Australian Apprenticeships Incentives

The objective of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme is to contribute to the development of a highly skilled and relevant Australian workforce that supports economic sustainability and competitiveness.

This is achieved by:

·         providing genuine opportunities for skills-based training and development of employees by providing incentives to employers who employ eligible Australian Apprentices; and

·         encouraging people to enter into skills-based training through an Australian Apprenticeship by providing personal benefits.

The Programme contains a range of employer incentives and personal benefits which are detailed below.

Payment of incentives and personal benefits is subject to employers and Australian Apprentices satisfying eligibility criteria as set out in the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme Guidelines.

Incentives

Employer incentives

There are a number of incentives currently available to eligible employers of Australian Apprentices. Each incentive payment has a number of eligibility criteria that will be assessed by an Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

Current incentives:

·         Commencement incentives

·         Recommencement incentives

·         Completion incentives

·         Rural and Regional Skills Shortage Incentive

·         Declared Drought Area Incentives

·         Mature Aged Workers Incentives

·         Australian School-based Apprenticeship Incentive

·         Assistance for Australian Apprentices with Disability

·         Support for Adult Australian Apprentices

More detailed information is available in the Summary of the Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme information sheets.

 

Personal benefits for Australian Apprentices

There are a number of personal benefit payments available to Australian Apprentices.

Each personal benefit payment has a number of eligibility criteria that will be assessed by an Australian Apprenticeship Centre.

Current personal benefits:

·         Living Away from Home Allowance

·         Support for Adult Australian Apprentices (please note the apprentice payment of Support for Adult Australian Apprentices will cease from 1 July 2015)

More detailed information is available in the Summary of the Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme information sheets.

 

Trade Support Loans

In order to support Australian Apprentices and help them to meet everyday costs whilst they undertake their training, eligible apprentices will be able to apply for Trade Support Loans. These loans provide up to $20,000 worth of income contingent loans and are paid monthly in arrears.

Apprentices will not have to repay the loans until they are earning an income above the minimum repayment threshold. In order to maintain the real value of the loans, the loan amount will be indexed according to the Consumer Price Index.

Apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship will receive a 20% discount on their loan amount.

National Skills Needs List

The National Skills Needs List identifies trades that are deemed to be in national skill shortage.

The National Skills Needs List is used to determine eligibility for the following employer incentives and personal benefits available under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme:

·         Rural and Regional Skills Shortage incentive; and

·         Support for Adult Australian Apprentices.

You can download a copy of the National Skills Needs List.