If so, read on as there are currently two Government assistance options available for Employers:
JobMaker Hiring Credit.
Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements Scheme (IMPORTANT Note This Extends to Non-Trade Trainee staff members).
JobMaker Hiring Credit:
The Federal Government is providing businesses with wage subsidies to hire Australians aged between 16 to 35. This provides a maximum of $10,400 to be claimed by a business for each new staff position created.
You need apply with the Australian Tax Office and it applies to eligible staff hired between the 7 October 2020 to 6 October 2021 where you have not also claimed JobKeeper for them for the same period.
Note - 6 October 2021 is the cut off date
Payments are processed quarterly with the quarterly Single Touch Payroll reporting process (ie each BAS quarter).
Once hired, the scheme applies for 12 months from the date the new staff position was created.
There are two classifications available:
$200 per week for eligible employees aged between 16 and 29;
$100 per week for eligible employees aged between 30 to 35.
Eligible Employees Criteria - Must work for an average of 20 hours per week each quarter and have received income support payments, such as JobSeeker, Youth Allowance (Other), or Parenting Payment for at least one of the three preceding months before being employed.
Eligible Employers Criteria - Must:
1) Hold an ABN;
2) Be up to date with tax lodgments;
3) Be registered for PAYG Withholding; and
4) Be reporting through Single Touch Payroll.
Eligible employers are able to apply for the JobMaker and Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements, but not for the same employee.
For more information please don't hesitate to contact us or refer to the ATO JobMaker Hiring Credit Factsheet
Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements Scheme:
NOTE - A lot of people dismiss this the minute they read "Apprentice" but it also applies to non-trade industries such as professionals or service industry trainees.
This is provided by the Federal Government and the scheme offers a wage subsidy to help businesses and Group training organisations to take on new apprentices and/or trainees.
Note this extends to Trainees in non-trade industries and professions.
The scheme started in October 2020 and ends on 31 March 2022, so there is still time to apply for this scheme if eligible.
The scheme offers a wage subsidy of up to 50% for any new apprentice or trainee role during this period. This equates to a maximum of $7,000 wage subsidy per quarter and is payable for 12 months or up to when the staff leave. So up to a total of $28,000 for the year.
Eligible Entities:
These are any size business in Australia and Group Training Organisations where they:
Hire an Australian Apprentice or Trainee between 5 October 2020 and 31 March 2022.
The Trainee or Apprentice starts a Certificate II or higher qualification and has a training contract that is formally approved by the State Training Authority.
The next dates of claim available are:
1 July 2021 - For the Wage Period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021
1 October 2021 - For the Wage Period 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021
How to Apply?
If eligible, the entity can lodge an intent to claim the subsidy by using the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements Registration Form available from Australian Apprenticeship Support Network Provider:
Or by contacting a Registered Training Organisation in your area about eligibility and courses available for a new trainee or apprenticeship role.
The new role must start before 31 March 2022.
For further information please refer to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements fact sheets below: