Incentives

The Australian Government has introduced a number of initiatives to assist employers who take on an Australian Apprentice, particularly where the Australian Apprenticeship is in a trade experiencing a skills shortage. These initiatives provide financial incentives to eligible employers through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program.

Assistance on all aspects of Australian Apprenticeships can be obtained from VECCI Apprenticeships Services (VAS).VAS is contracted by the Australian Government to deliver free Australian Apprenticeships Support Services, which include providing information and assistance to employers, Australian Apprentices and other interested people, marketing and promoting Australian Apprenticeships and administering Australian Government incentive payments to employers and allowances for Australian Apprentices.

Employers of an Australian Apprentice may be eligible for financial assistance through:

• Standard, Additional and Special incentives
• Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
• Assistance for Australian Apprentices with Disability
• Support for employing an Australian School-based Apprentice

Eligibility for incentives under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program may be affected by the duration of the employment relationship you have with your current employee.

Standard, Additional and Special incentives

Employers of Australian Apprentices may be eligible to claim commencement and completion incentive payments of up to $4,000 for employing an Australian Apprentice at the Certificate III to Advanced Diploma level (subject to meeting the required eligibility criteria).

There is also a range of additional incentives available to employers of an Australian Apprentice including the:

• Declared Drought area incentive
• Rural and Regional Skills Shortage incentive
• Mature Aged Worker incentive

An employer may also be eligible for the Group Training Organisation Certificate II completion incentive where the employer is a Group Training Organisation and the Australian Apprentice is within a nominated equity group and has successfully completed an Australian Apprenticeship at the Certificate II level.

Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payment initiative

The Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payment initiative provides financial support to Australian Apprentices or their employers where the Australian Apprentice is aged 25 or over at the commencement of their Australian Apprenticeship on or after 1 January 2010, and is undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship at the Certificate III or IV level in an occupation experiencing a skills shortage.

Assistance for Australian Apprentices with Disability

Assistance for employers of Australian Apprentices with disability includes Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support and Assistance for Tutorial, Interpreter and Mentor Services.

Each form of assistance is intended to help Australian Apprentices with disability to reach their full potential.

Australian School-based Apprenticeships Incentive

Employers may be eligible for a $750 commencement incentive for employing an Australian Apprentice in an endorsed Australian School-based Apprenticeship at the Certificate II, III, IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level and $750 for continuing to employ the young person after the student has completed Year 12.

Payment of incentives and personal benefits is subject to employers and Australian Apprentices satisfying eligibility criteria set out in the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program Guidelines and is subject to change.

For further information, contact VECCI Apprenticeships Services on 1300 365 336 or email apprenticeships@vecci.org.au