GOVERNMENT BUDGET ANNOUNCEMENT

 

 WAGE SUBSIDY for EMPLOYERS EMPLOYING A NEW APPRENTICE AND TRAINEE

 

Employers

As an employer of an Australian Apprentice, you may be eligible for financial support from the Australian Government to help offset the cost of taking on an apprentice.

The Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (Incentives System) commenced on 1 July 2022 and aims to get apprentices working in secure jobs that are in demand, filling skill shortages now and into the future.

To claim and receive payments under the Incentives System, you must meet all primary eligibility requirements.

Primary eligibility requirements include:

• the Australian Apprentice’s citizenship or residency status

• employment and training arrangements

• lodging claim forms with supporting evidence within the specified time

• must have commenced or recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship under a new Training Contract on or after 1 July 2022; or

• recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship on or after 1 July 2022 after following a break greater than:

  • 6 months if commencement was prior to 1 July 2022 or

  • 12 months if commencement was on or after 1 July 2022.

Your eligibility for payment may be affected if the Australian Apprentice has previously completed the qualification, is an Existing Worker, or is a Custodial Australian Apprentice. Please refer to the Incentives System Guidelines for more details or speak with an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

Employers claiming incentives for an Australian Apprentice who commenced before 1 July 2022 will continue to be supported under the grandfathered Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program.

Priority Wage Subsidy

The Priority Wage Subsidy is a wage subsidy for employers of Australian Apprentices training towards an occupation listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. Employers can claim 10% of wages paid to the Australian Apprentice for the first and second 12-month period (up to $1,500 per quarter) and 5% of the wages paid to the Australian Apprentice for the third 12-month period (up to $750 per quarter).

Eligibility requirements include:

• all primary eligibility requirements

• the Australian Apprentice must be undertaking Certificate III or above qualification with an occupational outcome as listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

Please note, employers are not eligible to receive the Priority Wage Subsidy if they are in receipt of any other form of Australian Government equivalent assistance for the same Australian Apprenticeship simultaneously.

Further information can be found in the Incentives System Guidelines. To determine your eligibility and information about applying, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

Hiring Incentive

The Hiring Incentive support Australian Apprentices undertaking a Certificate II or above qualification that is not listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. A payment of $1,750, for a full-time Australian Apprentice and $875 for part-time Australian Apprentice is made at 6 and 12 months.

Eligibility requirements include:

• all primary eligibility requirements

• the Australian Apprentice must be in-training with their employer at the Effect date

• The Australian Apprentice must be undertaking Certificate II or above qualification with an occupational outcome that is not listed on Australian Apprenticeships Priority List

Please note, employers are not eligible to receive both the Priority Wage Subsidy and the Hiring Incentive for the same Australian Apprenticeship.

Further information can be found in the Incentives System Guidelines. To determine your eligibility and information about applying, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

Employers

As an employer of an Australian Apprentice, you may be eligible for financial support from the Australian Government to help offset the cost of taking on an apprentice.

The Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (Incentives System) commenced on 1 July 2022 and aims to get apprentices working in secure jobs that are in demand, filling skill shortages now and into the future.

To claim and receive payments under the Incentives System, you must meet all primary eligibility requirements.

Primary eligibility requirements include:

• the Australian Apprentice’s citizenship or residency status

• employment and training arrangements

• lodging claim forms with supporting evidence within the specified time

• must have commenced or recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship under a new Training Contract on or after 1 July 2022; or

• recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship on or after 1 July 2022 after following a break greater than:

  • 6 months if commencement was prior to 1 July 2022 or

  • 12 months if commencement was on or after 1 July 2022.

Your eligibility for payment may be affected if the Australian Apprentice has previously completed the qualification, is an Existing Worker, or is a Custodial Australian Apprentice. Please refer to the Incentives System Guidelines for more details or speak with an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

Employers claiming incentives for an Australian Apprentice who commenced before 1 July 2022 will continue to be supported under the grandfathered Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program.

Priority Wage Subsidy

The Priority Wage Subsidy is a wage subsidy for employers of Australian Apprentices training towards an occupation listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. Employers can claim 10% of wages paid to the Australian Apprentice for the first and second 12-month period (up to $1,500 per quarter) and 5% of the wages paid to the Australian Apprentice for the third 12-month period (up to $750 per quarter).

Eligibility requirements include:

• all primary eligibility requirements

• the Australian Apprentice must be undertaking Certificate III or above qualification with an occupational outcome as listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

Please note, employers are not eligible to receive the Priority Wage Subsidy if they are in receipt of any other form of Australian Government equivalent assistance for the same Australian Apprenticeship simultaneously.

Further information can be found in the Incentives System Guidelines. To determine your eligibility and information about applying, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

Hiring Incentive

The Hiring Incentive support Australian Apprentices undertaking a Certificate II or above qualification that is not listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. A payment of $1,750, for a full-time Australian Apprentice and $875 for part-time Australian Apprentice is made at 6 and 12 months.

Eligibility requirements include:

• all primary eligibility requirements

• the Australian Apprentice must be in-training with their employer at the Effect date

• The Australian Apprentice must be undertaking Certificate II or above qualification with an occupational outcome that is not listed on Australian Apprenticeships Priority List

Please note, employers are not eligible to receive both the Priority Wage Subsidy and the Hiring Incentive for the same Australian Apprenticeship.

Further information can be found in the Incentives System Guidelines. To determine your eligibility and information about applying, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

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Alternatively, check out the Department of Education website for more information at:  https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/apprentices-and-trainees/employers

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