The Federal Government has announced that it is providing support to all employers who engage a new Apprentice or Trainee.

In order to be eligible for this new wage subsidy, a business or Group Training Organisation may be eligible if:

• You engage an Australian Apprentice or Trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021, and 
• 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 Group Training Organisations will receive a wage subsidy of up to 50 percent of the Australian Apprentice or Trainee’s gross wage paid. The wage subsidy is available up to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter per eligible Australian Apprentice or Trainee. The wage subsidy is available for wages paid from 5 October 2020 to 30 September 2021.

The wage subsidy is available to employers of any size, industry or geographic location. MBA Members who hire apprentices through Master Builders Apprenticeship Services are eligible for this subsidy. Our team will lodge applications on your behalf and a credit will be placed on your account each quarter.

Further points: 

• The subsidy is capped at 100,000 places
• The subsidy is NOT available for any Apprentice or Trainee receiving any other form of Australian Government wage subsidy eg Supporting Apprentices and Trainees or JobKeeper
• Payments will be made quarterly in arrears, with first claims for the subsidy available from 1 January 2021
• Final claims for payment must be lodged by 31 December 2021

Further information on how to apply for the subsidy, including information on eligibility, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.