: Incentives and Costs
Incentives and Costs
Both the Australian and Queensland Governments provide various incentives, allowances and subsidies to assist and encourage you to employ and train new staff and up skill your existing employees through apprenticeships and traineeships.
This page is divided into four sections:
Australian Government Incentives and Allowances for:
Queensland Government Subsidies and Allowances
Costs
Australian Government Incentives & Allowances
Incentives for employers
You may be eligible to receive Australian Government incentives and allowances for commencing an apprentice or trainee. The following incentives are subject to Australian Government eligibility criteria. For more detailed information on each of these incentives click here
- Commencement Incentive $1,250 or $1,500
- Innovation Incentive $1,100
- Australian School-based Commencement Incentive $750
- Rural and Regional Skills Shortage Incentive $1,000
- Declared Drought Areas Commencement Incentive $1,500
- Mature Age (45+) Commencement Incentive $750
- Recommencement Incentive $750
- Completion Incentive $2,500
- Australian School-based Retention Incentive $750
- Declared Drought Areas Completion Incentive $1,500
- Mature Age (45+) Completion Incentive $750
Assistance for employers of apprentices and trainees with a Disability
Employers of apprentices and trainees with a disability may be eligible to attract the following Australian Government assistance:
- Wage Support of up to $114.73 (GST inc) per week for the duration of the apprenticeship or traineeship
- Workplace Modifications valued up to $5,000 (GST excl)
- Tutorial Assistance of up to $5,500 (GST inc) per year
- Mentor or Interpreter Assistance of up to $5,500 (GST inc) per year
For more detailed information on disability assistance click here
Incentives for employers of Indigenous Australians
Additional funding may be available for employing an Indigenous person who is registered as being unemployed with Centrelink and has a Wage Assistance Card. Eligible employers may receive up to:
- $4,400 (GST inc) over a 26 week period for full-time employment or
- $2,200 for ongoing part-time employment (min 15 hrs/week)
These incentives are on top of the standard Austalian Government employer incentives. For more detailed information on Indigenous incentives click here
Incentives for apprentices and trainees
Your apprentices and trainees may be eligible to attract the following Australian Government incentives. For more detailed information on each of these incentives click here
- Apprentice Wage Top-Up [AWTU] - up to $2,000
- Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship - up to $1,000
- Support for Mid-Careeer Apprentices [SMCA] - up to $13,000
- Living Away From Home Allowance [LAFHA] - up to $77.17 per week
- Austudy, ABSTUDY & Youth Allowance
- Apprenticeship Training [Fee] Voucher - $1,000
Please note: Eligibility criteria and conditions apply to all funding initiatives and incentives
Queensland Government Funding
The Queensland Government provides a range of incentives, allowances and subsidies to assist employers in employing an Apprentice or Trainee
- Subsided Training
- Payroll Tax Exemptions
- Youth Training Incentive up to $4,000*
- Start-up Assistance (for tools and protective equipment) for apprentices and trainees up to $300*
- Travel and Accommodation Allowances for apprentices and trainees
- Strategic Employment Development Program up to $2,200*
For more detailed information on State Government incentives click here
Training Costs
Most training of apprentices and trainees in Queensland has traditionally been funded by the State Government under ‘User Choice’ arrangements, though not all traineeships are covered. In many cases employers choose to fund the training under a user pay’s or fee-for-service arrangement.
User Choice is a term used to describe the funding and policies which allow employers and their apprentices and trainees to choose an approved training provider and negotiate key aspects of the training.
You will need to reach an agreement with your training provider as to which method of funding is most suitable to your needs. Please note that in some industries or qualification outcomes, only one training provider may be available.
Note: Incentives and allowances available from the Australian Government and Queensland Government can be varied without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the above information as at the effect date. Eligibility criteria apply to all incentives and allowances. For the latest information, please contact Queensland Apprenticeship Services on 1300 360 955.