The Albanese Government is building the workforce Australia needs for the future by paying housing construction apprentice tradies $10,000 in incentives, from tomorrow.
The Housing Construction Apprenticeship Program (HCAP) was announced to assist apprentices with cost-of-living pressures, while ensuring Australia has the workforce it needs to build 1.2 million homes over five years.
Eligible apprentices will be entitled to a total of $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages, over the life of their apprenticeship to work in housing construction.
Apprentices will receive $2,000 at six, 12, 24, 36 months, and at the completion of their apprenticeship.
Sectors captured under the HCAP include: carpentry, joinery, plumbing, electrical, glazier, locksmith, roof plumbing/tiling.
This initiative will work alongside the New Energy stream, ensuring we build the workforce required for Australia's transition to net zero.
Other changes to benefit apprentices, which come into effect from tomorrow, include:
- Increasing the Living Away From Home Allowance so apprentices can meet the costs associated with moving to take up an apprenticeship.
- Increasing the Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support payment to support employers taking on apprentices with disability.
The full list of qualifications eligible for HCAP can be found here.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:
"Apprentices are essential to building more homes. We are backing apprentices to get the skills they want, in the sectors we need.
"To build more homes, we need the next generation of tradies.
"The $10,000 in incentives will both encourage more Australians to pick up the tools and become a tradie and help them get through their apprenticeship.
"This is one of many initiatives we are rolling out to address skills shortages, boost workforce capabilities and increase skills access through vocational training."
BACKGROUND
Living Away From Home Allowance:
An increase to the Living Away From Home Allowance will support apprentices who need to travel away from their family home to access work and training.
From 1 July 2025, the Allowance will be increased to:
- $120 per week in the first year (an increase of $42.83)
- $90 per week in the second year (an increase of $51.41
- and $45 per week in the third year (an increase of $20)
Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support:
The Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Support program provides wage support for employers to assist with employing apprentices with disability, access to off-the-job tutorial, mentor and interpreter assistance.
The Wage Support payment will increase to $216.07 per week from the current rate of $104.30, with the payment to be indexed from 1 July each year.
