Connecting Women to Trades grant program round two - Frequently Asked Questions

There were a number of questions regarding the eligibility of applicants for the Connecting Women to Trades grant program. The primary aim of the grant program is to progress women into trade training and employment. This may be achieved across partnerships with multiple organisations.

Community organisations, indigenous organisations and women's interest and advocacy groups are eligible to apply for funding. We expect these organisations to be classified under ANZSIC code ATO 95599 Other Interest Group Services.

GST registered businesses providing advocacy and support services for women are also eligible. The guidelines have been updated with these inclusions.

You do not need to deliver all five outputs and the delivery of accredited training is not required. We encourage the delivery of multiple outputs for the grant program.

Further grant rounds are not planned at this stage.

$500,000 is included in the $5 million for Connecting Women to Trades grant round two.

All trade occupations are in scope. All trade occupations that require the completion of an apprenticeship are eligible. The full list of the apprenticeship qualifications is on the NSW Skills List.

Trade occupations where women are underrepresented and experiencing skills shortages will be prioritised.

Please refer to Connecting Women to Trades qualifications and trades occupations list by priority. The latest National Skills Commission, Skills Priority List  will help you identify trade occupations in skills shortage.

There will be no extension to the application deadline.

School aged women can participate in projects but are excluded from participating in accredited training due to Smart and Skilled eligibility policy. Please review 6.3 Eligible participants in the grant guidelines.

No, the Connecting Women to Trades grant program funds organisations to deliver projects that align with the Women in Trades Strategy 2021-2024.

Grant funds can be used for non-accredited training. Costs associated with delivering accredited training are funded under the Smart and Skilled Policy.

No retrospective funding applies. Funding is for delivery of projects that occurs from February 2023 to April 2024.

Yes, however please note that this grant round has scaled up with additional funding and opportunities to expand project outputs. The assessment criteria and grant guidelines have changed, and project delivery is for an extended period allowing providers to deliver multiple iterations of project outputs if desired.

Projects should encourage participants to access services from Careers NSW. Projects must ensure that provision of careers information does not duplicate the service offerings of Careers NSW.

Organisations can submit multiple project proposals attached to one application through SmartyGrants.

Organisations should engage with Smart and Skilled RTOs to plan and deliver accredited training. For a list of approved Smart and Skilled Training Providers see the Course Finder.

If your application includes an RTO that is unsuccessful, we will support you to source another accredited training delivery arrangement.

If you are unable to secure a commitment of training places, please identify your preferred RTO delivery partner.

You do not need to be Smart and Skilled provider to be eligible to apply for the grant. However, the grant guidelines require the delivery of accredited training by a Smart and Skilled provider.

Hairdressing is recognised as a trade and is an eligible industry under the grant program. However, the scope of the Connecting Women to Trades grant program focuses on projects that develop skills in trades where women are underrepresented such as automotive, electrotechnology and construction; and/or in trade occupations experiencing skills shortages. Whilst hairdressing is recognised as an industry experiencing skills shortages, the scope of the grant program will prioritise proposals that address the underrepresentation of women in male dominated trades.

The Connecting Women to Trades grant program is targeted at supporting women to pursue a career in trades. The early childhood sector does not have a trade workforce. The scope of such proposal does not meet the aims and objectives of the grant program.