Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant

The funding amount depends on the project duration. Up to $350,000 per project is available for 12 months of delivery. Longer term contracts will be considered, however cannot extend beyond 30 September 2028.

Funding amount also depends on the:

• project location
• nature of training and employment support to be provided
• number of participants
• additional or specialist services.

To be eligible, your organisation must:

• demonstrate experience in supporting training and employment initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• be located in Queensland
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for GST
• have operated continuously for at least 2 years
• provide audited income and expenditure statements for the 2 most recent financial years
• be an incorporated association, a public company, or a local council
• submit supporting documentation, such as a:
  • company constitution
  • charitable constitution
  • governance framework
  • organisational structure.

Place-based projects should support training and employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are:

• living in Queensland
• 15 years or older and no longer enrolled in school
• unemployed or under employed.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may also be indirectly assisted with local Indigenous and non-Indigenous employers being supported to create culturally safe and responsive workplaces.

The funded organisation selects the participant, subject to the above eligibility criteria and in consultation with our department.

This grant should be delivered at no cost to participants.

Follow these steps to apply for place-based projects:

1. Read the funding guidelines.
2. Complete the IWSDG eLearning course for practical advice on how to apply.
3. Complete an application form on the Training and Skills Portal.
4. Submit supporting documents.

Once we have completed assessment, we will email you with the outcome of your application.

A training and support plan is a personalised document that must be developed for every participant in a place-based project under the IWSDG program.

Every participant’s training and support plan should clearly outline:

• their learning, training and support needs
• the steps and strategies that the funded organisation will undertake to address any issues and ensure successful completion of the program.

What is the purpose of a training and support plan?

A training and support plan is designed to directly respond to a participant’s needs by providing tailored and individualised support. The plan will outline strategies to overcome any identified barriers to learning and employment.

Requirements for a training support plan

A training and support plan must be:

• individually tailored for acquiring foundation skills
• based on an upfront skills assessment and available training options
• developed with a participant’s full involvement.

Applicant organisations must attach a template of a training and support plan to their application for funding as supporting documentation. The template plan must provide clear information about commitments to individual participants.

What should be included in a training and support plan?

The training and support plan should as a general guide include and describe:

• participant’s name and date of birth
• name of project/program being undertaken
• prior schooling level attained
• prior training undertaken
• prior employment and skills
• a self-evaluation by the participant, including their strengths, weaknesses and goals
• an opportunity for participants to share any learning barriers and personal issues that should be considered to ensure the necessary learner support is provided
• processes and strategies that will be used by the funded organisation to identify and address the barriers to learning and employment of individual participants
• an outline of how additional training needs will be identified and supported to help participants complete their qualifications or courses and find work
• an outline of what skills the participant will develop
• detail of the training-delivery methods and assessment measures that suit the needs of the disadvantaged participant
• job-search activities to prepare participants for finding and maintaining employment
• review dates to support ongoing monitoring, recording progress and addressing issues
• participant evaluation upon completion.

• Funding guidelines for IWSDG place-based projects
• Guide to applying for IWSDG place-based projects
• Portal user guide for IWSDG places-based projects
• FAQs about IWSDG place-based projects
• Training and support plan fact sheet for IWSDG place-based projects

Your organisation may be eligible if it is in these priority industries:

• construction
• education and training
• health care and social assistance
• manufacturing
• primary industry
• professional, science and technical services
• public administration and safety
• resources and energy

Your organisation must also:

• be located in Queensland
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and be registered for GST
• have experience and understanding of cultural competency to support the trainee or graduate
• be an incorporated association or public company, or
• be a private company or sole trader that is at least 51% owned and controlled by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, or
• be a local council, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils, or a statutory authority.

Other types of businesses not listed here are not eligible.  Partnership arrangements may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Trainees and apprentices must:

• be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
• be 18 years or older and no longer enrolled in school
• be new to the organisation (not already employed there)
• not be a participant on another DTET-funded project, including IWSDG placed based or Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects.
• be unemployed or underemployed prior to commencing a traineeship.

Graduate employees must:

• be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person
• be aged 18 years or older and no longer enrolled in school
• have completed a vocational or university qualification in the past 12 months
• be new to the organisation (not already employed there)
• not be a participant on another DTET-funded project, including IWSDG placed based or Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects.

Please note: Trainees, apprentices and graduates must not be employed prior to the assessment of your application being completed as this will affect your eligibility to receive funding.

For traineeship and graduate positions:

1. Read the funding guidelines.
2. Complete an application form.
3. Submit application form, including the supporting documents listed in the application form.

Once we have completed assessment, we will email you with the outcome of your application.

• Funding guidelines for IWSDG subsidised traineeships, apprenticeships and graduate employment positions
• Application form for IWSDG subsidised traineeships, apprenticeships and graduate employment positions
• FAQs about IWSDG subsidised traineeship, apprenticeships and graduate employment positions