An employer may receive financial assistance as an incentive to take on an apprentice/trainee. Employment costs are paid to the registered employer (some conditions apply) and training costs are normally claimed by the RTO.

These incentives are offered to employers to assist in the training of Australian apprentices. There are also individual incentives as encouragement for Australian apprentices to stay in their respective industries after they have completed their apprenticeship/traineeship.

The incentives are offered at a range of levels of value. This value is determined by the age of the participant and specific industry skill shortage. Employers of Australian apprentices who commence at Certificate II – III may be eligible for incentives commencing from $1,250.00.

Examples of employer incentives and personal assistance for Australian Apprentices are:

• Commencement and completion incentives of at least $4000 for Certificate III and IV level qualifications paid to eligible employers
• From 1 January 2007, incentives for higher technical skills of $4,000 for targeted Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications, particularly in engineering fields
• Innovation Incentive provides an additional $1,100 incentive paid on commencement in an identified occupation - Key sources of innovation include pharmaceutical, aircraft, electronics and chemical industries, as well as the major utilities.
• Assistance to Australian Apprentices with Disabilities provides wage assistance to eligible employers and additional funding to support the off-the-job training to eligible apprentices
• Australian School-based Apprenticeships Incentive - Employers may be eligible for an additional $750 commencement incentive for employing an Australian Apprentice in an endorsed Australian School-based Apprenticeship at Certificate II to IV level; and $750 for continuing to employ the young person after the student has completed Year 12.
• Mature Aged Worker Incentive - an employer of a disadvantaged worker (aged 45 years or older) may attract a special $750 Mature Aged Worker Commencement Incentive and a $750 Mature Aged Worker Completion Incentive.
• Apprenticeship Training Vouchers' - From 1 January 2007 the Australian Government will provide vouchers of up to $500 to Australian Apprentices to contribute towards the costs of accredited business skills training. This will assist apprentices to develop the additional business skills employers need in the current economic environment.

(The above list is an extract from the website link below.)

All state and commonwealth employment and training incentives are subject to some conditions. The main condition being that no employer or employee is eligible for any incentives or allowances prior to the completion of a three (3) month waiting period.

A Summary of the Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme brochure is available from:

For more information: