$2.65 million funding for e-learning innovation across australia

Australian registered training organisations (RTOs) can apply for a share of $2.65 million in funding and support to develop innovative e-learning solutions that empower learners and better meet the training needs of business.

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework) is allocating 2011 E-learning Innovations funding on a pro-rata basis to each state and territory.

This follows yesterday’s announcement that the Framework has received the go ahead for its activities until the end of June 2011, opening up new opportunities for Australian RTOs, business and industry to embed e-learning as a key aspect of their business strategy and tailor training to meet learners’ needs.

The six month allocation will bring the Framework funding cycle in line with other funding arrangements under the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), which are based on a financial year calendar.

2011 E-learning Innovations funding opportunities will be available from August 2010, reflecting this shift to a financial year Framework funding cycle. Funding and support will be awarded to RTOs based on their capacity to: 

• support business-training provider partnerships that can drive the integration of e-learning into business and training 
• develop innovative e-learning practices that target the needs of a more diverse range of learners.

Applicants should also demonstrate how their projects will support their respective state/territory vocational education and training (VET) priorities.

Funding processes will differ according to state and territory. Visit your state/territory page for: 

• state/territory specific application guidelines (including state/territory priorities)
• the funding application form
• updates on free public information sessions in your state/territory
• contact details for your state/territory Innovations Coordinator to discuss project ideas.

To assist you in applying for funding, an online information session will be held: 

Date:               Thursday 9 September 2010

Time:               12:30pm-1:30pm AEST

Location:         http://tinyurl.com/egems-2011innovations 

Registration is not required. Participants must have access to internet, headphones and a microphone and have installed and configured the Elluminate web conferencing software beforehand.

The funding allocation for each state and territory is as follows: 

• Australian Capital Territory $129,600
• New South Wales $714,200
• Northern Territory $118,500
• Queensland $462,600
• South Australia $240,600
• Tasmania $144,400
• Victoria $556,950
• Western Australia $283,150

Since 2008, the Framework has provided funding, resources and support to almost 450 E-learning Innovationsprojects. A selection of these projects include:

e-Orientation: Major hotelier eases its training burden

Tasmania’s largest private sector employer, the Federal Group, partnered with GlobalNet ICT to develop e-Orientation, a high quality and dynamic online orientation training and assessment program. The program was developed to address the challenges involved in the retention and training of its remote, geographically dispersed and seasonally-based workforce.

Providing tailored orientation information for each group’s tourism and hospitality business online, e-Orientation significantly reduces the need for costly face-to-face orientation programs and enables the company to more effectively train and re-train employees.

Connecting Communities: Inspiring Indigenous economic participation

New South Wales based Kiama Community College worked with Boolarng Nangamai art studio to help Indigenous artists take their art and culture online. The project gave talented Indigenous artists the technical skills required to reach potential markets. It provided commercial viability for the studio and for the artists, allowing them to sustain their culture and earn a livelihood at the same time.

Virtual hospital simulates healthcare training

Box Hill Institute in Victoria created an award-winning Virtual Learning Hospital to help meet professional development needs and improve service delivery levels in the healthcare industry. The blended learning delivery platform allows learners to learn at their own pace, in their own timeframe and with their preferred learning style. The project inexpensive and is scalable and customisable for use across the entire sector using simulated training scenarios.

Searchable profiles of all E-learning Innovations projects can be accessed at: http://flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations/teamprofiles