A new tender process announced today will address workforce skills needs and help build national productivity.

Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham said the Industry
Skills Fund (ISF) Skills Adviser Tender will select organisations to provide expert industry professionals who will form a national network of skills advisers.

“We want organisations that can provide skills advice to Australian businesses so they can respond to new opportunities and compete strongly in the global market,” Senator Birmingham said.

“The ISF Skills Adviser Network will work with small to medium business to pursue growth opportunities and help them identify skills to boost their workforce and overall productivity.

“This includes the identification of skills gaps, to better position these businesses to diversify into new markets, adopt new technologies, enter export markets and create more jobs.

“We know that to keep Australian businesses globally competitive, they need more Australians with higher technical skills, and that is why we are taking action.

“The ISF offers up to 200,000 targeted training places and support services. The tender process announced today is an important milestone in this process of better positioning small to medium business to compete globally.

“The Skills Adviser Tender is part of the Australian Government’s $476 million Industry Skills Fund, a key component of our Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda,” Senator Birmingham said.

Information sessions for tenderers will be conducted in Sydney on 9 April 2015 and Canberra
on 10 April 2015. To register for these information sessions, you can email ISFATender@education.gov.au with your full name and details of your organisation. 

The ISF Skills Adviser Tender will remain open until 10:00 am on 23 April 2015. To register for the tender and find out more, visit AusTender at www.tenders.gov.au