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.