“I wanted to have a career change; I liked the class schedule, which is 2 ½ days a week. That meant I could spend time with my family and have a job for the rest of the week. I also like the environment for learning, being that it was an easier transition from being a mother to an adult student.”
“The Diploma of Business helped me gain the knowledge I needed to achieve my personal best and to be successful. I gained acceptance into the University of my choice thanks to Careers Australia.”
With a range of state and federal government funding and incentives available, hiring an Australian Apprentice can even make a contribution to your bottom line!
Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program
The Australian Government offers eligible employers a number of incentives for taking on an apprentice or trainee:
Standard Commencement
- $1,250 incentive for an employer who commences an Australian Apprentice in a nominated equity group in a Certificate II qualification; or
- $1,500 incentive for an employer who commences an Australian Apprentice in a Certificate III, IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualification.
Standard Recommencement
- $750 incentive for employers who recommence an Australian Apprentice in a Certificate III, IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualification.
Standard Completion
- $2,500 incentive for employers of Australian Apprentices who successfully complete a Certificate III, IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualification.
There are also a range of additional incentives and benefits for employers or apprentices who meet special circumstances:
Special Employer Incentives
- Special Rural and Regional Skills Shortages Commencement
- Declared Drought Areas Commencement and Completion
- Mature Aged Workers Commencement and Completion
- Australian School-based Apprenticeships Commencement and Retention
Personal Benefits
- Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
- Tools for Your Trade payment
- Assistance for Australian Apprentices with Disability
- Living Away from Home Allowance
- Youth Allowance, Austudy, ABSTUDY
Click here to download an Overview of the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program from the Australian Apprenticeships website.
User Choice Funding
User Choice is a national policy which is administered differently in each state. Generally speaking, User Choice funding is used to pay for tuition and training for apprenticeships and traineeships. High demand trades will often recieve a greater amount of funding, and lower demand trades may have a gap payment which will need to be paid.
User Choice funding is in addition to the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program, so your commencement and completion payments will often take a decent chunk out of the gap payments for apprenticeships and traineeships which aren't completely covered by User Choice funding!
Click here for links to the various State Training Authorities to find out more about User Choice funding on the Training.com.au website.
What if I want to know more?
- Apprenticeships and Traineeships
- Benefits of Apprenticeships
- Funding and Incentives
- Process for Hiring
- Available Training
Want to check out our information for students?
- Courses > Apprenticeships and Traineeships
- Apply & Enrol > How To Enrol
- Apply & Enrol > Funding and Subsidies
Otherwise you can head to the Australian Apprenticeships website or give us a call on 1300 887 696.
