Employers can benefit from a number of incentives available from the Federal Government to encourage training and development especially where apprenticeship is in a trade experiencing a skills shortage. 

Apprenticeship Support Australia provides free services on behalf of the Federal Government including advice to employers and apprentices about eligibility for assistance and the lodgement of incentive payments. 

Apprenticeships Support Australia Manager Lena Constantine says a variety of trade occupations have been identified as experiencing a national skills shortage.  

“Incentive payments can range from $1250 for a Certificate II level traineeship up to $4000 for employers upskilling adult apprentices aged 25 or over in a skills shortage trade through an Australian Apprenticeship,” she says.  

And claiming the incentives is a simple process. 

“Incentive eligibility is assessed by Apprenticeship Support Australia at the start of a training contract and incentive claim forms are sent to eligible businesses for lodgement as soon as they become due,” she says. 

“Once an employer is deemed eligible to receive payments, a claims schedule is created and incentive claim forms are sent via a ‘Smart Form’ email to the employer representative nominated on the training contract.  

“The ‘Smart Form’ is an online claim form that once completed is submitted to the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network Provider for assessment and processing.” 

Constantine says not all apprentices and trainees are straight from school or school-based, where they are getting on the job training while still at school. 

“There are also mature aged apprentices who are re-skilling or changing careers and school leavers just entering the workforce,” she says.  

“An apprenticeship or traineeship is a fantastic way to re-skill and develop existing staff. 

“Apprenticeships and traineeships bring new skills into the business, prevent future skills shortages and train staff to suit the unique needs of each business.” 

Contact Apprenticeship Support Australia for more information.