Employers and apprentices have received major support from the Morrison-McCormack Government today with a further $1.5 billion committed to expand the apprentice and trainee wage subsidy scheme started in March due to COVID-19.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan welcomed the funding and the $500 million JobTrainer scheme, saying now medium businesses with 199 or fewer employees would be eligible for apprentice wage support.

“I know local businesses have been doing it tough with about three-quarters of businesses suffering a direct impact from COVID-19,” he said.

“I welcome the relief provided today from Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business Michaelia Cash of an additional $1.5 billion for the Supporting Apprentices and Trainees measure.

“This means the 539 small businesses in Cowper already receiving the 50 per cent apprentice wage subsidy will receive it for a further six months, until March 2021.

“In addition, it will enable businesses with apprentices who were previously ineligible to now receive support as medium businesses with up to 199 employees are now eligible for the wage subsidy for apprentices in place on 1 July 2020.”

Minister Cash said the $500 million JobTrainer skills package would form a vital part of the national recovery efforts.

“Our nation has faced many challenges, and it is critical that we keep our apprentices in jobs and help those looking for work,” she said.

“This package will be essential as the economy rebuilds so that people looking for work can reskill and upskill for in-demand jobs, provide school leavers with a pathway into their careers and ensure businesses are able to get the skilled workers they need.”

It is estimated the Morrison-McCormack Government’s Supporting Apprentices and Trainees measure will now help almost 90,000 small and medium-sized businesses retain around 180,000 apprentices and trainees in Australia.

A total of 539 small businesses in the electorate of Cowper, those with up to 20 employees, are already accessing the apprentice wage subsidy helping to retain over 800 local apprentices and trainees.

Importantly, employers of any size and Group Training Organisations that re-engage an out of trade apprentice are also eligible.

States and Territories need to sign up to a new Heads of Agreement to access JobTrainer funding, with the agreement setting out immediate reforms to improve the vocational education and training sector, and providing the foundation for long term improvements in the sector as outlined recently by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his recent speech to the National Press Club.

Media Contact:
Mrs Cash – Guy Creighton 0438 815 302
Mr Conaghan – Liz Spry 0418 928 744