JobTrainer extension & apprenticeship boost

JobTrainer extension

The Government is extending the JobTrainer fund, which provides access to affordable training courses for young people.

Eligibility for the JobTrainer Fund will be expanded to deliver around 163,000 additional low fee and free training places in areas of skills need, including 33,800 additional training places to support aged care skills needs and 10,000 places for digital skills courses.

The Government is also encouraging more women to break into non-traditional trades, with training support for 5,000 places and more STEM scholarships for women, in partnership with industry.

The current exclusion that applies to deductions for the first $250 spent on education courses is to be removed, which will give more business owners (and their employees) a reason to learn new skills.

Extension of apprenticeship subsidies

The Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidies, which reimburse employers for the wages of new apprentices and trainees by up to 50%, is to be expanded.

Businesses of any size will be able to claim the wage subsidy for new apprentices and trainees who begin their employment between October 5, 2020, and March 31, 2022, with a maximum amount of $7,000 per quarter available.

Under the expanded program, the number of eligible places will be uncapped, and the duration of the 50% wage subsidy will be increased to 12 months.

Students

In the budget it was announced that student visa holders will temporarily be allowed to work more than 40 hours per fortnight, as long as they are employed in the tourism or hospitality sectors.

Also, from 5 January 2021, work limitation conditions placed on student visa holders have been temporarily lifted, to allow these visa holders to work more than 40 hours per fortnight if they are employed in the agricultural sector.

Contact your local TaxAssist Accountant if you would like further information and advice on any of the above.

Date published 14 May 2021