In late January the Australian government released the final report of the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System – Skills for tomorrow: Shaping the future of Australian apprenticeships.
The review was undertaken by former Federal Court judge, Justice Iain Ross AO, and former Secretary of the Australian government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training, Ms Lisa Paul AO PSM.
They provided their final report to the government in September 2024, and it is a very detailed report with 34 recommendations.
As a result of the level of detail in the report, the Prime Minister announced that the government is considering the recommendations (and will consult further with the sector on them). But he advised that some recommendations, designed to address cost-of-living pressures, are going to be implemented urgently. They are:
- “Maintain the 2025 Priority List and extend current Australian Apprentice Training Support and Priority Hiring Incentive payment settings by six months until 31 December 2025. This will provide consistency for employers and cost of living relief to apprentices in priority occupations during the consultation process.
- Increase the Living Away From Home Allowance from 1 July 2025 so apprentices can meet the costs associated with moving to take up an apprenticeship.
- Increase the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support payment from 1 July 2025 to support employers taking on apprentices with disability.”
The Prime Minister also announced that, if his government is re-elected this year, then from 1 July 2025, apprentices working in the residential housing construction sector will receive $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages. They will receive $2,000 at six, 12, 24, 36 months, and at the completion of their apprenticeship.
The aim is to encourage more people into apprenticeships in the residential housing construction sector to help tackle the national priority to build more than 1 million new homes in the next five years.
