DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Information for Industry on
Productivity Places Program
Update 1 - 1 July 2009
Overview of Productivity Places Program Can employers participate in the program?
Yes, employers who wish to upgrade their own
The Productivity Places Program is part of the skills are able to participate.
Council of Australian Governments (COAG)
reform agenda to improve productivity and align What do you need to do?
skills of the workforce to the needs of the There are a number of ways to participate in the
economy to reduce skills shortages. This program. As a collective group, employers could
program is part of the Australian Government’s identify a group of participants, for example,
(AG) Skilling Australia for the Future initiative. members from your business or association who
want to up skill existing workers in a particular
qualification.
Information
Who is the program aimed at?
Productivity Places Program aims to assist job A representative from your group / board could
seekers to acquire skills and gain lasting then approach a registered training organisation,
employment and assist existing workers to who has scope to deliver the required
update or upgrade their skills. qualification, about delivering a program to meet
this need. In your discussions with the registered
What’s happening right now? training organisation, you can agree on the
training and assessment methodology including
The Department of Education and Training
the where, when and how.
(DET) are calling for Expressions of Interest from
registered training organisations to apply for
funding to deliver qualifications to both job On agreement you will need to provide the
seekers and existing workers. registered training organisation with a letter, fax
or email of support for the program. In your
supporting documentation you can specify the
Applications will close on 10 July 2009.
agreed training and assessment requirements.
How can our industry benefit from
participating in the Productivity Places The registered training organisation will apply to
Program? DET for funding through an Expression of
Interest application. Only qualifications identified
Under an industry-driven system, ensuring that
on the Northern Territory Priority Occupations
training is more responsive to the needs of
and Qualifications List will be funded.
businesses and participants is a priority.
Industry can benefit from the program by: What if we don’t have a large number of
participants?
• Up skilling existing employees;
You can still approach your preferred registered
• Re skilling existing employees; training organisation and discuss your
• Providing a formal training pathway for requirements with them. In addition when
people who have worked in an industry registered training organisations have been
for a number of years but do not hold a approved to deliver under the Productivity Places
qualification; and Program the details, including the qualification
• Employing job seekers who have gained and registered training organisation, will be
industry qualifications through the posted to the following website:
Productivity Places Program. http://www.det.nt.gov.au/training/productivityplac
es/
www.det.nt.gov.au
Can Productivity Places Program be Which qualifications will be funded under
delivered under a contract of training Productivity Places Program?
pathway?
The Department of Education and Training has
Yes, training can be delivered to participants who consulted with a range of stakeholders including
are under contracts of training. Priority will be Training Advisory Councils, industry associations
given to qualifications / persons who are not and registered training organisations on the
eligible to access User Choice funding as an Northern Territory Priority Occupations and
existing worker. Qualifications List. Expressions of interest
applications will only be accepted for
Is funding available under Productivity qualifications identified on this list. The Northern
Places Program for participants who live Territory Priority Occupations and Qualifications
interstate and work in the NT? List can be accessed from:
http://www.det.nt.gov.au/training/productivityplac
Northern Territory residents are eligible to es/
access funded training positions under the
Productivity Places Program. Exceptional
circumstances will be considered on a case by What level of funding will registered training
case basis. organisations receive per qualification?
Are students able to access Productivity Job seekers (fully funded)
Places Program for more than one Table 1 – Funding Contributions
Qualification Ceiling AG NT Individual/
qualification? Level Price Enterprise
People will be able to access more than one Certificate II $2,500 $2,500 $0 $0
funded position under the following Certificate III $5,000 $5,000 $0 $0
circumstances: Certificate IV $5,000 $5,000 $0 $0
Diploma $10,000 $10,000 $0 $0
• Job seeker to existing worker; and
• Existing worker to a higher level Existing workers (minimum 10% contribution
qualification from individual or enterprise)
Table 2 – Funding Contributions
Are there any restrictions on government Qualification Ceiling AG NT Individual/
(Aust or NT) employees accessing Level Price Enterprise
Productivity Places Program? Certificate III $5,000 $2,500 $2,000 $500
Certificate IV $5,000 $2,500 $2,000 $500
No, Northern Territory and Australian Diploma $10,000 $5,000 $4,000 $1,000
Government employees are eligible to access Adv. Diploma $10,000 $5,000 $4,000 $1,000
Productivity Places Program.
What does the minimum 10% contribution
Does an RTO have to receive the mean to employers of existing workers?
individual/enterprise payment under the The 10% individual/enterprise contribution for
existing worker scheme, or can they choose existing workers is paid by the individual or their
to waive it? employer to the registered training organisation.
Yes, the intent is that industry or an individual The 10% contribution is a minimum requirement
would be required to contribute a minimum 10% and you should discuss with the registered
towards up skilling / re skilling of existing training organisation any additional charges
workers. RTO’s are unable to waive the 10% associated with the enrolment.
individual/enterprise contribution.
Payment of the 10% contribution should be
Who will receive Productivity Places Program discussed and agreed to by the employer and
funding? participant prior to enrolment.
Registered training organisations who meet
eligible criteria can apply for funding under the
Productivity Places Program. This includes How do I find out more?
interstate registered training organisations who
have scope to deliver in the Northern Territory.
Contact - Amanda Howden
Manager – Productivity Places Program
Phone: (08) 8901 4904
Email: Amanda.howden@nt.gov.au
Web:
http://www.det.nt.gov.au/training/productivityplac
es/