KICKSTART TO HELP SCHOOL LEAVERS BECOME APPRENTICES

Announced recently by the Federal Government: KICKSTART TO HELP SCHOOL LEAVERS BECOME APPRENTICES

School leavers seeking to become apprentices in the traditional trades are set to benefit from the Rudd Government tripling the first year apprentice bonus to almost $5,000 over this coming summer.

The bonus will be a $100 million “down payment” on skills for the future and will help young people find a job in the traditional trades. As part of the $100 million, the Government is providing $20 million to create up to 5,000 pre-apprenticeship places that give young people a head start in entering a trade.

The Government is boosting the commencement bonus from $1500 to $2350 and then following up with another $2500 at nine months. This will help school leavers in regional areas, where commencements in the traditional trades have plummeted by around 20 per cent over the last year, to enter apprenticeships for bricklayers, carpenters, electricians, hairdressers, cooks and welders.

Apprentice Kickstart will be available to employers who take on a traditional trades apprentice aged between 15 to 19 from 1 December 2009 to 28 February 2010 or until 21,000 commencements have been reached over summer.

The Government’s message to local employers is if you are thinking about hiring an apprentice – or have thought it costs too much, then see if this extra bonus will help give a school leaver a start in your business.