About

The Sector Capability Analysis Project of Aboriginal Community Controlled (ACC) and First Nations Led/Owned (FNL/O) Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) (the Project) is a federal Department of Employment Workplace Relations (DEWR) funded initiative that is being delivered by the Coalition of Peaks under the National Skills Agreement (NSA).

This work will inform the commitment under Clause A100 of the NSA for the Commonwealth and state and territory governments to partner with First Nations organisations to scope the development of a Sector Strengthening Plan for the ACC and FNO RTO sector for Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council consideration.

The aim of the project is to achieve a robust understanding and breakdown of the ACC and FNO/L RTO sector’s operational needs to support First Nations student outcomes. The Coalition of Peaks is leading the Project to map the current sector footprint, assess operational and strategic capacity, and identify opportunities for strengthening the sector.

This analysis will include engagement with ACC and FNL/O RTOs and collection of data, to produce a report for submission to DEWR that will provide a national view of ACC & FNO/L RTOs sector challenges and opportunities and establish an evidence base to inform:

  • Better understanding and breakdown of the ACC, and FNO/L RTO sector’s operational needs to support First Nations Student outcomes, and

  • Cross-government roles and responsibilities in supporting the ACC and FNO/L RTO sector within the VET system.

The timeline

Nov 2025 – March 2026
Project Launch & Site Visits Conducted

Mar 2026
Data Analysis & Reporting

Jul 2026
Final Recommendations & Publication

How

The Coalition of Peaks has engaged the Human Services Skills Organisation (HSSO) to work with us on the project, which will be progressed in 2 phases:

    • This will involve the HSSO conducting site visits to a selection of ACC and FNO/L RTOs across jurisdictions, and virtual visits with the remainder of the ACC RTOs.

    • The project will analyse all ACC RTOs, either in-person or virtually, with a representative sample of FNL/O RTO chosen for site visits for comparative analysis and data analysis for all, to culminate in a holistic picture of the sector.

    • This will be coupled with desktop analysis, including analysis of NCVER and other data, to create an accurate picture of the operation of your RTO.

  • This will involve the HSSO conducting a strategic and operational analysis alongside Equity Economics conducting a social and economic impact study to measure the additional value of ACC and FNL/O RTOs based on their approach and provision of wrap-around services identifying:

    • The current state of sector, the ACC RTO and FNL/O led footprint and key themes across the sector, including current government funding and policies that have influenced sector growth and sustainability

    • Identifying the factors that distinguish ACC training delivery from mainstream

    • Identifying the targeted impact investment needed for long term sustainability and capacity building, and

    • Determining the funding and other supports required to sustain and strengthen the sector.

    • This includes determining the Social Return on Investment (SROI) of ACC and FNL/O RTO delivery.

A final report will be developed that will be shared with the and the Commonwealth and state and territory governments outlining the findings and providing recommendations for stabilising and growing the ACCRTO sector over the next 5 years.

Individual reports will also be produced for each ACC RTO to support their planning and work with governments and other partners to build their sustainability and growth and for each FNL/O RTO who receives a site visit.

Contact

Have questions about this project? Email us at one of the addresses below:

secretariat@coalitionofpeaks.org.au

projects@hsso.org.au