Are you an Aussie Employer?

Apprenticeships are critical for building skills pipelines. Employers know that to create tomorrow’s workplace leaders, good training at the foundational level is essential. If you’re a forward thinking employer looking to hire apprentices for your workplace, the Australian government is investing $2.4 billion dollars to assist you through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System.

What is the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System?

The Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System aims to help employers and apprentices in the workplace as well as provide a boost to a struggling economy. The program strives to get skilled workers into secure positions and fill key skills shortages. The $2.4 billion dollar investment will be distributed over five years to both employers and apprentice staff members.

How much of that is available to employers?

The government is providing employers with support through wage subsidies. Employers of workers in fields that are listed as a priority will get 10% of the wages for the first and second years of apprenticeship subsidised (up to $1500 per quarter), and 5% for the third year (up to $750 per quarter). Your apprentices just have to be commencing or re-commencing a Certificate II or higher qualification between the 1st of July 2022 and 30th of June 2024, and there is no limit to the number of apprentices you can claim the subsidy for.

Employers of Aussie apprentices who aren’t employed in one of the priority fields are also eligible for Hiring Incentives; $3,500 paid in two equal six-monthly instalments ($1,750 each). Additional assistance is provided for employers of apprentices who have a disability through the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS), with the government subsidising $104.30 per week for a full-time apprenticeship.

What about the apprentices?

Aussie apprentices who are eligible can get $1250 every 6 months under this program for the first two years of their apprenticeship (total $5000). On top of this, most training programs for skills listed in the priority list are free of charge to eligible trainees and apprentices. This means that your apprentice or trainee can study, work, and earn a living with very little out-of-pocket costs.

MCIE courses for jobs on the priority list:

Apprentices who study while they work benefit by having access to the most current and up-to-date information, as well as having the opportunity to practice the skills they learn in a real workplace. Employers who employ apprentices at the early stages of their career also see a higher employee retention rate, with their apprentices more likely to stay on as workers after they’ve completed their training period.

How do employers register?

To check whether you’re eligible for the Priority Wage Subsidy or the Hiring Incentive, talk to your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider (AASN). They will be your first point of contact regarding any questions about the incentives system. Once you are eligible, they will also prompt you to claim any payments through the Australian Data Management System (ADMS) when the funds are available.

MCIE courses have flexible part-time and full-time options, with some courses delivered online as well as in person. Visit our website for more details, or call us at 1300 737 004 to talk about your study options.