The Support for Mid-Career Apprentices 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 Mid-Career Apprentices payments, the Australian Apprentice must be 30 or over at the commencement of their Australian Apprenticeship 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 Mid-Career Apprentices initiative is to encourage more Australians aged 30 and over to undertake a trade apprenticeship by providing additional financial incentives to the Australian Apprentice or their employer.
The Support for Mid-Career Apprentices payments are made to either the employer or the Australian Apprentice depending on industrial arrangements. 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. Part-time Australian Apprentices are paid on a pro-rata basis.
The Support for Mid-Career 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, an accountant or a registered tax agent.
Please download the Support for Mid-Career Apprentices fact sheet for more information.
Please note: On 1 January 2010, the Support for Mid-Career Apprentices initiative will be renamed Support for Adult Apprentices and will be opened up to Australian Apprentices who were aged 25 or over at the commencement of their Australian Apprenticeship and who are completing an Australian Apprenticeship at the Certificate III or IV level in a trade experiencing a skills shortage.
Australian Apprentices or their employers currently receiving Support for Mid-Career Apprentices payments and transitioning to the Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payment will receive information about the changes closer to 1 January 2010.
More information about Support for Adult Australian Apprentices payment will be available on this website closer to 1 January 2010.