The Federal Government announced an extension to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies program with a $365.3 million investment that will support an extra 35,000 apprentices and trainees get into a job.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the extension of the successful Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies would build on the record number of Australians currently in trades training.

“By backing 385,000 apprentices in their training we’re boosting the pipeline of workers Australia is going to need for a stronger economy and a stronger future,” the Prime Minister said.

“These programs deliver certainty for business so they can go and hire another apprentice chef, another apprentice hairdresser, another apprentice plumber. It is about getting Australians skilled and into jobs right now.

“I’ve met trade apprentices across the country supported by these programs and we want to help even more Australians take advantage of the skills and jobs that come with learning a trade.

“Trades training shores up our skills pipeline, gets people into work, drives down unemployment and gives businesses the confidence to keep on hiring.

Enrolments for the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement wage subsidy, which provides employers with 12 months of wage subsidy support, are being extended to the end of the 2021-22 financial year (30 June 2022).

Any business that receives the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement (BAC) wage subsidy will also then be eligible for extended support through the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third year of a Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement-supported apprenticeship.

As of 24 March 2022, over 73,000 businesses have been supported to put on an apprentice or trainee through Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements subsidy.

Any employer who takes on an apprentice or trainee up until 30 June 2022 can gain access to:

• 50 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the first year, capped at a maximum payment value of $7,000 per quarter per Australian Apprentice,
• 10 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the second year, capped at a maximum payment value of $1,500 per quarter per Australian Apprentice, and
• 5 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the third year, capped at a maximum payment value of $750 per quarter per Australian Apprentice.

For more info on how to apply please click here