The Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payment initiative provides financial support to Australian Apprentices or their employer during the first two years of an Australian Apprenticeship. To be eligible to receive the Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payments, the Australian Apprentice must be 25 or over at the commencement of their Australian Apprenticeship on or after 1 January 2010 and be completing an Australian Apprenticeship at the Certificate III or IV level in a trade listed on the National Skills Needs List.
The objective of the Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payment initiative is to remove barriers to commencement and encourage upskilling by adult workers through an Australian Apprenticeship.
The Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payments are made to either the employer or the Australian Apprentice depending on the actual wage paid to the Australian Apprentice. Payments are made at $150 per week ($7,800 per annum) in the first year and $100 per week ($5,200 per annum) in the second year or until completion if this occurs within the first two years.
The Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payment counts as income for taxation purposes. To work out exactly how it could affect your tax, you can talk to the Tax Office on 13 28 61, or speak to an accountant or a registered tax agent.
Please download the Support for Adult Australian Apprentices fact sheet on the Publications page for more information.