Funding opportunities

The Australian Government and state and territory ministers have approved $15 million to implement the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), in 2010. Business activities are set out in the 2010 Framework Business Plan, which has been developed in the broader context of the 2008–2011 Framework Strategy.

Funding opportunities for RTOs, business and industry

The following table presents Framework funding opportunities for registered training organisations (RTOs), business and industry, to participate in business activities in 2010. More detail about specific business activity funding can be found by following the links within the table or by scrolling down this page.

Funding for successful applications will be announced according to timelines for individual business activities (see below), with outcomes to be reported in November–December 2010.

E-standards for Training

E-standards for Training researches, recommends and supports the implementation of technical standards to support e-learning in the vocational education and training (VET) sector.

The E-standards for Training’s Emerging Technology Trials are an important way of identifying and exploring new technologies requiring future standards support.

A maximum of $100,000 will be available for approximately five to six trials of emerging technologies and tools, for which applications should be based on guidelines released in March 2010. The maximum amount available to any single RTO is $20,000.

• Advertised: Applications will open 1 March 2010 
• Applications close: 31 March 2010
• Successful applicants notified: 26 April 2010
• Information and guidelines: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/e-standards

Contact: e-standards [at] flexiblelearning.net.au
 (Replace at with @ to use the email address above.)

E-portfolios

E-portfolios is working to establish a national standards-based approach to the use of e-portfolio technologies for managing learner information, between VET, other educational sectors and employment.

The E-portfolio’s Implementation Trials will investigate and identify the factors that contribute to the successful implementation of an e-portfolio system which supports learner transitions ie

• into VET through RPL (recognition of prior learning) or meeting minimum entry requirements (MER)
• through VET by supporting workplace training and assessment or fast tracking of qualifications
• out of VET into further education, employment, promotion or self employment.

A total of $25,000 will be available for three trials; with the maximum amount available to any single RTO being $9,000.  The funded amount will need to be matched by the successful RTO, however, this can be in kind ie staff time, use of organisational resources.

• Advertised: 24 March 2010
• Applications close:   21 April 2010
• Successful applicants notified: 14 May 2010
• Information and guidelines: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/eportfolios

Flexible Learning Toolboxes

In 2010, the Flexible Learning Toolbox (Toolbox) business activity will continue to expand the national collection of e-learning and assessment resources (Toolboxes), which directly support the implementation of industry training packages and meet state and territory e-learning priorities.

The Toolbox focus on modelling educational quality and the recent inclusion of online assessment and RPL tools will be retained. Older Toolbox material will be updated in skill priority areas to meet new training package requirements, technical standards and technology formats.

Current Toolbox developments are provided in two forms – as both an integrated program and as individual learning objects. Content from older Toolboxes will continue to be extracted in learning object form for inclusion in the Toolbox Repository.

In 2010, approximately $1,100,000 will be available for the development of approximately five Series 13 Toolboxes.

• Advertised: Campus Review - Tuesday 19 January 2010; The Australian - Wednesday 20 January 2010 and Wednesday 27 January 2010; The Weekend Australian - Saturday 30 January 2010
• Applications close:   16 February 2010
• Successful applicants notified: 5 March 2010
• Information and guidelines:  http://flexiblelearning.net.au/toolboxes

Contact: Harriet Wakelam 
Phone: (03) 9661 8714
Email: Harriet.Wakelam [at] eworks.edu.au
(Replace at with @ to use the email address above.)

E-learning Innovations

The E-learning Innovations business activity has been established to integrate and embed e-learning into the national training system by supporting and enabling innovation in training design and delivery.

Funding will be provided to RTOs to undertake activities that:

• support business-training provider partnerships that can drive the integration of e-learning into business and training
• empower learners through projects which target the needs of individuals in the community or existing and future students of the RTO.

Learners will benefit through an increase in pathways to employment and further education opportunities, including more control over the time, place and mode of learning.

Employers will benefit from innovations that are shaped to specific business needs which address skills shortages, apprentice retention, emerging markets and priority industry areas as identified in jurisdictional training plans.

The sector will benefit through investments in the local VET market that embed sustainable e-learning practices in workplaces and businesses, and stimulate demand for quality e-learning from individuals.

In 2010 a total of $5.3 million will be available in E-learning Innovations funding. The funds are offered as pro-rata allocations to states and territories as follows:

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT): $259,200
• New South Wales (NSW): $1,428,400
• Northern Territory (NT): $237,000
• Queensland (QLD): $925,200
• South Australia (SA): $481,200
• Tasmania (TAS): $288,800
• Victoria (VIC): $1,113,900
• Western Australia (WA): $566,300
• Total: $5,300,000

• Advertised: Guidelines and a working version of the application form will be available online from 18 January 2010. The online application process will be available from 1 February 2010.
• Applications close:  2 March 2010
• Successful applicants notified: From 26 March 2010
• Information and guidelines:  http://flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations 

Contact: Application forms will be loaded to your state and territory websites in the New Year: 

ACT // NT // NSW // QLD // SA // TAS // VIC // WA //

Industry Integration of E-learning

This business activity encourages selected industry sectors to develop long-term plans for the inclusion of e-learning in overall industry-led workforce development.

This will be achieved by direct funding of industry sectors through industry or professional associations or lead employers in partnership with other employers (business clusters) so they cover an industry sector. In all cases, there must be partnerships with RTOs and the project proposal will be based on a sound business case where there is an imperative to find an innovative solution.

A consultative approach directly engaging industry will be used so that new industry needs for e-learning can emerge. RTOs will have an important role to play in providing guidance on good e-learning design and ensuring that training meets national standards and utilises e-learning infrastructure. Resources developed must comply with national standards and wherever possible be made available through LORN

In 2010 one new industry sector will be selected to receive $75,000 funding.

• Advertised:    http://industry.flexiblelearning.net.au
  Direct email to Industry Skills Councils and previously unsuccessful industry sector applicants with guidelines 
• Applications close:    15 February 2010
• Successful applicant notified and must begin: by end February 2010
• Information and guidelines: http://industry.flexiblelearning.net.au

Contact: Jenny Dodd / Kerry Manikis
Phone: (02) 6207 4955 / (02) 6207 3267
Email: jenny.dodd [at]cit.act.edu.au / kerry.manikis [at] @cit.act.edu.au
(Replace at with @ to use the email addresses above.)

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