Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants

The Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants funds regional and remote communities to train workers for projects in the community.

Training can either be vocational education and training (VET) accredited training or non-accredited.

Read more about how VET accredited training is defined on the Australian Government's Australian Skills Quality Authority website.

Funding priority is given to applicants located in regional and remote areas.

What costs are covered

This funding may cover the entire cost of training for people looking for work, or up to 50% of the cost for training existing workers.

An existing worker is someone who has worked continuously for 3 months full time, or part-time or casually for 12 months.

​This funding will not cover any of the following:

• wages for participants
• capital equipment
• licensing fees
• travel costs for participants.

What the training should include

The training should have some or all of the following features:

• addresses current and future employment needs of communities
• demonstrated community support
• quality, innovative training and appropriate techniques that meet the needs of the participants
• linked to a strategic plan - e.g. business plan, community plan, organisational plan or training plan.

Training outcomes

By the time you have finished the training, the participants will have:

• increased or improved work skills
• better employment pathways or opportunities
• nationally recognised qualifications
• the knowledge and skills to work on community projects.

Who can apply

Your community organisation must be a registered business or an incorporated body.

You must also make sure that the people who receive the training can meet all the following criteria:

• are Aboriginal Territorians
• live in the NT
• are at least 17 years old.

How to apply

If your application is approved

A workforce development officer will contact you to let you know the next steps.

Your community or organisation can then contact the training organisation to arrange delivery of the training.

Workforce development officers may conduct community visits to monitor your training program.

The department will usually provide the payment for the training in two parts:

• 70% at the initial signing of the funding agreement
• 30% on completion of training on submission of evidence from the training organisation that training hours have been completed or as outlined in the terms and conditions of the funding agreement.

If your application is not approved

A workforce development officer will contact you to provide reasons for the decision and to discuss alternative options.