Government Funding available to Employers from 1st July 2019

With the new financial year upon us, the Government has opened-up some new incentives for apprentices and their employers to promote the employment of apprentices, with a focus on Skill Shortage Industries and Rural and Regional Areas.

New Incentives for Skills Shortage Industries – HVAC Industry identified for extra funding!

The Federal Government have identified the top ten skills shortage trades, offering additional financial support to employers who invest in their industry by employing new apprentices.

Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics have been identified as a critical skills shortage trade, therefore employers may be eligible for the following Additional Identified Skills Shortage (AISS) payments:

• $2,000 – 12 Months After Commencement
  (in addition to the standard commencement incentive of $1,500)
  plus an additional $1,000 in identified rural and regional areas.
• $2,000 – Completion Incentive
  (in addition to the standard completion incentive of $2,500)

Further Funding for Employers of Adult Apprentices!

The age for the Support for Adult Australian Apprentices has now widened to include apprentices between the ages of 21 and 24.

Employers may be eligible for an additional $4,000 payment if they meet the following criteria:

• The apprenticeship commencement date is on or after 1 July 2019
• Wages paid to the apprentice are above the National Minimum Wage

Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy is back – Rural and Regional QLD

After a highly successful first round, the Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy has been opened for round two, meaning a further 1,630 apprentice-employing-businesses in rural and remote locations will have the opportunity to apply for the incentive for new apprenticeship commencements from 1 July 2019.

Under this subsidy, eligible businesses are be entitled to receive subsidies for the first three years of work as follows:

• Completion of first year: 75% of the apprentice’s award wage
• Completion of second year: 50% of the apprentice’s award wage
• Completion of third year: 25% of the apprentice’s award wage