EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Guidelines made under subsection 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training
Subject: Higher Education Support Act 2003
Amendment No. 5 to the Other Grants Guidelines
Authority
Section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (the Act) provides that the Minister may make guidelines for the purposes of the Act. In particular, section 238-10 specifies that the Minister may make Other Grants Guidelines to give effect to matters set out in Part 2-2 of the Act.
Purpose and Effect
The purpose of these guidelines is to amend the Other Grants Guidelines to include chapter 2 – Grants to foster workplace productivity in higher education, from which grants to foster workplace reform in higher education may be paid.
In Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Ability, the Government announced the introduction of the Workplace Productivity Programme (WPP) to begin in 2006. The funding for the programme from 2006 to 2008 is $83.3 million ($27.2m in 2006, $27.8m in 2007, and $28.3m in 2008).
The Programme recognises that the key to Australia’s economic prosperity lies in creating efficient, flexible and innovative enterprises which are able to compete effectively. The purpose of the WPP is to encourage higher education providers to progress workplace reform that strengthens their capability to manage and implement workplace change. The programme is intended to encourage flexible working arrangements, direct relationships between employers and employees and improved productivity and performance.
All grants will be subject to the Minister’s approval (under section 41-20 of the Act) and the Minister’s determination in writing of the amount of grant and the conditions of the grant.
In each year the Allocation will be available for:
- meeting existing WPP funding commitments for projects continuing in the year;
- grants in response to submissions invited by the Department (a maximum of two rounds will be conducted per year); and
- grants in response to proposals outside the submission-based rounds referred to in 2.15.1(b) that address specific programme priorities set by the Minister from time to time.
Grants will be made only in response to proposals that are consistent with the objective of the programme and strategically address the programme priorities.
Programme grants may be made in respect of a project or in respect of a year.
Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent rounds.
Consultation
Following the release of a discussion paper on the Programme in July 2005, draft Guidelines and draft Administrative Information for Applicants and Grant Recipients were developed. These documents were circulated to the higher education sector, including the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association and universities, for comment in December and January 2006. Eleven responses were received, all of which were supportive of the Programme.
Commencement
The guidelines commence the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.