Great news for our employers who are looking to commence an apprentice or trainee!
The Australian Government has announced in the lead up to the Federal Budget (29th March) that they will extend the 50% wage subsidy under the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements initiative. The extension expects to support another 35,000 apprentices and trainees with vocational skills and into employment. The previous deadline of March 31 (this week) has been extended for another 3 months until June 30, 2022.
Already investing approximately $4 billion in the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program, which provides 50% wage support for employers putting on a new apprentice or trainee, another $716 million was also invested to extend support into the second and third year of an eligible Australian Apprenticeship under the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) program. Under the CAC initiative, eligible employers under the Boosting Apprenticeships Commencements initiative will also receive a 10 per cent wage subsidy in the second year of an eligible apprenticeship, and a 5 per cent wage subsidy in the third year.
This equates to wage subsidies under the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements of up to $7,000 per quarter (maximum $28,000 annually) and under the Completing Apprenticeships Commencements in the second year, up to $1,500 per quarter ($6,000 annually) and in the third year, up to $750 per quarter ($3,000 annually).
As of 24 March 2022, over 73,000 businesses have been supported to put on an apprentice or trainee through Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements subsidy.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the extension of the successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies would build on the record number of Australians currently in trades training.
“By backing 385,000 apprentices in their training we’re boosting the pipeline of workers Australia is going to need for a stronger economy and a stronger future,” the Prime Minister said.
“Learning a trade doesn’t just give you skills for a job, it gives you the skills and opportunities for your future. Out of a group of students studying trades I met just last week, more than half told me they were planning to one day open their own businesses and they know they can do that because they’re learning skills that people need.
“Right now, there are more than 350,000 apprentices and trainees in-training and a record 220,000 of these are trade apprentices, and these investments are about making those numbers go even higher.”
For further information on how to apply for the program, including information on eligibility, visit ACCESS APPRENTICE WAGE SUBSIDY
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