Australian Technical Colleges were purpose built and established as new stand alone schools to deliver technical and trade training to Year 11 and 12 students.
The scope of the Trade Training Centres in Schools Program is broader as it is designed to assist existing schools to build new or upgrade existing facilities to encourage greater participation in vocational education and training for Years 9, 10, 11 and 12. Schools will also be encouraged to establish partnerships with other schools or training providers to maximise opportunities for students to access trade and vocational training.
Applications for funding can be made by a secondary school with Year 11 and 12 enrolments that:
- attracts Commonwealth general recurrent grants funding under the Schools Assistance (Learning Together – Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004 (the Act) legislation;
- is delivering a level of secondary education as determined by the Minister under the Act; and
- meets financial and educational accountability requirements of Commonwealth and State legislation.
A secondary school that enrols students to Year 10 cannot apply as an individual school, but can apply as part of a consortium, where articulation arrangements with senior secondary schools enrolling students to Year 12 exist and where pathways to qualification attainment can be demonstrated as part of the application.
In exceptional circumstances, a secondary school with enrolments only to Year 10 in a remote location can apply for funding in a consortium with a Registered Training Organisation, without the involvement of a senior secondary school. Approval in writing should be sought from DEEWR in these circumstances, prior to submitting the application.
Please refer to 3.1.1 of the Program Guidelines for more information.
In the initial stages of the Program, funding will be prioritised to secondary schools with the greatest need for and capacity to benefit from a new or upgraded Trade Training Centre. Final decisions will also be dependent on the quality of applications.
When preparing applications, schools are encouraged to refer to Section 1.3 of the Program Guidelines, which provide detailed information about the Program’s priorities.