Additional funding boost for apprenticeships and traineeships - July 1, 2019

A new Employer Incentive Scheme will provide additional financial assistance to WA businesses who take on an apprentice or new entrant trainee. Under the scheme, businesses will receive a base payment of up to $8,500 for employing an apprentice or trainee. The scheme will be effective from July 1, 2019.

A total of $182.4 million has been allocated for a new Employer Incentive Scheme and training subsidies, including more than $45 million for regional Western Australia. The scheme will be funded through the redirection of payroll tax, once legislation is passed to remove the remaining payroll tax exemption for trainees. The payroll tax exemption for apprentices will be retained.

Additional loadings will increase the payment for regional areas, employees with disability, priority occupations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, and apprentices aged between 21 to 30 years. The incentive scheme will particularly benefit small businesses and not-for-profit employers.

For larger businesses, the new scheme will replace the payroll tax exemption for new entrant trainees, providing more transparent and equitable State Government support. Around 2,600 businesses currently benefit from the payroll tax exemption for apprentices and trainees.

More details to come closer to July.

Growing Skills for Industry

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