FLAG funding

$1,113,900 funding for e-learning innovation in Victoria
Victorian registered training organisations (RTOs) can apply for a share of $1,113,900 in funding to develop innovative e-learning solutions and better support the training needs of Victorian business and industry.
E-learning Innovations funding and support, provided by the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), will be awarded to RTOs based on their ability to:
support business-training provider partnerships that can drive the integration of e-learning into business and training
empower learners through projects which target the needs of individuals in the community or existing and future students of the RTO.

Projects that target specific regional training priorities are encouraged to apply.

Projects will also be selected on their capacity to address Victorian skills shortage areas, such as the property and construction, health and community services, education, agriculture and manufacturing industries.

Applicants are encouraged to build on existing Framework e-learning infrastructure when developing e-learning solutions, including Flexible Learning Toolbox (Toolbox) learning objects, e-standards, resources, guidelines and professional networks.

Victoria’s funding is part of the $5.3 million allocated to E-learning Innovations nationwide in 2010. Funding is provided on a pro-rata basis to each state and territory to encourage the development of flexible training solutions that equip RTOs, business and industry to respond to the training needs of Australian businesses and workers.

In 2008 and 2009, 68 Victorian projects were supported by the Framework to embed innovative e-learning solutions, including:
Box Hill Institute: Virtual hospital simulates healthcare training
Box Hill Institute used E-learning Innovations funding to create a Virtual Learning Hospital using simulated training scenarios to help meet professional development needs and improve service delivery levels in the healthcare industry.
The project – which won a major Victorian e-learning award – identified a need for a blended learning delivery platform that was inexpensive, scalable and customisable for use across the entire sector. The virtual hospital incorporated a rich mix of video, audio, 3D and scenario based learning and provided learners with much needed flexibility and accessibility. This allowed them to learn at their own paace, in their own timeframe and using their preferred learning style.
Goal Training and Development: Mobile learning for hospitality workers
Victorian RTO Goal Training and Development created an innovative content management system for use on a PDA (personal digital assistant). The project provided learners with a mobile device loaded with a range of site-specific and current multimedia resources, including text, images, audio, video, assessment activities, captioning and sign language.
The project enabled learners in the hospitality industry to access flexible training that catered to their individual learning style. Employers and training providers benefited from flexible training that was easy to customise and update, as well as reduced training delivery costs including trainer fees, employees wages during training and travel costs.
Refer to the Victorian E-learning Innovations Team Profiles to access information on all past projects.
Online applications open 1 February 2010, and a Word version of the application form is currently available to use as a working document in preparation for completing the online application. Applications close on Tuesday 2 March 2010 and the successful applicants will be notified from Friday 26 March.
All applicants are encouraged to contact the Framework’s Victorian Innovations Coordinator, Howard Errey, by phone: (03) 9661 8710 or email: howard.errey@eworks.edu.au to discuss project ideas.
For more information, read the 2010 Victorian E-learning Innovations Guidelines for Applicants (please note, you will need to register in order to view this page).
A number of free information sessions for people interested in Victorian E-learning Innovations funding will be held during the week beginning 1 February 2010:
- Monday 1 February, 12:00pm–1:30pm
GOTAFE, 57 Samaria Rd, Benalla

- Wednesday 3 Feb 11:00am–12:30pm
Mt Helen Campus, University Drive, Ballarat

- Friday 5 February, 10:00am–11:30am
William Angliss Centre, 555 La Trobe Street, Melbourne

An Elluminate session will also be held on Monday 8 February 2:00pm–3:00pm. For more information, visit the Victorian E-learning Innovations page.