$3m fund to help NT businesses solve labour shortages

The $3 million fund will be overseen by the Territory Workforce Advisory Group, which was established in March 2022 and encourages collaboration on projects and activities that help attract and retain the skilled workforce.

Grants of up to $200,000 are available to consortiums on a 25:75 co-contribution basis.

This means the consortium will only have to contribute 25 per cent of the total work while the Flexible Workforce Solutions Fund covers 75 per cent of the total. The 25 per cent co-contribution for not-for-profit organisations can be in kind.

Eligible projects and activities could include seasonal workforce strategies, levering new technology or innovation or delivering direct, in-country worker recruitment services.

The seven-member Territory Workforce Advisory Group comprises territory business owners and industry leaders across aviation, construction, hospitality, human services, agriculture and ICT.

The advisory group is charged with providing strategic advice to government on industry needs and informing initiatives that will drive economic growth, alleviate workforce shortages and increase our skilled population.

Businesses and peak industry bodies can apply to participate in the fund via GrantsNT and as part of the registration process, proposed projects can also be submitted.

The Flexible Workforce Solutions Fund will operate over two funding rounds. The first round opens on 4 July 2022 and closes on 15 August 2022.