The Queensland Government Introduces Major Apprenticeship Boost with New TradieStart Program

Queensland is preparing for a significant increase in skilled workers, with incentives announced for 4,500 supported apprenticeship opportunities across the construction and trade sectors. The TradieStart program, along with the expansion of the Small Business Apprenticeship Program, will help employers bring on new apprentices and strengthen the state’s long-term workforce.

These programs are designed to address ongoing labour shortages and support businesses that want to train new workers.

TradieStart supports 2,500 new apprenticeships

The TradieStart Apprentice Incentive will provide financial support for employers who take on apprentices in construction, plumbing, engineering, and electrical trades. Registrations are limited to the first 2,500 apprentices eligible across Queensland.

This includes:

• A base payment of up to $10,000 for small businesses hiring their first apprentice

• An additional $4,000 for apprentices over the age of 21

• An extra $2,000 for apprentices from priority groups, including women, veterans, people with disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Medium and large employers, along with Group Training Organisations, can also receive a payment of $10,000 for hiring apprentices from priority groups, with an additional $4,000 if the apprentice is over 21.

Payments are made after 6 months and 18 months of employment, subject to program requirements.

Small Business Apprenticeship Program extension supports another 2,000

The Small Business Apprenticeship Program will support another 2,000 apprenticeships through wage subsidies. This extension gives small businesses more confidence to hire and train new workers.

Both programs are funded by Construction Skills Queensland in partnership with the Queensland Government.

Eligibility requirements

For small businesses, employers must:

• be a small business with 1 to 19 employees.
• have an annual turnover of less than $10 million.
• have no previous record of employing an apprentice under a training contract.

The apprentice must:

• be an active full-time, part-time or school-based apprentice registered in Queensland.
• have commenced or recommenced employment with an eligible employer on or after 1 August 2026.
• be undertaking an eligible construction, plumbing, engineering or electrical apprenticeship.
• complete a free TAFE Queensland micro-credential before claiming payment.

For medium to large businesses, employers must:

• employ 20 or more employees.
• have an annual turnover of at least $10 million.
• employ an apprentice who commenced on or after 1 August 2026 and belongs to a priority cohort.

The apprentice must also:

• be undertaking an eligible construction, plumbing, engineering or electrical apprenticeship.

For small businesses, apprentices must be among the first 1,500 registrations to be eligible. For medium to large businesses, apprentices must be among the first 1,000 registrations. 

Supporting the next generation of Queensland tradies

As Queensland expands its apprenticeship opportunities through initiatives like TradieStart, Apprenticeship Support Australia (ASA) is helping employers and apprentices make the most of the support available.

ASA can direct employers to the appropriate Queensland Government resources for eligibility criteria and application information related to the TradieStart Apprentice Incentive.