SMART AND SKILLED: NSW ACE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBLIGATION PROGRAM

1. SMART AND SKILLED: NSW ACE COMMUNITY SERVICE OBLIGATION PROGRAM STATE TRAINING SERVICES WWW.TRAINING.NSW.GOV.AU

2. INTRODUCTION • New program designed as part of Skills Reform in NSW • complements entitlement training under Smart and Skilled • assists members of regional and remote communities to access training • Some familiar ground from previous ACE programs but also key differences • Certain program features consistent across Smart and Skilled • Presentation provides overview of important differences

3. THE PROGRAM • Pathways program for disadvantaged learners provides pathways to entitlement • Provides part qualifications to eligible general members of regional and remote communities and Limited full qualification from an STS list (forthcoming) METROPOLITIAN PROVIDERS REGIONAL AND REMOTE PROVIDERS COMMUNITY ACCESS PATHWAYS TO ENTITLEMENT PATHWAYS TO ENTITLEMENT

4. WHAT CAN BE DELIVERED • Tighter parameters than previous ACE programs • Training underpinned by NSW Skills List • Foundation Skills - Part qualifications ACE CSO Program (Full qualifications delivered under S&S entitlement training NOT CSO) • CSWE – CSO program only • Non Accredited VET allowable capped at 20% of subsidised enrolments

5. WHAT CAN BE DELIVERED :

6. WHAT CAN BE DELIVERED :

7. CONFIRMING LEARNER ELIGIBILITY • Additional responsibilities in assessing student eligibility • Ensure student is a CSO pathway to entitlement student NOT an entitlement student • Disadvantaged student must be assessed to confirm barriers to accessing an entitlement. Barriers to entitlement training include: • Very low literacy, language and/or numeracy skill level which would impinge on successful completion of full qualification entitlement training • Limited employability skills where students require considerable additional supports • Persistent and ongoing personal issues impacting on educational achievement • Financial limitations in accessing childcare, transport and/or respite care which affects a student’s ability to participate in entitlement training

8. CONFIRMING LEARNER ELIGIBILITY • Where a student is a general member of a regional and remote community ensure Smart and Skilled entitlement cannot be effectively accessed • Information on learner eligibility is in Operating Guidelines and Evidence and Fee Guide • The ACE and PD Unit is preparing an eligibility checklist to ensure required evidence has been assessed

9. STUDENT FEES UNDER THE ACE CSO PROGRAM • Government and students will contribute to the cost of training. Students will contribute through fees. Students supported through ACE CSO funding must pay Smart and Skilled fees. • Eligibility for student exemptions and concessions are the same as for other Smart and Skilled programs* * Where CSO training is provided for disadvantaged young people as a result of a collaboration with schools then the school must pay the standard Smart and Skilled fee. This training will not be eligible for a concession or exemption. • Regional and remote students that are not identified as disadvantaged with specific barriers will pay the relevant Smart and Skilled student fee. If they are eligible for a concession they will pay the applicable Smart and Skilled concession for that qualification. • An ACE CSO calculator will provide details of fees for part-qualifications.

10. STUDENT FEES OVERVIEW A fee calculator is available to determine fees for part qualifications LEARNERS ON COMMONWEALTH PENSION OR BENEFIT DISAVDANTAGED LEARNERS NOT ON COMMONWEALTH PENSION OR BENEFIT CONCESSION FEE OR EXEMPTION (DEPENDING ON TARGET GROUP) STANDARD SMART AND SKILLED FEE GENERAL MEMEBERS OF REGIONAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES STANDARD SMART AND SKILLED FEE

11. THE APPLICATION • PART A Eligibility as an Approved ACE Provider • PART B Eligibility and Organisation Capacity Complete EITHER Smart and Skilled on-line application OR ACE CSO Application Part B • PART C Training Capacity • Where will you deliver the training ? • How many module/units can you deliver effectively (with appropriate completion rates) to disadvantaged and regional and rural students? • Make your case for any increased delivery for target groups compared with previous delivery. • PART D Support Capacity

12. ACE CSO APPLICATION TIMELINE • Sunday 31 August 2014 - Applications close • June-September - Pre-assessment • provider capacity ( training delivery history) • Approved ACE Provider eligibility (against constitutions etc) • Previous ACE Contract compliance, including financial viability • September 2014 - Application Assessment • Assessment panel including independent/s • October/November 2014 • Notification of outcome of application, funding levels and targets.

13. TRANSITION ISSUES All enrolments under the ACE CSO Program should commence on or after 1 January 2015. Any continuing enrolments from training funded under the 2014 ACE Program are separate to the ACE CSO Program commencing on 1 January 2015.

14. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • Smart and Skilled: NSW ACE Community Service Obligation Program Guidelines • ACE CSO Application Form • ACE CSO Fees and Evidence Guide All the documents can be found on the Netfirst site at ace.nsw.gov.au/netfirst • Please send all ACE CSO queries during the application period to acedesk@det.nsw.edu.au • Please send all Smart and Skilled Application queries to SmartandSkilled@det.nsw.edu.au • Refer to this website for more information on Smart and Skilled: www.training.nsw.gov.au/vet/skills_reform/index.html