Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program

Grant Information

The Australian Government provides 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 an Australian Apprenticeships Centre. Australian Apprenticeships Centres are 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. To contact an Australian Apprenticeships Centre, please call the Australian Apprenticeships referral line on 13 38 73.

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

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.
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).

Employers of Australian Apprentices at the Certificate II level, who are in a nominated equity group may be eligible to claim a commencement incentive of $1,250 (subject to meeting the required eligibility criteria).

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

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.