – Provides wage subsidies to local councils and community-based organisations to employ additional trainees. The program offers opportunities for young people and disadvantaged job seekers to gain nationally recognised qualifications and 12 months employment by undertaking a traineeship.
(from Skilling Queenslanders for Work factsheet)
This program targets those Queenslanders who are ineligible for Australian Government employment services/assistance or who have used such for 6 months without success; or who otherwise require special assistance due to significant barriers they face.
So if you are a Queensland NFP community organisation and are interested in building new pathways to employment for those most in need, here is your chance. And, as always, here at the Australian Strategic Advisory we are happy to help you develop and write your grant application.