Skills First – the Victorian 2022 Funding Contract

A short explanation

The Department of Education and Training Victoria has opened a limited expression of interest (EOI) process for non-contracted training providers (new training providers) to deliver Skills First training for specific programs.

• What does this mean to your RTO?
• What are the matters the Department will consider during the evaluation process?
• Is your RTO eligible?

To ease these and similar questions, we have simplified a complex document for you.

What is a call for expression of interest, and why is it different from the last three years?

The call is an invitation to Training Providers to submit an Expression of Interest for a Draft 2022 Standard VET Funding Contract to deliver accredited training in areas of demand as specified in the 2022 list of Specific Programs through the Victorian Government’s Skills First Program. Unlike the last three years, the Department will accept non-.contracted training providers

What if my RTO had a 2021 contract?

If your RTO is a currently contracted training provider, the 2022 Contracts will be offered without the need to participate in a full expression of interest process. However, please note that The Department of Education and Training (the Department) is seeking information from all Training Providers holding a 2021 VET Funding Contract, your anticipated training delivery in 2022 in the form of Program Delivery Plans(PDPs).

The Department will use this information to review forecasted training delivery in the context of anticipated employment and training demand, delivery in Government priority areas, and regional coverage.

On the basis of this analysis, determinations will be made as to individual Training Providers’ Funded Scope, Commencement Allocations and Program Allocations, if required.

It is therefore important that you submit PDPs that reflect as accurately as possible the nature and quantity of training they plan to deliver in 2022.

What does the list of Specific Programs include?

The Courses are divided into two categories,

1. Non-foundation skills programs.
2. Foundation skills programs

The Department of Education Victoria will only accept expressions of interest from training providers who can deliver these specific programs.

If you did not have these specific programs on your scope of registration on the 31 August 2021 and are a currently contracted training provider you are deemed ineligible to participate in the limited EOI process to deliver Skills First training.

The list of the specific programs is available here (link).

What makes my RTO eligible?

There are a number of Eligibility Criteria, your RTO must meet all and will be assessed by the Department.

Some of them include:

• Be registered as a registered training organisation with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) or the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA);
• The RTO’s principal place of business is in Victoria
• The RTO must pass the Probability of Default Assessment to be undertaken by the Corporate Scorecard – Financial Assessment Process
• The Department will assess your RTO and you must have a satisfactory history of delivering training – Compliance and Quality
• The RTO must have delivered training (in the course that you seek to deliver under the contract) in one or more Programs of the 2022 List of Specific Programs to:
  • a minimum of 20 students in the 2020 calendar year; and
  • a minimum of 10 in the 2021 calendar year (between 1 January – 30 June 2021)

For example: if you are applying for CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability in your expression of interest, then you have to provide evidence through AVETMISS that you have delivered this course to a minimum of 20 students in the 2020 calendar year; and a minimum of 10 in the 2021 calendar year (between 1 January – 30 June 2021)

What are the materials and resources I need to familiarise myself with?

You must familiarise yourself with the following full suite of documents that are available at: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/svts > Submit Applications

Significant documents include:

• Draft 2022 Standard VET Funding Contract Skills First Program;
• Draft 2022 Guidelines About Eligibility
• Draft 2022 Guidelines About Fees
• Draft 2022 Guidelines About Apprenticeship/Traineeship Training Delivery
• Draft 2022 Skills First Quality Charter
• 2022 Specific Programs List
• Guide to Program Delivery Plans Process for Training Providers apply to the 2022 Limited Expression of Interest: Skills First training for Specific Programs
• Guide to 2022 Financial Assessments
• Due Diligence Request Form
• 2022 Specific Program List
• Limited Expression of Interest: Skills First Training for Specific Programs – Questions and Answers
• Guide to submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) in SVTS (Skills Victoria Training System)

How do I submit my EOI?

EOIs must be submitted electronically through SVTS. If you do not have a user profile and log on, you need to create one.

When is the due date?

The EOI process closes at 5:00 pm on Friday, 1 October 2021.

CAQA’s Webinar

We appreciate that these days the Skill First topic is of high importance to training providers. To support you, we organised a free webinar with CAQA Skill First experts. You can watch the webinar recording by clicking this link. SKills First Recording

For more information, please call CAQA or email us at info@caqa.com.au.