Name: Department of State Development
Price range: $

Partnering with organisations in the Upper Spencer Gulf to support the region's future workforce

As an initiative of the Spencer Gulf Jobs and Skills Hub, the Department of State Development now welcomes eligible businesses and organisations to apply for project funding through the Regional and Industry Partnerships Program.

Funding is available to support workforce development projects across the Upper Spencer Gulf that:

Connect workers with employment: creating opportunities to connect workers and job seekers with employment, including supporting workers who have lost their jobs at the Whyalla Steelworks, mines or in the supply chain into new roles.

Improve workforce outcomes for disengaged and disadvantaged people: ensuring everyone benefits from the growth and new opportunities in the region, with a particular focus on supporting long-term unemployed, Aboriginal people, and young people in the region.

Build the workforce in priority sectors: supporting workforce planning and development to ensure the region and its workforce is ready and has the right skills to take advantage of opportunities in mining, green iron, steelmaking, construction, manufacturing and renewable energy, and respond to growth in sectors such as health care and social assistance.

Examples of workforce development projects in scope include job matching services; workforce and employment events; the creation of entry-level career opportunities like internships, cadetships and scholarships; non-accredited training and skill development, programs that support participants’ readiness for work, workforce planning, and more.

Read the full guidelines

More about this program

About the Regional and Industry Partnerships Program

This program is designed to fund place-based and place-focused solutions to workforce opportunities and challenges in the region, driven by regional employers and key organisations or networks in partnership with the South Australian Government.

Total grant funding of up to $2 million is available for round one of the Regional and Industry Partnerships Program, open until 28 November 2025.

Applications can be made throughout this period and will be assessed on a monthly basis.

DSD may also work directly with some industry sectors, businesses and regional stakeholders to deliver strategic projects, particularly where it responds to a specific issue, priority or service gap. In these cases, the Manager, Spencer Gulf Workforce will support stakeholders in the region to connect with the program.

Eligibility criteria for applicants

Applications will be considered from organisations that are a legal entity established in Australia, have their principal place of business registered at a place within the Upper Spencer Gulf region and hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN).

This can include:

South Australian businesses

Industry bodies

Not-for-profit organisations

Aboriginal corporations

Regional development authorities.

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and state and local government agencies are not eligible to apply for funding directly, however, are encouraged to partner with business and industry to develop proposals and support delivery.

This is an initiative of the Spencer Gulf Jobs and Skills Hub

The Regional and Industry Partnerships Program is an initiative of the Spencer Gulf Jobs and Skills Hub. Successful applicants will deliver their solutions as part of the broader suite of services available through the Hub.

Go to Spencer Gulf Jobs and Skills Hub

Download the full Program Guidelines

More information about the Regional and Industry Partnerships Program including program specifications, how to apply, and assessment criteria can be found in the Program Guidelines.

View Program Guidelines

Complete an Expression of Interest to start an application

If your organisation is interested in applying for the Regional and Industry Partnerships Program, please complete an initial Expression of Interest form which will be assessed by the Department of State Development. Once completed, a member of our team will contact you directly.

Contact us for assistance

If you have any questions about the Regional and Industry Partnerships Program, please contact the Department of State Development.

Email whyalla.support@sa.gov.au

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