The Federal Government has announced a commitment of over $525 million in a bid to boost Apprentices in skills shortage occupations and ensure Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector delivers real and future-focussed results. These results are critical to the economy. This investment in vocational training comes with a goal to create 80,000 new apprenticeships by 2024.

What does this mean for you?

From 1 July 2019, the government will increase incentive payments for businesses and apprentices that are skilling in occupations noted on the skills-shortage list.

For Employers, the incentives received will double from $4,000 to $8,000.* This additional $4,000, will be distributed evenly (two, $2,000 payments) at 12 months from the point of commencement of the Apprenticeship and then the subsequent payment at completion of the apprenticeship.*

While Apprentices, will received a new $2,000 incentive.* Apprentice payments will be similarly distributed.

Those occupations eligible for payments include, apprenticeships in:

• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Hairdressing
• Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
• Bricklaying and Stonemasonry
• Plastering
• Tiling
• Arborists
• Painters (vehicle)
• Baking and Pastry

The Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Hon. Michaelia Cash, noted the package responds to the expert review into Australia’s VET sector led by the Hon. Steven Joyce.

“Our new apprenticeship incentive will address priority areas of skills shortage for traditional trades including carpenters and plumbers. We are providing an additional $4,000 incentive payment to employers and $2,000 to apprentices,” said Cash.

Cash elaborated that, “the package enhances VET as a direct pathway into Australia’s labour market – be it for their first job, for career progression, to transition to new industries or to create their own business.”

Details of the ‘Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow’ package were announced as part of the 2019/20 Federal Budget.

Employers. If you’re looking to bring on an Apprentice in Carpentry or Wall and Floor Tiling. Now, has never been a better time to start looking.

If a Tiling or Carpentry Apprenticeship is where you want to be? Give us a call and we can help you get started.

For more information please refer to the Australian Apprenticeships website here.

*Eligibility critiera applies.

Source: https://ministers.education.gov.au/cash/delivering-world-class-vocational-education-and-training-system