The Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme provides financial incentives to employers to encourage them to offer apprenticeship opportunities, Trade Support Loans to apprentices and an allowance for apprentices who need to move away from home to undertake an apprenticeship

The Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme provides:

• financial incentives to Australian employers to offer apprenticeship opportunities. The incentive payments are based on a skills shortage list of trades as well as a set of high priority occupations
• a living away from home (LAFHA) allowance to apprentices who need to move away from their parent’s home to take up or retain an Australian apprenticeship
• access to an interest-free Trade Support Loan that helps apprentices with the costs related to completing their apprenticeship.

The incentive payments to employers are based on the apprenticeship certificate level completed. The majority of incentive payments are one-off and paid annually at the end of the year. Payments range from $750 to $4000, depending on the incentive. Payments to offer apprenticeship opportunities to apprentices with a disability are paid weekly.

The Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA) is a weekly payment to the apprentice that starts at $75.21 each week in the first year of the apprenticeship and reduces to $22.15 each week in the third year.

The Trade Support Loan is an interest free loan which is available to the apprentice during the three years of their apprenticeship.  The Trade Support Loan has a $20,000 lifetime limit on an apprenticeship, limited to a maximum that can be borrowed each year and is repayable through the tax system after the apprentice starts regular employment.

Free advice and support is available to both employers and apprentices through the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network Providers.

Read more about Eligibility and who can apply by visiting Business.Gov.au

Employers

For more information about Australian Apprenticeships and to apply, visit the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme, or call 13 38 73.

Apprentices

Contact your local Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (Apprenticeship Network) provider who can provide you with an application for Living Away from Home Allowance or Trade Support Loan, or call 13 38 73.