: Wages & Assistance
Wages & Assistance
Both the Australian and State Governments provide various incentives, allowances and subsidies to both you and your employer to assist you in completing your apprenticeship or traineeship.
This page contains information on the following:
Wages
The great thing about undertaking an Australian School-based apprenticeship or traineeship is that you receive a wage and a nationally recognised qualification, whilst still a school.
As an Australian School-based apprentice or trainee you will generally be paid an Australian School-based training wage for the time that you spend in productive work.
- You will receive a loaded hourly rate, as you are not paid for holidays, sick days or leave loading
- You will not usually be paid for time spent undertaking college or off-the-job training
- Your wage will be dependant on your Year level at school and will usually increase going from Year 11 to Year 12
- For specific wage information, contact your employer or Wageline on:
1300 369 945 or visit www.wageline.qld.gov.au
When requesting information from Wageline make sure that you tell the consultant that you require Australian School-based wage information and provide them with your school Year level and the type of apprenticeship or traineeship you are undertaking.
How your wages are determined
Wages for Australian School-based apprenticeships and traineeships vary across qualifications and 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.
Financial Support available for apprentices and trainees
Both the Australian and Queensland Governments provide various incentives, allowances and subsidies to assist you in completing your Australian School-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
Australian Government Incentives
- Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship
$1,000*
Apprentices and trainees (commencing after July 1, 2004) in selective trade occupations may attract two payments of $500 each, payable after the first and second years of their apprenticeship or traineeship. This scholarship is not available for apprentices or trainees whose employer has more than 500 employees, unless they are employed by a Group Training Organisation
- Tools For Your Trade
$800*
This ‘Tools For Your Trade’ incentive will be available to eligible apprentices or trainees in selected trade occupations, once they have been employed for three months. The apprentice or trainee will own the tools once they have completed nine months of their qualification.
- Assistance for apprentices and trainees with a disability
You and your employer may be eligible to receive financial assistance if you:
-
have a disability which impacts on your day to day work
- cannot wholly address your disability through medication or self management
- have not used this assistance programme before (some exceptions apply)
- meet the normal eligibility guidelines for Australian Government assistance
Financial Assistance includes:
- Disabled New Apprentice Wage Support
up to $104.30/wk
- Workplace Modifications
up to $5,000
- Tutorial Assistance
up to $5,500*
- Mentor or Interpreter Assistance
For more detailed information on assistance for apprentices or trainees with a disability click here
* Includes GST
Queensland Government Funding
Start-up Assistance for apprentices and trainees
A reimbursement of up to $300* is available to an apprentice or trainee who is employed in an identified skills shortage industry. The assistance is for the purchase of specialised equipment such as necessary tools and protective equipment (excluding uniforms), where a tool allowance is not traditionally provided by the employer.
Travel and Accommodation Allowances for apprentices and trainees.
Apprentices and trainees 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 School-based Apprentices and Trainees .
Australian Government Incentives
- Commencement Incentive
$1,250 or $1,500
- Innovation incentive
$1,100
- Australian School-based Commencement Incentive
$750
- Declared Drought Areas Commencement Incentive
$1,500
- Completion Incentive
$2,500
- Australian School-based Retention Incentive
$750
- Declared Drought Areas Completion Incentive
$1,500
* Includes GST
Click here for more detailed information on Australian Government employer incentives and allowances.
Queensland Government Funding
- Subsidised Training
- Payroll Tax Exemptions
- Youth Training Incentive
Up to $4,000*
- Strategic Employment Development Program
Up to $2,200*
- Building and Construction Industry Training Fund
Up to $7,000*
* Includes GST
Click here for more detailed information on State Government employer assistance.
è Feedback - Send your questions or feedback click here
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.