The State and Commonwealth governments provide employers of apprentices and trainees with financial incentives to assist with the cost of taking on an apprentice or trainee.
Information about these incentives, including links to more detailed information, is provided below.
State Government Incentives
The following State Government incentives are available to eligible employers of apprentices and trainees.
This incentive provides financial assistance for approved WA defence employers who take on an apprentice in one of four approved qualifications.
Eligible employers receive up to $20,000, paid at three milestone payment points – commencement ($10,000), Year 2 ($6,000) and Year 3 ($4,000).
Find out more about the AUKUS Defence Industry Incentive here
The Construction Training Fund (CTF) provides grants for employers to take on an apprentice or trainee in a range of construction occupations in WA. Eligible employers receive a base grant of up to $36,500 and may also receive additional loading payments for taking on Aboriginal, regional, female and mature aged apprentices.
Eligible employers may also receive additional loading payments for taking on apprentices and trainees who have successfully completed a recognised pre-apprenticeship or the Certificate II in Building and Construction (Trades Pathway) qualification as part of a Western Australian Certificate of Education program during full time enrolment in a Western Australian secondary school.
Pre-apprenticeship/Certificate II graduates must be employed in a recognised trade within twelve months of completing the qualification prior to payment of the bonus to an employer.
For more information, visit ctf.wa.gov.au/funding.
This incentive provides financial assistance for approved WA defence employers who sign up an existing worker into one of three targeted qualifications.
Eligible employers receive up to $6,375 (3 year traineeship) in two instalments, at the commencement and completion milestone payment points.
Find out more about the Defence Industry Existing Worker Incentive here
The Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy assists small to medium enterprises (SMEs) working on government projects in WAs building and construction sector, and on non-government residential construction projects in WA, by providing them with access to apprentices and trainees through Group Training Organisations (GTOs).
The GTO Wage Subsidy covers the average estimated award wage paid to apprentices and trainees working in the building and construction sector in WA. The subsidy does not cover superannuation, leave and other allowances, overtime, or over-Award payments.
Participating GTOs may receive wage subsidy payments of up to $134,625 (4 year apprenticeship).
The Jobs and Skills WA Adult Apprentice Employer Incentive provides financial assistance to employers (including Group Training Organisations) who employ a mature aged apprentice (21 years of age or older), who is living and working in WA, and undertaking an apprenticeship in a Priority Start occupation.
Eligible employers receive up to $26,800, paid at three milestone payment points.
Additional payments are available for eligible employers who take on apprentices from one of the following priority cohorts: Aboriginal persons; or women.
Find out more about the Jobs and Skills WA Adult Apprentice Employer Incentive here
The Jobs and Skills WA Employer Incentive provides financial assistance to Western Australian businesses who employ an apprentice or new entrant trainee.
Eligible employers receive a base payment of up to $8,500 and may also be entitled to additional loading payments for apprentices and trainees who:
• are undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship in a State priority occupation;
• are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders;
• have a disability;
• are living in regional WA; and/or
• aged between 21—30 years of age (apprentices only).
Employers whose assessable wages exceed WA’s threshold amount of $1 million per year, are not eligible for the Jobs and Skills WA Employer Incentive but are instead eligible for a payroll tax exemption (see Payroll tax exemption tab below).
The Western Australian State Government provides a payroll tax exemption on wages paid to apprentices under a registered training contract.
The Western Australian Group Training Program (WAGTP) is available to Group Training Organisations (GTOs) who are registered in WA. It provides incentive funding, as outlined in the table below, for GTOs to employ apprentices and trainees in priority target groups and support them through to completion.
The State priority target groups of apprentices and trainees to be supported include:
• Aboriginal Australians;
• people with disability;
• women in non-traditional trades;
• school based apprentices and trainees; and
• people in remote and regional areas.
To be eligible for WAGTP funding, GTOs must:
• be registered to operate in WA as a GTO;
• be compliant with the National Standards for Group Training Organisations; and
• place their apprentices/trainees with host employers through a formal agreement.
Registered GTOs are invited to participate in the WAGTP through a call for applications.
2025-26 targeted state priority groups and funding incentives
| Priority group | Commencement of training contract | Mid term (apprentices) | Completion of employment outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal | $1,800 | $1,000 | $1,200 |
| Aboriginal student at risk | $1,000 Year 12: $1,000 | NA | $1,000 |
| Person with disability | $1,800 | $1,000 | $1,200 |
| Women in non-traditional trades | $1,200 | $1,000 | $800 |
| School-based | $1,200 | NA | $800 |
| Regional | $240 | $200 | $160 |
| Remote | $1,400 | $500 | $1,000 |
For further information about WAGTP, please email WAGTP@dtwd.wa.gov.au.
Commonwealth Government Incentives
The Commonwealth Government also offer a range of financial incentives for employers of apprentices and trainees.
Information about Commonwealth Government incentives available to employers of apprentices and trainees can be found at australianapprenticeships.gov.au, or by contacting an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider here.
The Disability Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy (DAAWS) aims to encourage employers to take on apprentices and trainees who have a permanent or temporary disability, and who are able to participate in open employment with suitable support and training.
The incentive is payable to an employer who employs an apprentice who satisfies the disability eligibility criteria. DAAWS is also available to employers who employ apprentices who become disabled during their apprenticeship.
Eligible employers may receive up to $216.07 per week for a full-time apprentice or trainee, or on a pro-rata basis, according to the hours worked by a part-time apprentice or trainee.
The Group Training Organisation Reimbursement Program provides financial assistance for Group Training Organisations (GTOs) who take on an apprentice or trainee who is undertaking a qualification on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List. Apprentices and trainees must be hosted to a small to medium enterprise (SME) that has not directly engaged or hosted an apprentice or trainee through a GTO within the last two years.
GTOs may be eligible to receive a payment of up to $5,200 paid weekly for 52 weeks.
The Priority Hiring Incentive is available to employers who take on apprentices and trainees who are undertaking a qualification at Certificate III or above, that is listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.
Eligible employers may receive up to $5,000 in the first year of the apprenticeship, paid over two instalments.
Find out more information about the Priority Hiring Incentive here