Employer Incentives
Training employees is a necessary, but costly expense for business owners. Employers may be eligible for financial assistance provided by Australian Apprenticeships Centres (AACs) funded through the Australian and State and Territory Governments.
What’s in it For You?
Employer incentives vary with the level of training given and with special circumstances that may apply. The state or territory where the job is located and the specific needs of the trainee determines the eligibility for incentives.
Each local Australian Apprenticeship Centre informs employers about which incentives they are eligible for. The centres have the forms needed to apply to the various incentive programs. They also provide help to employers who need assistance with submitting claims and filing follow-up claims.
Available Employer Incentives for Training
The following list of incentives are available to eligible employers for training employees. All incentive amounts are exclusive of the GST:
• $750 – employees whose trade certificate has expired and renew their Certificate III or IV.
• $1,250 – each trainee who receives a Certificate II.
• $1,500 – trainees who receive a Certificate III or IV after training
• $1,100 – for hiring apprentices with Certificate III or IV in an innovative technology field. These fields include electro technology, information technology, aero skills and other high-tech fields.
• $750 – for officially endorsed, school-based apprenticeships leading to commencement of a Certificate II, III or IV.
• $1,000 – rural employers who train apprentices in fields that have a local shortage are eligible for special employer incentives. If there is a recognized shortage of a specific skill in the rural area where the apprentice is trained, the employer may be eligible for incentive when the employee receives a Certificate III or IV.
• $1,500 – rural employers may be eligible for additional incentives for employing Certificate II apprentices when their area has been declared a drought area. In these circumstances, employers can obtain a certificate of “Exceptional Circumstances Drought Declared Area.”
• $1,000 – employing a woman in a traditionally male apprenticeship inventive. The AAC has information about the fields that currently qualify for the Women in Non-Traditional Australian Apprenticeships program.
• $750 – employing an apprentice Mature Aged Worker, as defined by the AAC.
Additional Employer Incentives
Employers can get incentives to help with paying wages, hiring mentors and interpreters and modifying the workplace to accommodate disabled apprentices. These incentives vary with the specific needs of the disabled employee.
Some state and territory incentives are available that address the specific apprenticeship needs of the area. These may be paid in addition to the Australian government incentives.