VIC Digital Jobs – AI Career Conversion Program

Up to 5 training vouchers per business each round, with one voucher per employee per round
100% of the course fee is paid directly to the training provider
More vouchers may be approved for regional businesses going through digital transformation, businesses upskilling under-represented groups such as women in tech, or businesses undergoing major structural change
Vouchers are valid for up to 6 months and must be used in the next available training round
Part of an $8.2 million program
Applications are open for scheduled training rounds while funding lasts

The Digital Jobs – AI Career Conversion Program gives Victorian businesses up to five fully funded vouchers per round to train staff in AI through courses and workshops run by Victorian universities and TAFEs. The government pays the full course fee directly to the training provider, so businesses don't pay for the training. Applications are open while funding lasts.

The program is run by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR). It was announced in January 2026 as part of the Victorian Government's AI Mission Statement, and builds on earlier Digital Jobs programs that have reskilled and upskilled more than 6,200 Victorians.

Key Requirements

Business requirements

Be an employing business operating in a key industry: advanced manufacturing and defence, health technologies and medical research, circular economy, digital technologies, or agribusiness
Be a legal entity operating in Victoria
Have held an ABN and been registered for GST since 1 January 2026
Have met all employer obligations under the National Employment Standards
For the 4 to 6 week courses, employ fewer than 200 staff in Victoria. One-day workshops have no business size limit

Employee requirements

Be employed directly by the business and work in Victoria
Be 18 or older and employed full time or part time, not casual
Work in a target occupation: data and analytics, software development, product management, UX design, web development, IT systems and solutions, digital marketing, media and communications, or business management, including legal, finance and HR
Have the skills to complete the course and meet any course prerequisites

Business commitments
Businesses must release staff for training, give them opportunities to use the new skills at work, and take part in program surveys and evaluation.

Caretaker period
The caretaker period starts at 6:00 pm on 3 November 2026, ahead of the Victorian election on 28 November 2026. The incoming government will decide whether to continue the program.

The full course list is in the Digital Jobs – AI Career Conversion Program Handbook.

What is eligible for funding?

Course fees for AI training run by Victorian universities and TAFEs, including:

Specialist AI skills courses: part-time online courses over 4 to 6 weeks
Intensive workshops: one-day, in-person sessions for leaders and workers

The course list is reviewed each round to match industry demand. Training runs in 2 to 3 rounds a year, starting with Round 1 in October 2026.

What isn’t funded
Vouchers can’t be used for casual employees, staff working outside Victoria, or employees outside the target occupations. Each voucher can only be used once, by the business it was issued to.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Victorian employing businesses in the key industries. Incorporated trustees can apply on behalf of a trust.

Individuals, sole traders without employees, partnerships, government bodies, publicly funded research institutions, industry associations, business chambers and community organisations can’t apply.

View other Victorian grants

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Non-competitive. Applications are assessed against the eligibility criteria in the order they are received, until funding is exhausted.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Because vouchers are issued in the order applications are received, a complete, eligible application lodged early gives you the best chance of securing places. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here.

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

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