Financial Incentives and Payments for Apprentices and Trainees | Sarina Russo

If you undertake a New Energy Apprenticeship, you may be eligible for the New Energy Apprentice Support Payment which is up to $10,000 over the course of your Apprenticeship. This is usually made up of payments at the following points during the Apprenticeship:

• $2000 when you commence into an eligible Apprenticeship
• Three $2000 when you have completed your first year, second year and your third year of the Apprenticeship; and
• $2000 when you complete your Apprenticeship

 This is general information only and your individual circumstances may impact what you’re able to receive – your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider will assess your eligibility and assist you with submitting claims.

To check what you may be eligible to receive, please contact your Sarina Russo New Energy Mentor and we will advise you on your eligibility. Find out more about Apprenticeships advice and support.

Starting from 01 July 2024, incentives are available to eligible apprentices.

Yes, because Clean Energy Occupations are a subset of the Priority List, your employer is likely to be
eligible for the Priority Wage Subsidy. The Priority Wage Subsidy is paid at the following rates:

• 10 per cent of wages for first and second-year apprentices (up to $1,500 per quarter).
• 5 per cent of wages for the third-year apprentices (up to $750 per quarter).

You may be eligible to receive assistance through an Australian Apprentice Support Loan. The Australian Apprentice Support Loan is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible Apprentices and Trainees while you’re undertaking your Australian Apprenticeship. Australian Apprentice Support Loans are a loan that will need to be repaid once your income reaches the income repayment threshold and are repaid through the income tax system. If you successfully complete your Apprenticeship or Traineeship, you will be eligible for a discount on the amount you need to repay.

There are no restrictions on how you use the Australian Apprentice Support Loan – you can use this to cover living expenses, clothes, tools, transport, or anything else you need to purchase. It’s important to remember that this is a loan and you will be required to repay this once you reach the income repayment threshold.

Australian Apprentice Support Loans are subject to eligibility requirements – if you’re interested in finding out more about the Australian Apprentice Support Loan, you should speak to your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider and they can assist you if you want to apply.

As above for AASL, recommend we also remove all information on eligibility for LAFHA – would recommend we add the below to the “when you need to move from home for work” section and remove eligibility

There are eligibility requirements that apply if you want to access LAFHA – if you want to know more about this or you want to apply, please contact your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider and they will be able to assist you.

In addition to the existing apprentice incentive payments, you may be eligible for the following fortnightly payments from Centrelink:

• Youth Allowance for Australian apprentices aged 16-24
• Austudy for Australian apprentices aged 25 and over
• ABSTUDY for Australian apprentices of any age who are Indigenous Australians

To determine your eligibility for any of the above payments or benefits, please visit the Services Australia (Centrelink) website or contact Services Australia directly on 13 36 33.

Low income earners may also be eligible for a Low Income Health Care Card, to help with the cost of any medical expenses.

There is additional assistance available to eligible people with disability to help them undertake an Apprenticeship or Traineeship. Assistance may also be available to the Employer through the Disable Australian Apprenticeship Wage Support and through the Employment Assistance Fund.

 There are eligibility  requirements that apply to these supports, so you should speak to your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider if you would like to know more.

Find more information about the Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans, or contact the team at Sarina Russo Apprenticeships.