Travel and accommodation assistance grants

Purpose of the travel and accommodation grant

The travel and accommodation assistance grant is designed to help trainees working in areas 100 kilometres or more away from the nearest Skills Matter-funded training programme.

The grant is intended to contribute to the travel and accommodation costs of attending the formal teaching component of the training programme.

The grant contributes to travel and accommodation costs, but is not intended to cover all costs. 

The funding is limited. Applying does not guarantee that your application will be accepted.

The travel and accommodation assistance grants are open to anyone who is:

• an eligible trainee enrolled in and attending a Skills Matter funded training programme
• employed in an area more than 100km from the training programme location.

Those students and organisations supporting students, will be invited to apply online from 1 June until 30 June 2017. The invitation is only for those who have previously expressed interest in, and are eligible for the travel and accommodation grant.

If you started your Skills Matter programme between 31 March 2017 and now, and meet the eligibility criteria outlined above, your application will be considered on a case by case basis. Please contact caroline.gordon@tepou.co.nz to discuss this further.

What is the timeline?

• The online Skills Matter grants portal will be open for applications from 1 June to 30 June, 2017.  We encourage you to submit your application early to ensure all your details are correct as we move to this new system.
• All the applications will be considered and decision made by the 31 July 2017. 
• If all the details are correct, we anticipate paying the grant to recipients in August, 2017.

What if your details aren’t correct? 

• Please contact us as soon as possible if there is any problem with your application by emailing us at info@tepou.co.nz or caroline.gordon@tepou.co.nz.  Alternatively you can call Caroline Gordon on  04 381 6474  or  027 230 1450.

How much is the grant? 

The grant amount is allocated by bands depending on how far you have to travel one way between your place of employment and the training programme.

In 2017 there will be four bands of grants based on distance travelled from a trainee’s workplace to the Skills Matter-funded training programme:

Band 1
     Distance between work place and training programme (one way): 100-300km
     Maximum indicative amount (estimate) per eligible trainee: up to $400

Band 2
     Distance between work place and training programme (one way): 301-500km
     Maximum indicative amount (estimate) per eligible trainee: up to $800

Band 3
     Distance between work place and training programme (one way): 501-800km
     Maximum indicative amount (estimate) per eligible trainee: up to $1,200

Band 4
     Distance between work place and training programme (one way): more than 800km
     Maximum indicative amount (estimate) per eligible trainee: up to $1,600

Estimates are provided above to give an indication of the maximum likely to be available for each grant band for 2017. Once all travel and accommodation grant applications have been received, Skills Matter will be able to confirm the maximum amount applicants can claim in each band. If you are studying part time, the above grant amounts will be allocated on a pro rata basis.

Do I need to keep receipts?

In the past, Te Pou required students to submit receipts to support their grant application. This year, we will no longer require this, as it will be a straight grant contribution towards your costs.