Businesses to be given $1.2 billion in wage subsidies to create new jobs for apprentices and trainees

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister Michaelia Cash have announced an expansion of the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy initiative.  Placements for the program are now uncapped. Businesses or Group Training Organisations (GTOs) that engage an apprentice or trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021 may be eligible for a subsidy of 50% of wages paid to a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee for a 12-month period from the date of commencement.

With the overwhelming support from the business community, the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) has been an outstanding success. This additional funding ensures access to apprenticeships and traineeships for many Australians and a chance for more businesses to invest and nurture Australia's workforce of the future.

Further information can be found here.
 

• You engage an Australian Apprentice or trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021.
• Your Australian Apprentice or trainee is undertaking a Certificate II or higher qualification and has a training contract that is formally approved by the State Training Authority. 

• Eligible employers and GTOs will receive a wage subsidy of up to 50% of the Australian Apprentice’s gross wage paid. 
• The subsidy is available for Australian Apprentices commencing or recommencing between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021. 
• The wage subsidy is available for a maximum of $7,000 per quarter, per eligible Australian Apprentice, for wages paid in the 12-month period from the date of commencement or recommencement. 

• The subsidy is available to employers of any size, industry or geographic location*
• The subsidy is not available for any apprentice receiving any other form of Australian Government wage subsidy (e.g. Supporting Apprentices and Trainees or JobKeeper).
• Payments will be made quarterly in arrears.
• Final claims for payment must be lodged by 31 December 2022.
• The 100,000 cap limit has been removed to provide additional support to employers and GTOs.