The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the Department) has commenced the process to establish the Indigenous Centre of Vocational Excellence (ICOVE) via a grants process.
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What is the ICOVE?
The ICOVE will operate as an alternative model to a First Nations skills peak and perform the role of a national, evidence-informed best practice VET hub to create and promote high quality, culturally responsive training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students that have strong pathways to employment outcomes.
As the Skills Peak alternative, the ICOVE will partner with governments in the formation of the VET Policy Partnership and support its operations.
A First Nations Registered Training Organisation (RTO) will host the ICOVE built around four key pillars of: innovation; capacity building; policy and advocacy; and research and data.
What is the ICOVE grants process?
The anticipated ICOVE grant opportunity will select an eligible Aboriginal Community Controlled or First Nations Led/Owned RTO to commence the design and operations of the ICOVE. Coolamon Advisors are supporting the Department with the process.
In November, the Department and Coolamon Advisors held three public information sessions regarding the ICOVE grant opportunity. All sessions were the same and covered the same material.
Please see the presentation slides
The information presented was accurate at the time and is subject to change prior to the formal release of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines via GrantConnect.
The ICOVE grant guidelines are in the final stages of design and when finalised, are expected to be published on GrantConnect in early December 2025. Prior to submitting an application, applicants should download, read and respond to the formal Grant Opportunity Guidelines
Please note: To comply with Commonwealth probity guidelines, all information sessions contained the same information and were not open to questions. The Australian Government will make sure that the grant opportunity process is fair, according to the published guidelines, incorporates appropriate safeguards against fraud, unlawful activities and other inappropriate conduct and is consistent with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles.
Questions?
Please send any questions to firstnationspartnerships@dewr.gov.au.