Support for Trade Apprentices

From 1 January 2011 trade apprentices will receive up to an additional $1,700 tax exempt bonus as they reach milestones in their training.

The Trades Apprentice Income Bonus means that trade apprentices will receive a $5,500 tax exempt bonus over the course of their training that they can use to purchase tools, service their ute, pay for registration and insurance, and meet other expenses.

The Trades Apprentice Income Bonus will be paid on top of the existing Tools For Your Trade payments. This means, as trade apprentices like carpenters, bricklayers and motor mechanics reach milestones each year they will get an additional:

• $200 - bringing the 12 month payment to $1,000.
• $200 - bringing the 24 month payment to $1,000.
• $500 - bringing the 36 month payment to $1,200.
• $800 - bringing the completion bonus to $1,500.

An additional 50,000 apprentices are expected to start and stick with their apprenticeship by 2014 as a result of this program.

The Gillard Labor Government will also support apprentices through high quality mentoring services to support them in finishing their trade apprenticeship.

Support for Trade Apprentices Fact Sheet