TTAC Training2017 User Choice ProgramGuidelines and Conditions

Guidelines and Conditions

D16/170086

ContentsContents1Program overview2 Program Conditions2Eligibility 2 Budget2When and how to submit an application..3Application assessment and approval process... .......3Priority..........................4Successful applicants..4Responsibilities of successful applicants....4 Payments and reporting5 Publishing of successful application details....5 Audit..5 Relevant legislation and policies5Applying for additional places... 6Unsuccessful applicants 6RTO eligibility requirements7Learner eligibility requirements8Application conditions...9Subsidy conditions10

2017 User Choice Program Guidelines and ConditionsProgram overview

The Department of State Growth, through Skills Tasmania, delivers the User Choice Program through subsidies to Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) of an employer's choice to make a contribution towards the cost of providing training and assessment for nationally recognised training to apprentices and trainees.

While User Choice provides a significant contribution towards the cost of training and assessment services, it is not designed to fully fund training and assessment services. Employer or apprentice/trainee contributions may be required to meet the full costs of training and assessment.

To access a User Choice subsidy, or any subsidy from Skills Tasmania for nationally recognised training, the RTO must be approved as a Skills Tasmania Endorsed RTO. Information about the endorsement process is available at http://www.skills.tas.gov.au/providers/rtos/endorsedrtosystem

The list of qualifications that will be subsidised through the User Choice Program is available at http://laureldw.stategrowth.tas.gov.au/default.aspx

A glossary of key terms is available for RTO applicants at http://www.skills.tas.gov.au/funding

Program Conditions

It is important to note that there are a number of essential conditions that must be agreed to and met by RTOs who apply for User Choice subsidies (Application Conditions, page 9) and those RTOs who become recipients of User Choice subsidies (Subsidy Conditions, page 10).

In addition to these Conditions, the Department of State Growth (Skills Tasmania) Agreement for all Programs (Skills Tasmania Agreement) contains a range of other requirements and Service Obligations for Skills Tasmania Endorsed RTOs who are successful recipients of User Choice subsidies. The Skills Tasmania Agreement can be found on the Skills Tasmania website here: ST Agreement

Eligibility

In addition to the Conditions, RTOs must meet all eligibility requirements outlined on page 7. Learners are also required to meet eligibility requirements, which are on page 8.

Enquiries

User Choice enquiries should be directed to the User Choice Program manager on (03) 6165 6060 or by email at userchoice@skills.tas.gov.au

Budget

The User Choice Program has a defined budget. For this reason, RTOs should only apply for a number of places that are required by employers and can be verified by Skills Tasmania. Skills Tasmania will not approve large numbers where there is insufficient evidence of a need for that particular number as each approval reduces the available allocation budget. Successful RTOs are able to apply for as many additional places as can be evidenced following the initial allocation. See page 6 for details of how to add or apply to add more places.

When and how to submit an application

Skills Tasmania is encouraging RTOs to apply for the 2017 User Choice Program from 10 September (initial subsidy process) and prior to 11 November 2017 if they wish to offer User Choice subsidised places to apprentices and trainees in early 2017. It is expected that applicants who submit their fully-completed application by 11 November 2016 will receive their User Choice agreement prior to the end of 2016 or early in January 2017 if the application does not require additional information or re-negotiation of the number of places applied for.

Post the initial subsidy process, Skills Tasmania aims to process program applications within 30 business days. This 30 day turnaround begins once the applicant has provided all information required by Skills Tasmania. More than 30 days may be required if Skills Tasmania is experiencing an influx of applications.

Applicants will also be able to apply for subsidies throughout the year. This includes both newly-endorsed RTOs and existing Endorsed RTOs seeking additional training places (if adequate demand can be demonstrated) who applied during the initial subsidy process.

To apply for User Choice subsidies, Endorsed RTOs must complete the application available at http://www.skills.tas.gov.au/funding/userchoice and email it to userchoice@skills.tas.gov.au

If you require any assistance in completing this application, contact Skills Tasmania on (03)6165 6060 or email userchoice@skills.tas.gov.au

The User Choice application assessment and approval process

Applications for the 2017 User Choice Training Subsidy Program will be assessed against the eligibility criteria. Each applying RTO is required to provide a completed application and sufficient evidence against the following assessment criteria:

Criterion 1: The Endorsed RTO must demonstrate how it will provide both training and assessment services to apprentices and trainees using methods that have been identified to meet the needs of both the learner/s and the employer.

Criterion 2: The Endorsed RTO must demonstrate that is has existing relationships with Tasmanian industry/employers in relation to the qualifications applied for, and that each Tasmanian industry/employer is satisfied with the training and assessment services provided by the RTO.

Criterion 3: The Endorsed RTO must demonstrate the strategies it will use to identify the support needs of each learner and describe how that support is provided.

Criterion 4: The Endorsed RTO must demonstrate that it has strategies in place for ensuring and maintaining industry currency for trainers and assessors delivering the qualifications applied for.

Criterion 5: How will your successful application support new job growth for apprentices and trainees?

In addition to assessing the RTOs application and associated evidence against the criteria, Skills Tasmania checks the number of places applied for against the RTOs previous User Choice take-up of allocation (if the RTO has had a previous User Choice agreement). Please note that the level of take-up of a User Choice allocation is the measure and not the size of the allocation. For example, if an RTO was allocated 35 places but only 12 were taken up, without evidence of the need for more than 12 places in a subsequent year, only 12 places could be considered as an initial allocation.

RTOs with no previous User Choice history are required to submit written evidence from employers to support the number of places applied for. In the absence of this written support, only small numbers will be considered for approval, subject to all other requirements being met.

RTOs whose applications for the User Choice Program are successful are able to apply to add to an initial allocation should that allocation be used and evidence can be provided that more places are needed. See page 6 for details on how to apply for additional places.

Priority

User Choice has a defined budget. Applications will be prioritised on their ability to support job growth for apprentices and trainees and training places in industries with a demonstrated need for skills for growth.

Successful applicantsResponsibilities for successful applicants

If successful for a User Choice Grant, the RTOs 2015-2017 Skills Tasmania Agreement will need to be activated, if it is not already. For details on this process, contact the Skills Tasmania RTO Endorsement manager on 03 6165 6020 or email rtoendorsement@skills.tas.gov.au

Successful RTOs will be notified of the successful outcome of their application via email in the first instance.

A copy of the RTOs User Choice application with the signing page indicating the approved number of training places and level of subsidy per place will then be emailed to the RTO. This signing page must be signed by the appropriate RTO representative and a copy emailed back to the Skills Tasmania User Choice email address: userchoice@skills.tas.gov.au This signed application forms a Schedule to the RTOs Skills Tasmania Agreement.

The RTO will not receive any funding until a current Skills Tasmania Agreement is in place and the signed User Choice document has been returned to Skills Tasmania.

Where an RTO commences delivery of training and/or assessment services prior to written notification of its success and the execution of the Grant Deed, it does so at its own risk.

Successful applicants can also apply for subsidies throughout the calendar year for new apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications not included in their original agreement by making an additional application to the 2017 User Choice Program or any other Skills Tasmania funding round they in which they are eligible. Funding allocation is not guaranteed.

Successful applicants must ensure they meet all Subsidy Conditions on page 10.

Payments and reporting

Payment and reporting requirements are outlined in the Skills Tasmania Agreement http://www.skills.tas.gov.au/funding/2015-2017-skills-tasmania-agreement

Payment will be made on units of competency using the approved nominal hours as defined by Skills Tasmania. These hours are available at http://laureldw.stategrowt