Wages and Assistance
Both the Australian and State Government provides various incentives, allowances and subsidies to both you and your employer to assist you in completing your apprenticeship or traineeship and the associated costs.
This page contains the following information:
- Wages
- Australian Government incentives & allowances
- Queensland Government funding
- Financial Support for your employer
Wages
The great thing about undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship is that you receive a wage while gaining a nationally recognised qualification.
New Employee
If you are a new employee, you will usually be paid a reduced wage that reflects the time you spend in undertaking formal training. Your employer is required to pay you for time spent in training (either on-the-job or off-the job), except if you are undertaking a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship click here
Current Employee
If you are currently employed, your wages and employment conditions usually remain unchanged while undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship, however it is important that you obtain further advice.
You are classed as a current employee if you have been employed for a period of at least three months full-time or twelve months casual, part-time or a combination of both with your current employer, prior to commencing the Training Contract.
How your wages are determined
Wages for full-time, part-time and school-based apprentices and trainees vary across qualifications, while wages for adult apprentices and trainees (under certain industrial arrangements) may be paid at a special rate.
Wages are determined by a number of industrial relations instruments including:
State or Federal Awards - regulate the terms and conditions of your employment, as well as outlining you and your employer’s responsibilities. Your award coverage may be specific to an industry, a single employer, a specific class of employers or a specific class of employees.
State or Federal Certified Agreements - Certified Agreements are collective agreements between employers and the union/s or between an employer and their employees.
Queensland or Australian Workplace Agreements - Workplace Agreements are negotiated between an employer and an individual employee or an employer and an individual group of employees who have some common denominator.
Wages Information
For information about Australia’s national workplace relations system, wages and employment conditions :
Contact Fair Work on 13 13 94
Australian Government Incentives
Living Away From Home Allowance
You may be eligible to receive a Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA) for a period of up to three years of your apprenticeship or traineeship. You may be eligible to receive $77.17* per week for the first year, $38.85* per week for the second year and $25.00* per week for the third year of your training, paid monthly in arrears.
Youth Allowance, Austudy and ABSTUDY
Eligible apprentices and trainees can now apply for additional financial assistance through the Youth Allowance (aged 16-24), Austudy (aged 25+) or ABSTUDY (Indigenous Australian aged 15+). Assistance is means tested and managed by Centrelink. These allowances can not be claimed in conjunction with LAFHA, but you can choose to switch from one source to the other, as your circumstances change.
* Includes GST
Queensland Government Funding
Start-up assistance for apprentices and trainees
A reimbursement of up to $300* is available to an apprentice (only) who is employed in an identified skill shortage industry. This assistance is for the purchase of specialised equipment such as necessary tools and protective equipment (excluding uniforms), where a tools allowance is not traditionally provided by the employer.
Travel and accommodation allowances for apprentices and trainees
Apprentices who have to travel more than 50kms (one-way) to attend courses in relation to their training program, may be eligible for a travel and accommodation allowance.
Financial Support available for your employer
Both the Australian and Queensland Governments provide various incentives, allowances and subsidies to assist and encourage employers to train new staff and up skill their current employees through apprenticeships and traineeships. These include:
Australian Government Incentives
- Commencement Incentive
- Innovation Incentive
- Australian School-based Commencement Incentive
- Rural and Regional Skills Shortage Incentive
- Declared Drought Areas Commencement Incentive
- Mature Age (45+) Commencement Incentive
- Recommencement Incentive
- Completion Incentive
- Australian School-based Retention Incentive
- Declared Drought Areas Completion Incentive
- Mature Age (45+) Completion Incentive
$1,250* or $1,500*
$1,100*
$750*
$1,000*
$1,500*
$750*
$750*
$2,500*
$750*
$1,500*
$750*
* Includes GST
Click here for more detailed information.
Assistance for apprentices and trainees with a disability
Employers may be eligible to receive financial assistance if they employ an apprentice or trainee with a disability who meet Govenment eligibility critieria.
Financial Assistance includes:
- Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support
(DAAWS) - Workplace Modifications
- Tutorial Assistance
- Mentor or Interpreter Assistance
up to $114.73/wk*
up to $5,000
up to $5,500*
up to $6,000*
* Includes GST
Click here for more detailed information
Indigenous Employment Assistance
The Australian Government has developed a number of funded employment programmes to encourage and assist employers to take on Indigenous employees. These incentives are available in addition to the standard Australian Government incentives for taking on an apprentice or trainee.
- Indigenous Wage Subsidy
- Structured Training and Employment Projects (STEP)
Up to $4,400*
Up to $8,000
* Includes GST
Click Here for more information.
Queensland Government Funding
The Queensland Government also provides subsidies, incentives and allowances for apprentices and trainees, including:
- Subsidised Training
- Payroll Tax Exemptions
- Youth Training Incentive
- Strategic Employment Development Program
- Building and Construction Industry Training Fund
Up to $4,000*
Up to $2,200*
Up to $7,000*
* Includes GST
Click here for more detailed information.
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.