Work Skills Vouchers

IIFP has been approved by DEST to participate in the Australian Skills Voucher Programme, and are able to offer all Certificate II courses/qualifications within our scope for Work Skills Vouchers.


Probably by now you have heard about the $837 million Skills for the Future package that the Prime Minister announced on the 12 of October 2006 www.pm.gov.au

These incentives will commence from the 1st of January 2007 but are limited, so plan your training and staff development needs NOW!! or the funds will disappear along with your opportunities.

Overview
From 1 January 2007, Work Skills Vouchers worth up to $3000 will be available to interested Australians aged 25 and over who do not have Year 12 or a Certificate II level qualification.

The vouchers will improve the basic skills of Australians currently in the workforce or looking for work who have no formal qualifications.

Improvements in basic skills will help people who are already in employment to move into higher level positions and assist those who are looking for work to find jobs.


Am I eligible? Australians aged 25 years and over without Certificate II qualifications are eligible to apply for a Work Skills Voucher. Priority will be given to applicants in the following order:

• unskilled workers wishing to acquire qualifications;
• income support recipients, such as parents and carers returning to the workforce, who will face active job search requirements in the next two years;
• unemployed job seekers in receipt of income support and participating in the Job Network who are undertaking active job search; and
• people not in the labour force, either voluntarily or because of carer responsibilities, who intend to seek work after achieving their qualification.

What training can I use my voucher for?
The vouchers can be used in Independent Institute IIFP for the following vocational Certificate II courses:

• Certificate II in Food Processing;
• Certificate II in Food Processing (Sales);
• Certificate II in Meat Processing (Abattoirs);
• Certificate II in Meat Processing (Smallgoods);
• Certificate II in Meat Processing (Meat Retail);
• Certificate II in Meat Processing (Food Service);
• Certificate II in Irrigation
• Certificate II in Agriculture
• Certificate II in Rural Operations
• Certificate II in Retail Operations
• Certificate II in Production Horticulture

Vouchers may not be used to pay for Australian Apprenticeship training (ie apprenticeships or traineeships). However, upon completion of Year 12 or Certificate II training under the Work Skills Voucher programme an individual may wish to undertake an Australian Apprenticeship to further enhance their skills.


How do I apply?
To obtain a voucher you will need to:

1. choose the qualification you want to achieve
2. contact IIFP to enroll in the course. We will check your eligibility for the voucher and inform DEST of the course you have chosen;
3. DEST will then mail you a voucher for the cost of the course you have enrolled in; and
4. present the voucher to the Registered Training Organisation – IIFP when you start your course, and this will cover your enrolment costs (to a maximum of $3000).

There are up to 30,000 vouchers available each year. If you contact us to enroll in a course after all the vouchers have been issued, we will be able to help you enroll in a course when more vouchers become available.

Contact us: For more information or to enroll, phone IIFP on: (08) 8389 3357 or email
customerservice@iifp.sa.edu.au
Or for general information, visit the web site:
http://www.skillsforthefuture.gov.au