Apprenticeship Training alternative delivery
pilots Guidelines
May 2016
Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
Table of Contents
PART 1:
INTRODUCTION _________________________________________________ 4
1.
Overview _________________________________________________________________ 4
2.
Objective _________________________________________________________________ 5
3.
Outcomes _________________________________________________________________ 5
4.
Purpose of the Guidelines ____________________________________________________ 5
5.
Legislative authority _________________________________________________________ 5
6.
Indicative key dates _________________________________________________________ 5
7.
Funding___________________________________________________________________ 6
8.
Responsibilities_____________________________________________________________ 6
PART 2:
9.
APPLICATIONS __________________________________________________ 7
Eligibility __________________________________________________________________ 7
10. Application process _________________________________________________________ 8
11. Budget ___________________________________________________________________ 8
12. Assessment Process _________________________________________________________ 8
13. Decisions ________________________________________________________________ 10
14. Notification of outcomes ____________________________________________________ 10
PART 3:
IMPLEMENTATION ______________________________________________ 11
15. Funding Agreement ________________________________________________________ 11
16. Financial reporting _________________________________________________________ 11
17. Performance reporting and monitoring_________________________________________ 11
18. Payments ________________________________________________________________ 11
19. Taxation _________________________________________________________________ 12
20. Information technology requirements _________________________________________ 12
21. Evaluation of the Pilots _____________________________________________________ 12
22. Further terms and conditions ________________________________________________ 12
23. Contact information ________________________________________________________ 14
24. Definitions _______________________________________________________________ 14
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
Process Flowchart
APPLICATIONS OPEN
The application form and instructions for submission are made available at
www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/alt-del-pilots.
SUBMIT AN APPLICATION
The Applicant completes and submits an application.
CONDUCT ASSESSMENT
The Department of Education and Training (the department) assesses applications against the
eligibility and assessment criteria.
ADVICE TO THE MINISTER
The department provides advice to the Minister on the merits of applications relative to the
Guidelines and whether, in its view, funding the activity would be a proper use of funding.
DECISION & NOTIFICATION
The Minister makes a decision on funding. The Applicant is advised of the decision.
CONTRACTING
A Funding Agreement is negotiated and executed with the Applicant receiving funding (Funding
Recipient) and the Commonwealth, represented by the department.
DELIVER
EVALUATION
The Funding Recipient delivers the Pilot in
accordance with the requirements of the
Funding Agreement.
The department evaluates how the Pilot
activity contributes to achieving the
Objective.
The department makes payments in
accordance with the requirements of the
Funding Agreement.
The Funding Recipient participates in and
provides information to assist the evaluation
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
PART 1: INTRODUCTION
1. Overview
The Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots (the Pilots) will establish five industry-led
pilots. Pilots will explore opportunities to encourage broader adoption of models which support the
delivery of entry level and qualified trades people into the labour market.
The Australian Apprenticeships system is inherently flexible. A range of measures have successfully
built flexibility into the apprenticeships system. Industry adoption of competency-based progression
practices is contributing to the higher numbers of apprentices completing their training in shorter
timeframes. In 2004, 28.4 per cent of apprentices completed Certificate III level training in two
years, compared to 45.4 per cent in 2014.1
However, opportunities to maximise this flexibility need to be tested and demonstrated to ensure
the apprenticeships system can continue to flexibly adapt and respond to changes in skills,
employment and economic demands.
These Pilots are designed to learn more about opportunities and barriers to increased industry
usage, acceptance and validation of alternative apprenticeship training delivery arrangements. The
aim is to drive more systemic adoption of these alternative arrangements, explore challenges and
examine potential regulatory or administrative barriers to innovative industry training practices.
Pilots will trial delivery arrangements which could be adopted broadly by employers and industry to
deliver greater choice in models for apprenticeship training delivery, while maintaining industry and
employer confidence in ‘graduates’.
Models to be tested through the Pilots may focus on:
 ICT-enabled work integrated learning – computer based learning combined with traditional
training arrangements.
 increasing acceptance of competency-based training and progression in industries which have
not broadly adopted the practice.
 strategies which embed Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) by acknowledging practical skills
from relevant work experience or other learning environments.
 front end, off-the-job institutional training – individuals undertake formal training in block
arrangements at the beginning of their training.
 innovative incentives payment arrangements determined by employers which drive flexibility
and engagement in the apprenticeships system.
 training approaches which increase the attractiveness of apprenticeship training pathways to
a broader range of apprentice candidates.
All Pilots will demonstrate strategies to promote and validate the findings of project activity. Projects
will provide evidence about the opportunities and the barriers in achieving increased industry
validation of alternative apprenticeship arrangements.
1
NCVER 2015, Australian vocational education and training statistics: apprentices and trainees 2014 — annual, NCVER, Adelaide.
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
2. Objective
These Pilots will trial the adoption of alternative apprenticeship delivery arrangements that:
(a) result in increased industry validation and take up of alternative arrangements; and
(b) contribute to an evidence base which informs future policy development and funding
settings.
3. Outcomes
These Pilots are expected to:
(a) benefit Participants, industry and employers.
(b) provide evidence about the opportunities and the barriers to achieve increased industry
validation of alternative apprenticeship arrangements; and
(c) inform funding settings for future apprenticeship arrangements.
4. Purpose of the Guidelines
The Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines (the Guidelines) provide a
framework for the operation and delivery of the Pilots. The Guidelines aim to assist Applicants in
applying for funding and guide Funding Recipients to establish, deliver and complete Pilots.
5. Legislative authority
Legislative authority for the Pilots is provided in the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers)
Regulations 1997 (Cth), Sch 1AB.
6. Indicative key dates
Pilots will be funded under two streams:
 Stream One – priority pilots identified by the Government.
 Stream Two – approach to market through an open grants process.
Activity
Stream One
Stream Two
Applications open
6 May 2016
6 May 2016
Applications close
Determined by the Minister
29 July 2016
Assessment and Decision
May 2016
August 2016
Funding Agreement negotiations
May 2016
August 2016
Pilots start
1 June 2016
Second half of 2016
Evaluation starts
Second half of 2016
Second half of 2016
Funding ceases
30 June 2018
30 June 2018
Note: any updates to these timeframes will be advised at www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/altdel-pilots.
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
7. Funding
A total of $9.2 million is available to support the Pilots from 2015-16 to 2017-18. Up to five Pilots will
be funded: up to three Pilots under Stream One and up to two Pilots under Stream Two.
The Funding Agreement will set out the terms and conditions for funding.
Payments will be linked to financial and performance reports (to the department’s satisfaction)
required for each reporting period.
8. Responsibilities
8.1 The Minister
The Minister will approve Applications to be funded under the Pilots including funding amounts.
8.2 The Department of Education and Training
The department will implement and oversee the Pilots. The department will:
 assess applications for funding in accordance with the Guidelines
 prepare recommendations for the Minister on proposed Pilots to fund
 prepare and enter into funding arrangements with successful Applicants
 monitor and manage Funding Agreements with Funding Recipients
 distribute funding to Funding Recipients
 undertake a rolling evaluation that commences immediately after the Pilots begin operating.
8.3 Applicants
It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure their application is complete, accurate, and
provided in accordance with these Guidelines. Giving false or misleading information to the
department is a serious offence.
8.4 Funding Recipients
The Funding Recipient will be responsible for delivering their Pilot and expending funds in
accordance with the Guidelines and the Funding Agreement.
Where Participants are required to enter into training contract arrangements, Funding Recipients
will need to work with relevant Commonwealth, state and territory regulators to ensure appropriate
arrangements are in place before training commences.
Funding Recipient must deliver their Pilot in line with relevant state and territory training regulatory
requirements and any relevant workplace relations requirements.
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
PART 2: Applications
9. Eligibility
9.1 Eligible Organisations
Funding Recipients may partner with other organisations to deliver the Pilot.
Government (both Commonwealth and State and Territory) agencies and departments, other than
Higher Education Institutions and TAFEs, are not eligible for funding under the Pilots. Funding
Recipients may work with government agencies in the delivery of the Pilots.
Stream Eligibility
One
Two
The Government has identified that applications from the following organisations will be
considered for funding under Stream One:
 Master Builders Australia
 National Electrical and Communications Association
 North East Vocational College, South Australia.
The above organisations:
 are required to submit applications for funding under Stream One
 are not eligible to apply for funding under Stream Two
 must comply with these Guidelines, including submitting an application that
addresses the Assessment Criteria (section 12.1 Assessment Criteria).
Is an open grants process.
Pilots must be developed, implemented, and delivered in partnership with industry.
Applicants are not required to be Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), however,
accredited training delivered under the Pilots must be delivered by an RTO.
The department will only fund organisations that can legally enter into a funding agreement. For
example, among others, the following entities can legally enter into funding agreements:
 individuals
 companies
 incorporated associations
 partnerships.
9.2 Funding Eligibility
Funding eligibility
Funding can be used for…
Agreed costs required for delivering the Pilot, including, among
other things:
 training delivery
 materials and resources to support the delivery of the Pilot
 reasonable administration costs
 salaries/wages directly related to delivering the Pilot under
the Funding Agreement.
Costs must be negotiated with and approved by the department.
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
Funding eligibility
Funding cannot be used for...
Any costs not related, directly or indirectly, to delivering the Pilot
in accordance with Funding Agreement, including, among other
things:
 Capital works
 Overhead costs, e.g. rental of premises
 Salaries/wages not related to delivering the Pilot under the
Funding Agreement.
10. Application process
10.1 Application Form and Closing Dates
All Applicants must submit a completed application form online. The application form, stream
closing dates and instructions for submission will be made available at
www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/alt-del-pilots.
Applications received after the specified closing dates will not be considered.
11. Budget
Applicants must complete the budget template in the application form and provide information
regarding other income sources, including indicating whether other income sources are confirmed.
12. Assessment Process
All applications will be assessed against the Objective (section 2) and the Assessment Criteria
including an assessment of Value with Relevant Money. Each of the four assessment criteria carry
equal weighting.
12.1 Assessment Criteria
Item
Assessment criteria and required information
1
Potential for
increased industry
adoption of
alternative delivery
arrangements
2
Industry/Employer
engagement
Applications must
 Outline how the Pilot aims to achieve increased industry
adoption and validation of the proposed alternative
apprenticeship arrangement.
 Identify any issues that may impact on the likelihood of the
alternative arrangement being broadly adopted and how the
Pilot will seek to address these issues.
Applications must
 Demonstrate how any training delivered or work experience
opportunities provided to Participants align with industry
expectations.
 Detail how the proposed Pilot will result in increased
employment outcomes or benefits for employers.
 Provide evidence of collaboration with employers or industry
including support from employers to offer workplace training
and employment opportunities to Participants.
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
Item
Assessment criteria and required information
3
Capacity
4
Project viability
Applications must
 Demonstrate the Applicant’s expertise or experience in
delivering quality trade training models.
 Outline how the Applicant will support Pilot Participants.
 Detail the Applicant’s capacity to deliver the Pilot in line with
relevant state and territory training regulatory requirements
and any relevant workplace relations requirements.
This criterion is intended to identify and consider the complexity of
the Pilot, risks associated with the Pilot and the capability of the
Applicant to deliver the Pilot.
Key considerations include, but may not be limited to how rigorously:
 the Pilot has been scoped and costed by the Applicant; and
 the Applicant has assessed delivery risks and treatments for
these risks
The application must include a draft project timeline and a realistic
budget for the proposed Pilot.
12.2 Achieving Value with Relevant Money
Value with relevant money is achieved when the processes, actions and behaviours employed by the
Commonwealth and Funding Recipients result in public resources being used in an efficient,
effective, economical and ethical manner. Public resources is defined in the Public Governance,
Performance and Accountability Act 2013 as ‘relevant money, relevant property, or appropriations’.
The Pilots seeks to promote value with relevant money by selecting those applications that:
 have demonstrated the greatest comparative merit in terms of the assessment criteria;
 involve a reasonable (rather than excessive) cost having regard to the quality and quantity of
deliverables that are proposed; and
 have a risk profile that is acceptable to the Commonwealth, with any identified risks being
able to be efficiently and effectively managed.
Value with relevant money will also be considered on an ongoing basis during and after delivery of
the Pilot. This includes ensuring that Commonwealth funding is expended and acquitted in
accordance with contracted requirements and all other conditions of funding are met, and through
monitoring and evaluating the extent to which a funded project achieves its objectives and
contributes to the outcomes of the Pilots.
12.3 Conflicts of Interest
A conflict of interest can arise when an Applicant’s integrity, objectivity or fairness in performing a
funded activity is at risk due to a pecuniary interest of a person or organisation associated with the
Applicant or a conflicting business arrangement.
Applicants must identify in their application any real or perceived conflicts of interest they believe
will or may arise from submitting the application. Applicants must specify how any actual or
perceived conflict of interest will be addressed and monitored.
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The department reserves the right to assess the potential impact of the conflict or perceived conflict
and what plans, if any, are proposed to address the conflict of interest in relation to the application
for funding.
The department may reject an application if it is not satisfied that there are arrangements in place to
appropriately address and/or manage a real or perceived conflict of interest.
Additionally, the department has mechanisms in place for identifying and managing potential or
actual conflicts of interest involving its own staff, such as requiring assessment officers to sign
conflict of interest declarations prior to undertaking the assessment of applications.
12.4 Financial Viability
Financial viability assessments will be conducted for all Applicants. The department will only fund
applications that meet financial viability requirements.
Applicants may be asked to submit documents for financial viability assessments at any time during
the application, assessment and selection processes. Applicants that fail to comply with the
Department’s financial viability assessment process may be excluded from the application process.
13. Decisions
Following an assessment of applications, the department will provide advice to the Minister on the
merits of applications relative to the Guidelines and whether, in its view, funding the Pilot would be
a proper use of funding.
Funding approval is at the discretion of the Minister.
14. Notification of outcomes
The department will advise Applicants in writing of the outcome of their application. Unsuccessful
Applicants will have the opportunity to discuss the outcome of their application with the
department.
The Minister or the department may publicly announce funding outcomes, including details of
successful Applicants, a project summary and the amount of funding allocated.
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Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots Guidelines
PART 3: Implementation
15. Funding Agreement
Successful Applicants will be required to enter into a Funding Agreement with the Commonwealth,
represented by the department. The Funding Agreement, in addition to these Guidelines, will set out
the requirements and expectations of the Funding Recipient and the department.
Funding Agreements are subject to Commonwealth, state and territory laws.
16. Financial reporting
The Pilots will be administered to ensure the efficient, effective, economical and ethical use of
public monies. Funding must only be used for the purposes for which it is provided (section
9.2). Funding Recipients will be required to submit financial statements/reports in accordance
with the Funding Agreement, which may include, among other things:
 periodic reports on the expenditure of grant funds;
 a final report on funding outcomes; and
 a financial declaration or an independently audited financial statement as required by the
department.
Full details of what Funding Recipients must submit to acquit the funding will be specified in the
Funding Agreement.
17. Performance reporting and monitoring
Funding Recipients will be required to collect data for the purpose of reporting on the activities
being delivered and demonstrating compliance with the Funding Agreement.
Funding Recipients will need to satisfy all reporting requirements under the Funding Agreement for
each period, before receiving the next funding instalment.
Reporting will be undertaken periodically in accordance with the deliverables set out in the Funding
Agreement.
The department will monitor the performance of all funded activities to ensure they are meeting the
agreed outcomes.
18. Payments
Before any payment can be made, Funding Recipients will be required to provide:
 a correctly rendered invoice for the amount of the payment; and
 evidence of meeting the requirements for payment, as stipulated in the Funding Agreement.
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19. Taxation
Applicants are expected to carefully consider the likely taxation treatment of any funding provided
under the Pilots, prior to submitting an application.
Applicants should seek advice about tax consequences (including GST) arising from the receipt of
funding by consulting their financial advisor or the Australian Taxation Office at www.ato.gov.au/ or
by calling 13 72 26 (for businesses) or 13 28 65 (for individuals).
20. Information technology requirements
Funding Recipients must have suitable systems in place to collect and store Pilot information
and data, to meet reporting, record keeping, and evaluation obligations.
21. Evaluation of the Pilots
The department will evaluate the performance of the Pilots. Funding Recipients must, at their own
cost, cooperate with any evaluation of the Pilots undertaken by the department or third parties,
including providing any information requested about the Pilots.
22. Further terms and conditions
22.1 The department’s rights
The department reserves the right to amend the Guidelines and other relevant documents by
whatever means it may determine at its absolute discretion and will provide reasonable notice of
these amendments.
22.2 Disclaimer
The department, its officers, agents and advisors:
 are not, and will not be, responsible or liable for the accuracy or completeness of any
information in or provided in connection with these Pilots Guidelines. The Guidelines do not
constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such;
 make no express or implied representation or warranty that any statement as to future
matters will prove correct;
 disclaim any and all liability arising from any information provided to the applicant, including,
without limitation, errors in, or omissions contained in, that information;
 except so far as liability under any statute applies, accept no responsibility arising from errors
or omissions contained in any information in this document and the application kit, including
the application form; and
 accept no liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of that person, or
any other person, placing reliance on the contents of these documents, or any other
information provided by the department.
Applicants should obtain appropriate independent and professional advice relevant to their own
circumstances in relation to the matters discussed in these Guidelines.
22.3 Fraud
The department is committed to preventing fraud in all aspects of its business. The department’s
fraud reporting procedures can be found at www.education.gov.au/how-report-fraud.
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22.4 Privacy
In administering the Pilots, the department and Funding Recipients will be bound by the provisions
of the Privacy Act 1988.
Privacy complaints may be made to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. The
Australian Information Commissioner may not investigate if a complaint has not been made in the
first instance to the department.
For further information please go to the department’s website: www.education.gov.au/privacy, or
write to:
Privacy Contact Officer
People, Communication and Legal Group
Department of Education and Training
GPO Box 9880
CANBERRA ACT 2601
[email protected]
22.5 Freedom of Information
All documents in the possession of the department including those in relation to the Pilots are
subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act).
The FOI Act creates a general right of access to documents in the possession of the department and
this right of access is limited only by the exceptions and exemptions necessary for the protection of
essential public interests and private and business affairs of persons in respect of whom the
information relates.
Decisions regarding requests for access under the FOI Act will be made by an authorised decision‐
maker in accordance with the requirements of the FOI Act.
FOI requests may be sent to the department in writing:
FOI Team Leader
People, Communication and Legal Group
Department of Education and Training
GPO Box 9880
CANBERRA ACT 2601
[email protected]
For more information please visit the department’s website at www.education.gov.au/freedominformation-0.
22.6 Complaints
Applicants and Funding Recipients can lodge complaints about the department’s service(s), the
application and/or assessment process, or the service of another Funding Recipient, by completing
the feedback and enquiry form available on the department’s website.
If an applicant or funding recipient is at any time dissatisfied with the department’s handling of a
complaint, they can contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman through the Ombudsman Website
or on 1300 362 072.
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23. Contact information
All correspondence should be forwarded to the contact via email:
Director, Workforce Strategies
Department of Education and Training
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1300 566 046
People with hearing or speech disability can use the National Relay Service (NRS) to access the
department’s phone numbers. Call 1300 555 727 (speak and listen) or go to the NRS website for
other options.
24. Definitions
The following definitions apply for the purpose of interpreting these Guidelines:
Applicant(s)
Organisation/Entity applying to undertake a Pilot
Department
The Department of Education and Training, or any future Commonwealth
agency with responsibility for the Pilots
Commonwealth
The Commonwealth of Australia
Funding Agreement
The contract between Funding Recipient and the department, to
undertake works under the Pilots
Funding Period
From the date the Funding Agreement is executed to 30 June 2018
Funding Recipient(s)
Organisation/Entity granted funding to undertake a Pilot
Guidelines
Means this document and its attachments, unless explicitly stated
otherwise
Pilots
The Apprenticeship Training – alternative delivery pilots measure
announced in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2015
Participant(s)
Means individuals who participate in a course of training delivered under
a Pilot
Pilot
Project to be delivered and undertaken in accordance with these
Guidelines
Privacy Act
Means Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
Records
Includes documents, information and data stored by any means and all
copies and extracts of the same
The Minister
The Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, or any future minister
with responsibility for the Pilots.
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