The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has taken a number of decisions to support the growth of the Australian workforce, and to ensure that workers displaced by structural change and by worsening economic conditions have access to retraining and renewed employment opportunities. The implementation of these decisions is worked out through arrangements between the Commonwealth Government and each state or territory government.

Productivity Places Program (PPP)

This is a national partnership for the delivery of training places, as part of the Commonwealth Government's Skilling Australia for the Future initiative. Victoria has agreed to deliver 138,000 productivity places over four years, and the delivery of these places will be incorporated into existing arrangements for the delivery of places under the new Victorian Training Guarantee.

Prior to full implementation of the Victorian Training Guarantee in 2011, a limited number of additional places (5,000 in 2009 and 10,000 in 2010) are to be provided by contracted private Registered Training Organisations. Places for 2009 have been allocated. 

Requests to deliver 2010 places will be issued later this year on the Skills Victoria Training System (SVTS) website.

Retrenched Workers Entitlement

COAG has agreed to a Compact with Retrenched Workers, arrangements that entitle retrenched workers over the age of 25 to a government subsidised place in a vocational qualification, subject to specified eligibility requirements. Arrangements will involve Job Services Australia (JSA) providers helping to identify training needs, and states and territories providing the training places.

Referral agencies – finding a suitable training provider

If you are an employment service provider or other agency referring clients to training providers under these or other initiatives, you will need to find registered training organisations that provide the right qualifications, and which are funded to provide places.

How do I find a suitable provider?

For current information about providers, including their contact details, locations, and range of programs, search the State Register on the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority website.

Which providers are contracted to provide government funded places?

You will need to refer clients to providers that are contracted to provide places. All TAFE institutes and universities with TAFE Divisions are contracted to provide places, as are a large number of private training organisations and adult and community education providers.

View the current list of funded training providers.

TAFE institutes and a number of private training organisations are able to offer training to eligible retrenched workers through to the end of 2009, with the range of private training organisations expected to progressively expand moving into 2010.

View the current list of providers funded to offer training to eligible retrenched workers.