To assist with the recovery from the impact of COVID-19, the Australian Government is providing support to all eligible employers who engage a new Australian Apprentice.

Eligibility:

NEW APPRENTICE OR TRAINEE

• engage an Australian Apprentice or Trainee between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022; and
• the Australian Apprentice or Trainee is undertaking a Certificate II or higher qualification and has a training contract that is formally approved by the state training authority.

EXISTING WORKERS

• From 28 October 2020, an employer, or host employer (if using a Group Training Organisation), will be eligible for the subsidy for up to 30 existing worker commencements when:
  • an existing worker transfers from a casual employment arrangement to either a part-time or full-time Australian Apprenticeship; or
  • an existing worker transfers from a part-time employment arrangement to a full-time Australian Apprenticeship.

 There will be no changes for commencements of existing workers in trade-based Australian Apprenticeships.

How much will I get:

• 50% of wages paid to a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee for a 12-month period from the date of commencement, to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter.

Ongoing:

After 12 months of this support employers will be eligible to transition to the time-limited Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy.

• 10% wage subsidy in the second year of an eligible apprenticeship, up to a maximum of $1,500 per quarter per apprentice, and
• 5% wage subsidy in the third year of their apprenticeship, to a maximum of $750 per quarter per apprentice.

Final claims for payment must be lodged by 30 June 2025.