Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Variable from a total pool of $86,500,000
- Application opened: 30 June 2025
- Application closes: 25 July 2025, 11:00 pm
Program objective
NSW Governments objective of the grant is to increase the local government workforce through the employment of apprentices (recruits) over 6 years commencing January 2026.
- This program will provide funding for wages and 15% of oncosts for the employment of additional apprentices
- 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
Who can apply
Local government organisations eligible for funding are defined to be either:
- a council,
- a county council,
- a joint organisation.
Who the grant is targeted towards
Eligible individuals interested in undertaking an apprenticeship at a local council in NSW.
Types of projects funded under this grant
- Apprenticeships
When the project can start and end
The project should be started by 1 January 2026 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2030.
What costs you can apply for
The NSW Government is funding 100 per cent of the applicable rate of pay for a new apprentice, specified in the Local Government (State) Award 2023 Clause 32C (Monetary Rates – Table 1 Clause 7 Rates of Pay), and 15 per cent of on-costs.
The funding is assigned to the individual recruit, not the position. Funding of wages is for the nominal term of the apprenticeship, unless completed early or in the event of the employment agreement being terminated before completion.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Not Applicable
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
Review the Fresh Start grant guidelines and the proposed amendments for round 3 on the OLG website.
Councils are expected to coordinate within their organisations to submit a single application for this program grant round.
Organisations will receive a confirmation of receipt email when their application has been submitted successfully.
Multiple positions can be applied for in one application. The application will ask a series of questions based on the application criteria, the responses to which will be used to assess eligibility and alignment with Program objectives.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
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 from the week commencing 25 August 2025 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 From the week commencing 25 August 2025
Support and contact
freshstart@olg.nsw.gov.au
02 4428 4100 (9:00am - 4:30pm)