Coronavirus support initiatives
• Working for Victoria – $500 million fund will connect workers with new jobs, including retraining and certifying workers for direct employment now and to have skills for the post- coronavirus (COVID-19) economy.
• JobTrainer Fund – The Australian Government is partnering with state and territory governments to establish a new $1 billion JobTrainer Fund. The Government will provide $500 million in 2020-21, contingent on matched contributions from state and territory governments. The JobTrainer Fund was announced on 16 July 2020 as part of the Australian Government’s $2 billion JobTrainer Skills Package.
• Supporting apprentices and trainees wage subsidy – The Australian Government is supporting business to manage cash flow challenges and to keep apprentices and trainees employed.
• Program for Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees – The Vic Govt. program aims to keep retrenched apprentices and trainees engaged with employment and/or training during the crisis so that they can eventually complete their apprenticeship or traineeships. Apprentices and trainees who have lost their employment are encouraged to register.
• Agriculture Workforce Plan – $50 million targeted support to agriculture, food processing and critical food supply chain businesses in rural, regional and outer metropolitan areas in Victoria, to meet their labour and operational needs during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Dairy Farm Induction Program – training and pathways to safely, effectively and rapidly on-board new dairy farmhand workers and provide opportunities for people seeking to kick start their career in dairy in Victoria.
• International Student Emergency Relief Fund – $45 million to support international students facing financial hardship as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Funding
• Funded Course List – courses that are subsidised for students who start their training between 1 January and 31 December 2020.
• Workforce Training Innovation Fund – funding to partnerships between industry and training providers that improve training outcomes and increase the relevance of training to industry. Note: This fund is being evaluated in 2020. New project proposals are not being accepted at this time.
• Regional and Specialist Training Fund (RSTF) – helps set up training for specific skills in regional and specialist areas that are not being met by the current training market. Note: This fund is being evaluated in 2020. New project proposals are not being accepted at this time.
• Smarter, Safer Farms program – $10 million in farm safety and wellbeing initiatives and $10 million skills program, focused on training in financial literacy, risk management, farm planning and adaptation to climate change.
• Regional Skills Fund – targeted, place-based regional skills grants program driven by industry in partnership with the tertiary sector.
• Wine Growth Fund – a small grants program designed to support initiatives to develop the Victorian wine industry. Note: currently closed and not currently accepting applications.
• Regional Jobs Fund – aims to facilitate job creation and retain existing jobs
• Quad bike safety rebate – rebate for rollover protection devices or buying a safer vehicle. Note: currently closed