Funding opportunities for maritime training providers

The maritime sector is critical to Australia’s economy, tourism and security. Building the workforce’s capacity and capability is vital for our country’s transport supply chain.

There are federal and state funding schemes available for training providers offering maritime education.

Each of the opportunities listed below have conditions applicants need to comply with. Limits on the number of people who can apply, time limits and other restrictions may also apply.

Australia-wide

·         Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning – Tertiary Support Grant Program | Department of Veterans' Affairs provides grants to invited tertiary institutions to support veterans to undertake tertiary education. Tertiary institutions can register to receive notifications of new grant opportunities.[1]

Queensland

·         Career Start is a Queensland government program that subsidises training costs for students by paying part of the cost directly to the training provider.[2] The subsidy is available for some Maritime Certificate III qualifications.[3]

·         The Career Boost program[4] subsidises training costs for students who are seeking higher-level skills. Again, the Queensland government pays part of the fees directly to the training organisation and the student co-contributes. The subsidy is available for selected Certificate IV maritime qualifications.[5]

NSW

·         Smart & Skilled provides funding directly to training providers (TAFE and Registered Training Organisations) for qualifications on the NSW Skills list (including Maritime Qualifications).[6] Training providers receive additional funding for eligible students living with a disability.[7] 

Northern Territory

·         The Northern Territory Government provides Skills NT grants for the delivery and support of VET training in defined focus areas, including equity groups, First Nations people, high demand occupations and apprenticeships/traineeships. Registered Training Organisations, industry groups and businesses can apply for grants on the GrantsNT website.[8]

·         Public and private Registered Training Organisations can apply for government funding to deliver training to trainees[9] for nationally recognised qualifications including selected maritime qualifications on the NT Apprenticeships and Traineeships Database.[10]

South Australia

·         Fee free TAFE for Cert IV TAE (training and assessment) may be available for eligible potential maritime trainers[11] There is also subsidised training available for the Certificate IV TAE with several training providers.[12]

·         The South Australian government provides funding to Registered Training Organisations for the delivery of VET courses and Skill Sets. The training course must be published on the Subsidised Training List. To be eligible, training providers need to be contracted by the Department of State Development (Skills SA). The training provider needs to apply for a Funded Activities Agreement (FAA) to become a contractor.[13] Currently several maritime qualifications are on the Subsidised Training List.[14]

Tasmania

·     The Tasmanian State Government provides funding to Endorsed Registered Training Organisations and Group Training Organisations. Information on programs, eligibility and funding rounds are published on the Skills Tasmania website.[15]

Victoria

·         Fee free TAFE for Cert IV TAE (training and assessment) is available for eligible potential maritime trainers if they have already completed a free TAFE course.[16]

Western Australia

·         Fee free TAFE for Cert IV TAE (training and assessment) may be available for eligible potential maritime trainers.[17]

·         The Western Australian Group Training Program (WAGTP) is not specific to maritime training, though does provide incentives for group training organisations (GTOs) to employ and support trainees in WA, including priority target groups such as First Nations people, people living with a disability, and people from remote or regional locations. The incentive payments are paid in increments at commencement, mid-point (apprentices only) and completion.[18]

 

·         The TAFE College Lecturers Industry Placement (CLIP) program is also not specific to the maritime sector. It provides industry placements for VET lecturers to give them on- -the-job experience of industry skill needs.[19]