New Incentives for Employing Apprentices from July 1

As promised in the recent Federal budget, commencing July 1 the Australian Government is offering further incentives to businesses when employing additional apprentices, doubling the available financial incentives from $4,000 to $8,000 for particular industries experiencing skills shortages.

The Additional Identified Skills Shortage (AISS) payment incentive is part of $156.3 million of the overall promised investment into the vocational education sector. The strategy is expected to encourage the uptake of 80,000 new apprentices into these identified industry roles over the next five years:

• Carpenters and Joiners
• Plumbers
• Hairdressers
• Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
• Bricklayers and Stonemasons
• Plasterers
• Bakers and Pastry cooks
• Vehicle Painters
• Wall and Floor Tilers
• Arborists

Under the AISS scheme, eligible apprentices will also receive a new incentive payment of $1,000 on completion of their first year and a further $1,000 on completion of their qualification.

Further support for small business in rural and regional areas

In addition, commencing July 1, the Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy trial will be expanded to phase two to help lower the cost of doing business for small business and help ensure young Australians in rural and regional areas have the opportunity to secure an apprenticeship.

Under the wage subsidy, payments will be made to employers of an estimated 1,630 eligible new worker Australian Apprentices undertaking a full-time apprenticeship at the Certificate III or IV level in an occupation listed on the National Skills Needs List in rural and regional areas.

The Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy provides support in the first three years of an Australian Apprenticeship, paying 75% of the first year’s award wage, 50% of the second year and 25% of the third years’ wage.

The Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy is based on the applicable minimum award wage rate, not the actual wage paid to the Australian Apprentice.

Managing Director of the Apprenticeship Community, Paul Miles, stated “We welcome the additional incentives offered to both employers and apprentices to encourage skills development and secure and viable career paths for Australian job seekers”.

“Business owners are encouraged to contact BUSY At Work for more information on employing an apprentice in their workplace and how they can access these incentives,” Paul further stated.

More information regarding apprenticeships and traineeships can be found on the Apprenticeship Community website.

To advertise an apprenticeship or traineeship opportunity or to search for opportunities, go to the Apprenticeship Central website.