COVID-19 National: Business, Non-Profits – Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) Scheme

This program aims to assist with the recovery from the impact of COVID-19 by providing support to all employers who engage a new Australian apprentice. It seeks to support businesses and group training organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees, to build a pipeline of skilled workers to support sustained economic recovery.

This wage subsidy is in addition to the existing $2.8 billion Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy.

A wage subsidy of 50% of the commencing or recommencing apprentice or trainee’s gross wages paid from 5 October 2020 until 30 September 2021, up to $7,000 per quarter, is available.

The subsidy is capped at 100,000 places.

Group training organisations must pass on the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements payments to the host employer, or may retain the payment where an Australian Apprentice or trainee is no longer hosted to a host employer.

From 28 October 2020, an employer, or host employer (if using a Group Training Organisation), will be eligible for the subsidy for up to 30 existing worker commencements when:
- An existing worker transfers from a casual employment arrangement to either a part-time or full-time Australian Apprenticeship.
- An existing worker transfers from a part-time employment arrangement to a full-time Australian Apprenticeship.

There will be no changes for commencements of existing workers in trade-based Australian Apprenticeships.

Eligible employers will be able to claim the payments in arrears at the following effect dates:
- 1 January 2021, for any wages paid from 5 October 2020 to 31 December 2020.
- 1 April 2021, for any wages paid from 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021.
- 1 July 2021, for any wages paid from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021.
- 1 October 2021, for any wages paid from 1 July 2021 to 30 September 2021.

Final claims for payment must be lodged by 31 December 2021.

A total funding pool of $1.2 billion is available.

For further information on how to apply for the subsidy, including information on eligibility, contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

Eligible applicants include businesses or group training organisations that must:
- Engage an Australian apprentice or trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021.
- Have an Australian apprentice or trainee undertaking a Certificate II or higher qualification, and has a training contract that is formally approved by the State training authority.

Employers of any size, or industry, Australia-wide may be eligible under this program.