Training Services NSW is working to build innovative pathways to trades which will lead to an increase in qualified workers across trade occupations.
Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $500,000
- Application opened: 21 February 2023
- Application closed: 4 April 2023, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The Trade Pathways Innovation Fund will support industry-led projects that trial and test innovative approaches to obtaining trade qualifications.
Eligible organisations can apply for a grant of up to $500,000 (GST exclusive) to deliver innovative projects that establish new pathways to trade qualifications or enhance existing non-traditional pathways to trade qualifications.
The fund will improve the accessibility of trade training for women, mature age workers and school leavers.
Industry-led projects will commence in May 2023 for a period of 12-months.
This program is administered by Training Services.
This program is funded by Department of Education.
Eligibility
To apply for the grant, an eligible organisation must be:
- a legal entity with the capacity to contract
- registered for GST and have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- covered by public liability insurance
- currently operating in NSW
- financially viable.
Who can apply
Training Services NSW will accept applications from:
- group training organisations (GTOs) including the GTO peak body
- industry representative bodies
- industry training advisory bodies (ITABs)
- local government partnerships or peak bodies
- trade unions
- skills service organisations.
Who can’t apply
Federal or state government entities.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Projects should address one of the following categories:
- Establish new pathways to trade qualifications.
- Enhance existing non-traditional pathways to trade qualifications.
The project should:
- be delivered in one or more of the Training Services NSW regions
- focus on establishing or enhancing pathways outside of *traditional apprenticeship and traineeship pathways
- nominate qualifications from the list of approved trade and trade-like qualifications
- have a delivery period of 12-months and conclude no later than May 2024.
*Non-traditional pathways to trade qualifications are pathways other than those involving an apprenticeship or traineeship contract.
What can’t you apply for
The following items are not funded:
- capital equipment, capital works or capital expenses
- operating expenses not directly related to the project
- projects delivered outside NSW
- retrospective funding e.g., projects that have already commenced prior to grant award
- fundraising events
- costs associated with accredited training that is approved for funding under Smart and Skilled
- participants engaged in a project must not pay any fees
- participants (e.g. learners) engaged in a project must not be paid wages.
What your application needs to include
Review the Trade Pathways Innovation Fund grant guidelines as part of the application process.
Prepare your application with this checklist
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Check eligibility
- Address the assessment criteria
- Attach relevant and supporting documentation
To apply, you need a SmartyGrants account. If you do not already have an account, visit the Training Services NSW SmartyGrants account registration page to create one.
Please allow sufficient time to complete the application and upload all necessary documents. Hard copy, incomplete or late applications will not be accepted. Applications must include sufficient information and associated supporting documentation to enable the assessment panel to adequately assess the application.
Refer to the Trade Pathways Innovation Fund grant guidelines for more detailed application information and requirements.
Address the eligibility criteria
Applications will be accepted from group training organisations (GTOs) including GTO peak body, local government partnerships or local government peak bodies, trade unions, industry training advisory bodies (ITABs), independent statutory bodies, industry representative bodies and skills service organisations.
To apply for the grant, an eligible organisation must be:
- a legal entity with the capacity to contract
- registered for GST and have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- covered by public liability insurance
- currently operating in NSW
- financially viable.
Address the assessment criteria
Applicants must address the assessment criteria below and provide all required information in the application. Incomplete applications may be excluded from the application process at the department’s discretion.
1. A project plan including:
- project category A or B (See Appendix B in the Trade Pathways Innovation Fund grant guidelines)
- focus ANZSCO occupation/s (See Appendix B in the Trade Pathways Innovation Fund grant guidelines)
- focus qualification/s
- aims of the project
- project activities, outputs, milestones and timeline – projects to be comprehensive and well-defined (S.M.A.R.T) with a distinct start and finish date
- outcome measures (i.e. KPI’s, success measures).
2. A stakeholder and partner engagement plan including:
- stakeholder/s and partner/s engagement (project partners are subject to Training Services NSW approval)
- stakeholder and partner communication strategy
- marketing approach (i.e. communication platform/s and digital promotional collateral).
3. Capability and capacity of the organisation to deliver the project including:
- applicant’s role, function and specialisation in relation to the nominated occupation/s and qualification/s
- applicant’s capacity and capability to successfully deliver the project (including relevant experience in delivering similar projects)
- relevant experience and qualifications of key staff involved in project delivery
- key challenges and risks relating to the implementation of the project and how these will be managed, treated and mitigated.
4. Value for money:
- how the project represents value for money (i.e. social, economic and environmental benefits)
- grant amount requested
- project budget.
Applications will be assessed by an assessment panel against the criteria listed above.
Refer to the Trade Pathways Innovation Fund grant guidelines.
Start the application
To apply, you need a SmartyGrants account. If you do not already have an account, visit the Training Services NSW SmartyGrants account registration page to create one.
After the application is submitted
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by June 2023.
Support and contact
Email: tradepathways@det.nsw.edu.au
For more information download: Trade Pathways Innovation Fund webinar slide presentation or view Frequently asked questions (FAQs). Further updates will be made available at Trade Pathways Innovation Fund SmartyGrants.
Program evaluation
Applications will be assessed by an assessment panel against the grant round criteria.