Subsidy creating hundreds of new apprentice and trainee jobs in Wide Bay

The Morrison Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program is supporting 488 trainees in Wide Bay and its extension will help to support even more, Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien said today.

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program is part of the Morrison Government’s National Economic Recovery Plan and provides a 50 per cent wage subsidy for new apprenticeships.

The Program is being further enhanced to become demand-driven and expanded for a full 12 months for new apprentices and trainees signed up prior to 30 September 2021.

“The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy extension can create hundreds of apprenticeships and traineeships across Wide Bay, helping people access new employment opportunities and kick-start their careers,” Mr O’Brien said. 

“It’s a win for local businesses too, as with a 50 per cent wage subsidy for 12 months on offer, there has never been a better time to sign up an apprentice.”

The demand-driven expansion of the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy program is expected to generate around 70,000 new apprentice and trainee places throughout Australia in addition to the 100,000 it already supports, with the Government investing around $1.2 billion.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash said training and skills were at the core of the Government’s response to the economic challenges faced by the COVID-19 recession.

“Creating jobs, generating economic opportunities and boosting the skills of workers right across Australia are at the heart of our National Economic Recovery Plan, as we build back from the COVID-19 recession,” Minister Cash said.

“With 100,000 new apprenticeship positions already snapped up, it highlights the confidence businesses have in the future of the Australia economy.”

“Growing our skills pipeline is an incredibly important part of helping our economic recovery,” Minister Cash said. 

“By expanding this wage subsidy for another 12 months, we’ll be helping businesses to create even more jobs, further supporting our National Economic Recovery Plan for Australia.”

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements was one of the COVID-19 skills measures announced as part of the $4 billion in apprentice wage subsidies.

The Morrison Government is providing record levels of support to the vocational education and training sector in 2020-21, which is not only helping rebuild our economy but preparing for the future.

This includes the $1 billion JobTrainer Fund, which is supporting more than 300,000 additional free or low-fee training places for job seekers and young people.

We have also funded the National Skills Commission which harnesses contemporary data with labour market analysis to find the skills needs of the economy that in turn informs the qualifications and skills Australians need to train for.

The Budget also provided funding for the National Careers Institute which provides future apprentices, trainees and Australians looking to reskill or upskill with the information and support they need to take the next step in the career.

Further information on the support available to eligible businesses and employees is available at https://www.dese.gov.au/boosting-apprenticeship-commencements