Businesses in South Australia have another chance to access subsidised wages when they take on new trainees and apprentices with the recently announced extension of the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement subsidies. The subsides are available to an uncapped number of applicants until 30 September 2021. About 40% of the subsidies have been taken up by small business and the South Australian Business Chamber encourages businesses who may not have previously taken on an apprentice of trainees to consider doing so.
The initial program reached its target well ahead of schedule, meaning many businesses missed out, this extension should create an additional 70,000 apprenticeships and traineeships.
The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program has assisted in reversing the downward slide in apprentice and trainee numbers and been key to rebuilding Australia’s skills base in the COVID recovery period. The South Australian Business Chamber with ACCI called for ongoing support for businesses to take on apprentices and trainees beyond the exhaustion of the first round of subsidies.
The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements subsidy provides a 50% wage subsidy for new apprentices and trainees. This subsidy is capped at $7000 a quarter and is offered for the first 12 months of employment. The subsidy is available for wages paid from 5th October 2020 until 30 September 2021 and is payable quarterly in arrears.
To be eligible, apprentices or trainees need to be undertaking a qualification at a Certificate II or higher level and have a formally approved training contract from the relevant state training authority.
For further information the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements fact sheet can be found here or for information on how to apply for a subsidy, please see the link here to the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers.
Save the date June 3, 2021 for our Taking on Apprentices and Trainees — The Benefits and Obstacles workshop — Details coming soon.
