Fresh Start Program - Round 2

Program objective

NSW Governments objectives of the grant are to increase the local government workforce through the employment of apprentices, trainees and cadets (recruits) over 6 years commencing January 2025.

• This program will provide funding for wages and 15% of oncosts for the employment of additional apprentices, trainees and cadets.
• Build capacity in councils and a stronger local government sector.
• Create positive social outcomes by generating local education, training and employment opportunities particularly targeting youth.
• Contribute to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

This program is administered by Office of Local Government.

Eligibility

What your application needs to include

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: Deputy Secretary, Office of Local Government

Assessments will be undertaken in accordance with the NSW Grants Administration Guide.

Initial assessment

The program team will check all applications for eligibility and undertake a preliminary assessment. As part of the initial assessment, TAFE NSW and Training Services will be consulted to ensure the availability of training.

Applicants may be requested to clarify or provide additional information to assist in the assessment process to determine eligibility.

Assessment Panel and Approvals

The Assessment Panel comprises of an independent Chair, and representatives from four key organisations with expertise in the funding objectives as follows:

• Chair – Independent, with deep knowledge and understanding of the local government sector
• Office of Local Government
• Training Services
• Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure – Aboriginal Strategy, Policy and Engagement

Appointments to the Panel, including staff appointments, will be confirmed with an independent probity advisor. Advice on the appropriateness and inclusiveness of the Panel members nominated may be referred by the independent probity officer to the OLG Deputy Secretary.

The Assessment Panel will assess eligible applications against the criteria and pre-established weightings, with the assistance of the program team, and make its recommendations to the program funding approver.

The OLG Deputy Secretary is the final decision maker (including for the approval of funding). The Deputy Secretary will ensure compliance with the Grants Administration Guide and these Guidelines (as approved by the Minister for Local Government and any variations by the Minister), in determining allocations.

Assessment criteria and weightings

The assessment will consider the organisation’s response to the key objectives and criteria listed in section 10 and the Assessment Panel will establish weightings against the assessment criteria:

• Meeting funding objectives
• Demonstrated need
• Capacity
• Inclusion, diversity and social outcomes.

Broader factors that may be considered

The Assessment Panel may need to consider limits on particular trades or in certain geographic locations to meet training providers and training networks availability.

Where the program is over-subscribed, if required, the Assessment Panel may consider

• previous funding under this program and councils’ commitments to the program
• enhancing the skilled career opportunities for people in rural, remote and regional areas
• ongoing employment
• apprenticeships, traineeships, and cadetships not previously offered by the organisation
• the 2022 Local Government Workforce Skills and Capability Survey
• occupations that are identified on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List
• the application of a relative disadvantage assessment based on the methodology used for Federal Assistance Grants.

The Assessment Panel reserves the right to set aside an application from further consideration where it does not meet a required standard on one or more of the criteria, should this be required.

Notification of outcome

OLG will notify successful applicants of their provisional approval within four weeks of the closing date to enable these organisations to proceed/finalise recruitment for the new roles. Once provisional approval is granted, final approval is guaranteed on notification of successful recruitment.

Organisations will then need to provide OLG with final information, including a copy of the Approved Training Contract for apprenticeships and traineeships, and a copy of the Training Plan for cadetships, for final approval and allocation of initial funds.

Anticipated assessment outcome date is 01/05/2025

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