Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy
Published 24 November 2020 | Updated 16 March 2021
Changes to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy
In March 2021, the Australian Government announced that the BAC wage subsidy would be expanded for new apprentices and trainees signed up before 30 September 2021. This means that final claims for payment now need to be lodged by 31 December 2022 (instead of 31 December 2021).
Read more about the changes at Department of Education, Skills and Employment – Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements
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The Australian Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy supports employers and Group Training Organisations (GTOs) to employ new apprentices and trainees.
The BAC wage subsidy is administered by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE).
On this page:
Eligibility for BAC wage subsidy
Businesses or GTOs may be eligible for the BAC wage subsidy if:
- they engage an Australian apprentice or trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021
- the apprentice or trainee is undertaking a Certificate II or higher qualification
- the apprentice or trainee’s training contract is formally approved by the relevant state training authority.
The subsidy is available to employers of any size, industry or location. Employers receiving any other Australian Government wage subsidy in relation to an apprentice or trainee (such as the Supporting Apprentices and Trainees subsidy or JobKeeper payments) aren’t eligible to receive the BAC wage subsidy for that apprentice or trainee.
Contact your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) for more information about your eligibility for the BAC wage subsidy. Alternatively, you can call the Skilling Australia hotline on 1800 020 108 to find out who your AASN is.
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Amount of wage subsidy
The subsidy covers 50% of the new apprentice or trainee’s gross wages paid in the 12 month period from date of commencement or recommencement, up to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter. Payments are made quarterly in arrears.
Eligible employers can make their first claim for the wage subsidy from 1 January 2021. Final claims need to be lodged by 31 December 2022 (they were previously due by 31 December 2021).
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Our updated information
We’ve updated our information covering common workplace issues and entitlements that may overlap with the BAC wage subsidy. These include:
- minimum pay rates for apprentices and trainees
- converting from casual to full-time or part-time employment
- minimum protections at work.
Check out our updated information at:
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More information
More information on the BAC wage subsidy can be found at Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s website. You can also visit:
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