Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor is encouraging small businesses in the Upper Lachlan to apply for a new apprentice wage subsidy.

The Federal Coalition will invest $60 million in the subsidy trial to get underway from 1 January 2019, as an incentive for employers in regional communities to take on more apprentices.

The trial will assist up to 1,630 new Australian apprentices in areas of skills need. Trades eligible for the wage subsidy are those included on the National Skills Needs List.

Mr Taylor said under the subsidy, eligible employers would be able to receive payments based on the apprentice’s relevant award wage rates.

“Subsidies will be provided at 75 per cent of the apprentice’s award wage in the first year, followed with 50 per cent in the second year and 25 per cent in the third year,” Mr Taylor said. 

“I have heard from a number of Hume businesses that it’s difficult to attract apprentices, particularly young apprentices, and difficult to retain them.

“I have also heard from larger businesses with the same problems, so I am pushing for the expansion of this trial to assist medium sized businesses as well.

“Through this incentive, the Government wants to help secure the skills that local businesses need to stay competitive and also to give local students new opportunities at home,” he said.

Upper Lachlan communities are part of the SA2 (Statistical Area Level 2) Goulburn region or Young region, the boundaries of which can be viewed on this Australian Bureau of Statistics map http://stat.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?ABSMaps

Mature age apprentices are also eligible under this trial. To find out more about how to apply, please visit this website Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme.

Caption: Angus Taylor is encouraging local small businesses to apply for a new apprentice wage subsidy.