The Australian Government announced in the 2021-22 Budget that funding of up to $50 million ($12.5 million per year) will be made available under the National Priority Fund over four years from 2021-2025. The fund will complement the expansion and extension of Workforce Australia Local Jobs and help support Australia's economic and social recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funding will be available for innovative initiatives that complement job creation and/or address structural and other barriers to the attraction, recruitment and retention of Australian individuals.
Stage One: Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) – 2021
The REOI has now closed. Assessment of the REOI is now complete, with outcome letters sent to REOI respondents.
Shortlisted REOI respondents were invited to submit a response to a Request for Tender (RFT).
A number of REOI responses remain under active consideration, and further invitations to respond to an RFT may be issued. Responses submitted through the REOI process were considered for invitation to tender until 16 August 2022.
Stage Two: Requests for Tender (RFT) – 2022
Participation is by invitation only, with shortlisted REOI respondents invited to tender under a limited tender approach.
- The first RFT closed in mid-February. Assessment is currently underway, with outcomes expected to be advised in late March.
- The second RFT closed on 24 March 2022.
Any queries can be directed to localjobspurchasing@dewr.gov.au
