Industry and Indigenous Skill Centre program

The Industry and Indigenous Skill Centre program (IISC) is a Commonwealth Government funded program that provides capital infrastructure funding for training and skills centre development through two program funding streams - Industry Skills Centres (ISC) and VET Infrastructure for Indigenous People (VIIP). The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) fund the national program on a financial year basis to the value of $11 million with matching industry contribution for ISC applications. The primary purpose is to fund “minor capital costs” incurred in building, refurbishing or expanding existing facilities to deliver accredited Vocational Education and Training (VET). The funds may also be used to purchase mobile training units and other capital training resources that directly lead to the delivery of identified Industry/Community VET skills and training requirements. Applicants are expected to be “not-for-profit” incorporated industry or community organisations.

Funding is approved on a nationally competitive basis to expand training through industry standard training facilities and equipment to non public providers into areas of innovation and skills shortages. Proposals may focus on industry and community demand areas but not limited to:

• delivery of a broader scope of training e.g. the use of simulation
• focus on emerging technologies within the specific industry and deliver training to ensure an adequate pool of labour and skills
• green economy issues
• impacts of climate change within the specific industry sector.
   

A key objective of the program is to improve employment opportunities and the capacity to deliver effective employment-related training through leveraging support and funding from industry contributions to successful applicants. The program also supports the goals of the “Skills Strategy for South Australia’s Future” by increasing employment and VET participation, labour productivity and a skilled workforce to meet changing market needs. The expected outcomes of the program are also strongly aligned to key Commonwealth employment strategies and complements current national policy direction though initiatives such as employee retention, employee re-engagement, ongoing support for entry into the labour force and employee up-skilling and re-skilling.

Applications are evaluated, endorsed and prioritised at state level against national and state identified needs for skills through independent State Evaluation and Prioritisation Panels.  In particular, state skills are prioritised in accordance with key skills demanded identified in the Training and Skills Commission’s 5-year plan ‘Skills for Jobs’ and in compliance with the requirements of the Commonwealth program guidelines.

The Industry Services Unit, Industry Skills Development Directorate, Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) manage the program, and further information on the program can be obtained from the Program Leader through the following contact details:

Email dfeestiisc@sa.gov.au

Phone 8463 5533 or 8226 3433