Wage subsidy extension a win for employers, apprentices, trainees 

Enrolments for the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement wage subsidy, which provides employers with 12 months of financial support, are being extended to 30 June. 

Any business that receives the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement (BAC) wage subsidy will also then be eligible for extended support through the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third year of a BAC-supported apprenticeship. 

The BAC scheme allows eligible employers to claim a wage subsidy for each apprentice or trainee’s wages up to a maximum of $28,000 per year. The wage subsidy was set to close on 31 March. 

The Federal Government reports that as of 24 March, more than 73,000 businesses have been supported to put on an apprentice or trainee through the BAC subsidy. 

“Taking on an apprenticeship is a great way for a person to earn while they learn,” CVGT Australia’s chief operations officer Peter Barnes says. 

“As a group training organisation, we place apprentices and trainees with host employers to earn a wage while they learn a trade. Each day we work with more than 100 host employers across various industries, ensuring they have a pipeline of skilled trades people.  

“Last financial year we celebrated 115 completions of trade training with more than 260 people continuing in various stages of learning and training. The extension to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement wage subsidy will enable more employers to consider hiring an apprentice or trainee.”

More opportunities

CVGT Australia has been a leader in delivering trades training since 1983. In February, it collaborated with Bendigo TAFE, WomenCAN and the Apprenticeship Employment Network to deliver an innovative program called Connecting Women to Trades. The program introduced women to a range of trade occupations across seven weeks. Six employers were involved with eight women completing the program. 

“We looking forward to offering more opportunities like this to encourage more women to consider a career in trades, and we’re excited to have a number of employers on board to support it,” Mr Barnes says. 

Any employer who takes on an apprentice or trainee up until 30 June can gain access to: 

• 50 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the first year, capped at a maximum payment value of $7000 per quarter per Australian Apprentice, 
• 10 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the second year, capped at a maximum payment value of $1500 per quarter per Australian Apprentice, and 
• 5 per cent of the eligible Australian Apprentice’s wages in the third year, capped at a maximum payment value of $750 per quarter per Australian Apprentice. 

To learn more about the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement wage subsidy phone 132 848.