Overview

The Returning to Earning program extends and expands the highly successful Parents Returning to Work and addresses two priorities of the Victorian Government: supporting people back into training and work and broadening and deepening skills.

The program provides support to parents to return to work after an absence caring for children. Grants of up to $1000 are available which can be used to cover any costs associated with approved training such as books and materials, course fees, transport and childcare.

Participant Eligibility

The Universal Access Grants will support parents to return to work who:

• Have been absent from education, accredited training* and the workforce for over two years while caring for children; and,
• Are currently unemployed and wish to return to work, preferably in the next 12 months***; and
• Have not worked for more than 4 months full time, or equivalent part-time, in the last 2 years; and
• Are Australian residents living in Victoria**; and
• Will enrol in training to improve their workforce skills and/or earning potential; and
• Have not received a grant under the program Parents Returning to Work; or
• Were unable to activate their Parents Returning to Work grant due to unforseen circumstances.

* Accredited English Language training is an exception to this condition
** TPV holders are deemed as eligible residents
*** For the purposes of the Returning to Earning program, 'unemployed' is deemed to include paid employment for less than 6.5 hours per week.

The Grants

The grant can provide for:

• Course fees; or
• Payment of first year Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) fees for the first year of a university course; or
• First year Higher Education student contribution; or
• Child care to cover the parent’s attendance at training; and/or
• Broadband access where the participant is studying by remote access (distance learning); and/or
• Transport costs incurred to attend training where there is demonstrated need: and/or
• Course materials such as prescribed books and software required for the course or other prescribed tools and equipment required for the course; and/or
• Uniforms required for specific training e.g. hospitality uniform.

The grant is to be used to directly assist the parent to participate in training to return to the workforce.

Examples of activities that will not be funded include:

• Rent, utility bills and any other household or personal bills
• Medical bills
• Vehicle registration, running costs, traffic and parking infringements
• Car hire
• Health Club / Gym membership
• Capital expenditures
• Furniture and office equipment including desks, chairs, filing cabinets etc
• Mobile phones, cameras, computers and related equipment
• Stationery not specifically required as part of the course

Grant conditions

• Grants must be activated by enrolment in an appropriate, eligible course within 3 months of date of issue. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture.
• The grant is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
• Any unused entitlement will be forfeited at the end of 12 months.
• Only one grant can be used per person for the life of the program (including PRTW except for circumstances addressed under Grant Eligibility).

Training Providers

The grant activation depends on engagement by the participant in training provided by a registered training provider, including:

• TAFE Institutions;
• Registered Training Organisations – registered under the Victorian Qualifications Authority Act 2000 to deliver training and issue qualifications for nationally recognised training;
• ACE organisations – an ACE organisation is an organisation which is recognised by the appropriate Regional Council of Adult Community and Further Education (ACFE) a meeting the Guidelines and Conditions to Determine Eligibility of Adult Community Education Organisations.
• Universities (in relation to both short vocational orientated courses and other mainstream university education).

Training

Training under the program must be in courses that:

• Increase work-related skills;
• Improve future job and/or earning prospects; and/or
• Prepare the participant for re-entry to the workforce in the next 12 months.

Such courses may be industry specific or generic and in either a non-accredited short course or an accredited course, including module/s of an accredited course.

Providing that the participant is enrolling in appropriate training as described above, there is no requirement for funds to be spent primarily on course fees. It is envisaged that these grants be flexible to provide for the individual needs of parents in accordance with the approved training support costs listed above.

To Apply For a Grant

Grants will be available through this site.

On this site, Parents will be able to access an online application form that they will submit online. They will also need to down load a statutory declaration form that should be completed and submitted to the Program Administrator as directed.

The website also includes details regarding eligibility, application and claim processes and a list of training providers who are registered with the program.

The Program is administered by the Adult Multicultural Education Service (AMES) on behalf of the Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.

For more information regarding the program, please call the Returning to Earning Hotline on 1300 303 413.