Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants

This page has information about Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants funding for regional and remote communities to train workers for projects in the community.

Training can either be accredited or non-accredited.

Read more about how vocational education and training (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.

Training outcomes

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

  • increased or improved work skills
  • better employment pathways or opportunities
  • nationally recognised qualifications.

Costs 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 an employer either full-time for 3 months, 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.

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

The proposed training will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to work on community projects.

The proposed 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 - eg. business plan, community plan, organisational plan or training plan.

To apply, follow these steps.

Step 1. Read the guidelines

Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants guidelines PDF (610.7 KB)
Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants guidelines DOCX (178.9 KB)

Step 2. Fill in application

Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants application PDF (634.8 KB)
Aboriginal Responsive Skilling Grants application DOCX (67.1 KB)

Step 3. Submit application

Submit your application to your nearest workforce development officer. They can also:

  • provide you with more information
  • help with your application
  • follow up training needs identified during community visits by other organisations, such as:
    • government agencies
    • training organisations
    • industry bodies.

The department encourages communities to develop applications that will cover their training needs over a 6 or 12-month period.

Successful applications

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.

Unsuccessful applications​

If your application is not approved, a workforce development officer will contact you to provide reasons for the decision and to discuss alternative options.


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