Qualifications - Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements

To assist with the recovery from the impact of COVID-19, the Australian Government is providing support to all eligible employers who engage a new Australian Apprentice.

Program Overview​

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy supports businesses and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees, to build a pipeline of skilled workers to support sustained economic recovery.

Through the subsidy, any business or Group Training Organisation that engages an Australian Apprentice between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022 may be eligible for a subsidy of 50 per cent of wages paid to a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee for a 12-month period from the date of commencement, to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter. There is no cap on the number of eligible trainees/apprentices.

Eligibility Criteria​

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• Your business or Group Training Organisation may be eligible if:
  • you engage an Australian Apprentice between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022, and
  • your Australian Apprentice or trainee is undertaking a Certificate II or higher qualification and has a training contract that is formally approved by the state training authority.

Trainees with prior qualifications may be eligible for the wage subsidy.

Please speak to an MCI Course Advisor to discuss.

How much is the subsidy?

• Eligible employers and Group Training Organisations (GTOs) will receive a wage subsidy of up to 50 per cent of the Australian Apprentice’s gross wage paid.
• The subsidy is available for Australian Apprentices commencing or recommencing between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022.
• The wage subsidy is available for a maximum of $7,000 per quarter, per eligible Australian Apprentice, for wages paid in the 12-month period from date of commencement or recommencement.

Anything else I should know?

• The subsidy is available to employers of any size, industry or geographic location.
• The subsidy is not available for any apprentice receiving any other form of Australian Government wage subsidy e.g. Supporting Apprentices and Trainees or JobKeeper.
• Payments will be made quarterly in arrears, with first claims for the subsidy available from 1 January 2021.
• Final claims for payment must be lodged by 30 June 2023.
• The 100,000 cap limit has been removed to provide additional support to employers and GTOs.
• The Australian Apprenticeship Support Network will deliver additional Gateway Service places and enhanced In-Training Support for women interested in, or starting, an apprenticeship in a non-traditional trade occupation.
     - An additional 5,000 Gateway Services places have been made available to women interested in undertaking an apprenticeship in a non-traditional trade occupation.
     - In-Training Support services are guaranteed for women starting in non-traditional trade occupations.

Delivery Option

MCI can offer the above courses fully online with the guidance of a mentor, or a combination of online and virtual classes for larger cohorts completing the same program.