Australian Flexible Learning Framework 2009 funding opportunities
The Australian Government and state and territory ministers have approved $15 million to implement the national training system's
e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), in 2009. Business activities are set out in the
2009 Framework Business Plan, which has been developed in the broader context of the 2008-2011 Framework Strategy.
The following table presents Framework funding opportunities for registered training organisations (RTOs), business and industry
to participate in business activities in 2009. More detail about specific business activity funding can be found by following
the links within the table.
| 2009 business activities | Funding available | Amount |
|---|---|---|
|
Program 1: Leadership
|
||
|
YES
|
$100,000
|
|
|
LORN (Learning Object Repository Network)
|
NO
|
N/A
|
|
YES
|
$1,070,000
|
|
|
Benchmarking and Research |
NO |
N/A |
|
Access to E-learning Knowledge and Know-how |
NO |
N/A |
|
Brand Management |
NO |
N/A |
|
Program 2: Innovation
|
||
|
Industry Integration of E-learning |
YES |
$375,000 |
|
YES |
$5,300,000 |
|
|
Total
|
$7,095,000
|
|
Funding for successful applications will be announced according to timelines for individual business activities (see below), with outcomes to be reported in November-December 2009.
E-standards for Training
E-standards for Training researches, recommends and supports the implementation of technical standards to support e-learning
in the VET sector.
The E-standards Emerging Technology Trials are an important way of identifying and exploring new technologies requiring future
standards support. In 2009, E-standards for Training is increasing the funding available for RTOs to conduct emerging technology
trials.
A maximum of $100,000 will be available for approximately five to six trials of emerging technologies and tools, for which
applications should be based on guidelines released in March 2009. The maximum amount available to any single RTO is $20,000.
|
Advertised:
|
27 February 2009 |
|---|---|
|
Applications close:
|
31 March 2009 |
|
Successful applicants notified:
|
24 April 2009 |
|
Information and guidelines:
|
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/e-standards |
|
Contact:
|
Owen O'Neill / Simon Lismann |
|
Phone:
|
(03) 9661 8711 / (03) 9661 8751 |
|
Email:
|
owen.oneill@eworks.edu.au / simon.lismann@eworks.edu.au |
Flexible Learning Toolboxes
In 2009, the Flexible Learning Toolbox business activity will continue to expand the national collection of learning and assessment
resources (Toolboxes), which directly support the implementation of industry training packages and meet state and territory
e-learning priorities.
The Toolbox focus on modelling educational quality and the recent inclusion of online assessment and RPL tools will be retained.
Older Toolbox material will be updated in skill priority areas to meet new training package requirements, technical standards
and technology formats.
Current Toolbox developments are provided in two forms - as both an integrated program and as individual learning objects.
Content from older Toolboxes will continue to be extracted in learning object form for inclusion in the Toolbox Learning Object
Repository (Toolbox Repository).
Building on recent work with The Learning Federation, this business activity will continue to monitor and work with the school
sector in resource development.
In 2009, approximately $1,070,000 will be available for the development of approximately five Series 12 Toolboxes.
|
Advertised:
|
The Australian Wednesday 21 January 2009 Wednesday 28 January 2009 The Weekend Australian Saturday 31 January 2009 Campus Review Tuesday 20 January 2009 |
|---|---|
|
Applications close:
|
17 February 2009 |
|
Successful applicants notified:
|
5 March 2009 |
|
Information and guidelines:
|
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/toolboxes |
|
Contact:
|
Linda Stannard |
|
Phone:
|
Phone: (03) 9661 8723 |
|
Email:
|
Email: linda.stannard@eworks.edu.au |
E-learning Innovations
The E-learning Innovations business activity integrates and embeds e-learning into the national training system by supporting
and enabling innovation in training design and delivery.
In 2009 innovations will be driven by the needs of clients for support and assistance in implementing e-learning, and funding
will be provided to support activities that:
- invest strategically in business-training provider partnerships that address a genuine business case for e-learning
- support RTOs to tailor their services to a more diverse range of learner needs through the implementation of innovative e-learning practices.
National guidelines will ensure that funded innovations achieve a number of the Framework's strategic intentions. Funding
will be dispersed to projects through contestable processes run by the states and territories (see table below).
Projects funded under the business activity will support the needs of individual learners, stimulate the demand for e-learning
solutions and increase partnerships between businesses and training providers utilising e-learning to increase workplace performance.
Training providers will better meet the needs of learners and businesses with innovative, tailored e-learning solutions.
Recipients will be expected to engage with the national e-learning infrastructure such as e-standards, resources, guidelines
and professional networks when framing their e-learning solutions. Projects will also be required to commit to returning benefit
to the national training system, eg participating in trialling new technologies/infrastructure, adapting existing resources
or developing new resources specifically for individual business clients, disseminating and promoting knowledge through professional
networks and communities of practice and/or promoting the Framework objectives and brand.
In 2009 a total of $5.3m is available in E-learning Innovations funding. The funds are offered as pro-rata allocations to
states and territories as follows:
|
State/Territory
|
Funding allocated for E-learning Innovations
|
|---|---|
|
Australian Capital Territory |
$259,200 |
|
New South Wales |
$1,428,400 |
|
Northern Territory |
$237,000 |
|
Queensland |
$925,200 |
|
South Australia |
$481,200 |
|
Tasmania |
$288,800 |
|
Victoria |
$1,113,900 |
| Western Australia |
$566,300 |
|
Total: |
$5,300,000
|
|
Advertised:
|
Campus Review Tuesday 3 February 2009 The Weekend Australian Saturday 7 February 2009 |
|---|---|
|
Applications close:
|
5 March 2009 |
|
Successful applicants notified:
|
27 March 2009 |
|
Information and guidelines:
|
http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations |
|
Contact:
|
Click on your state or territory link below: * Australian Capital Territory (ACT)* New South Wales (NSW) * Northern Territory (NT) * Queensland (QLD) * South Australia (SA) * Tasmania (TAS) * Victoria (VIC) * Western Australia (WA) |
Industry Integration of E-learning
This business activity encourages selected industry sectors to develop long-term plans for the inclusion of e-learning in
overall industry-led workforce development.
This will be achieved by direct funding of industry sectors through industry or professional associations or lead employers
in partnership with other employers (business clusters) so they cover an industry sector. In all cases, there must be partnerships
with RTOs and the project proposal will be based on a sound business case where there is an imperative to find an innovative
solution.
A consultative approach directly engaging industry will be used so that new industry needs for e-learning can emerge. RTOs
will have an important role to play in providing guidance on good e-learning design and ensuring that training meets national
standards and utilises e-learning infrastructure. Resources developed must comply with national standards and wherever possible
be made available through LORN (Learning Object Repository Network).
In 2009, at least $375,000 will be available to fund NEW industry sectors at $75,000 each for stage one Industry Integration
of E-learning activities. In addition, $250,000 will be available to fund five industry sectors in phase two of development
of a three-year strategic plan for the integration of e-learning.
|
Advertised:
|
http://industry.flexiblelearning.net.au Flex e-News |
|---|---|
|
Applications close:
|
1 April 2009 |
|
Successful applicants notified:
|
Mid May 2009 |
|
Information and guidelines:
|
http://industry.flexiblelearning.net.au |
|
Contact:
|
Jenny Dodd / Kerry Manikis |
