Financial and non-financial supports aimed at improving commencement, retention and completion outcomes for Australian Apprenticeships. As at 30 June 2023, First Nations made up 6% (22,395) of Australian Apprentices in-training, and 6% (5,795) of completions over the preceding 12 months.
Current Australian Government funded apprenticeship programs include:
- The Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (Incentives System), which replaced the (now grandfathered) Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program (AAIP) from 1 July 2022, and provides a range of financial incentives aimed at encouraging Australian Apprentices and their employers to commence and complete an Australian Apprenticeship.
- Australian Apprenticeship Support Services, which provide wraparound non-financial supports for Australian Apprentices and their employers. The Government is pursuing reforms to these support services, with the new model to be implemented in 2024 that aims to make mentoring more accessible and provide specialist support for apprentices who experience additional barriers to completing, including First Nations apprentices.
- Trade Support Loans (TSL) now known as Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans (AASL) program, which provides income-contingent loans for eligible apprentices and trainees aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures while training.