In this week’s Federal Budget, a new incentive was announced: “Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement” (BAC). No eligibility is required, only that the start date needs to be on or after 5 October 2020. 

ASGA has sourced advice on this incentive and Sue-Anne Brady, Sydney Regional Manager of Apprenticeship Support Australia, has summarised the information on BAC as follows:

• Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) is available to the first 100,000 Australian Apprentices who commence or recommence with an employer or host employer of any size, including Group Training Organisations, on or after 5 October 2020, ie, a wage subsidy of 50% of wages paid 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021, to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter. 

• Eligible employers will be able to claim Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) 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 
• An employer must lodge all claims for Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) with their Apprenticeship Network Provider, ie, Apprenticeships Support Australia (NSW), by 31 December 2021. 
•  Announcement Details:   https://www.employment.gov.au/boosting-apprenticeship-commencements 

•  Fact Sheet:   https://docs.employment.gov.au/documents/boosting-apprenticeships-commencements-fact-sheet  

• Q& A:    https://docs.employment.gov.au/documents/boosting-apprenticeships-commencements-questions-and-answers 

Sue-Anne advises that the BAC is available for the first 100,000 trainees/apprentices and that whilst this may take a while to reach, the interest is high and is being taken up quickly and employers are recommended to make a decision as quickly as possible.