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The federal government has launched new incentives for both apprentices and their employers including $5,000 in training support payments for welders and welding related fields.

The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List identifies priority occupations for the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System which commenced 1 July 2022.

Refrigeration and air conditioning technicians are included in the priority list which was published by the National Skills Commission.

It identifies occupations classified by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as either technicians or trade workers.

Employers receive a 10 per cent wage subsidy for the first and second year of an eligible apprenticeship, with a five per cent subsidy in the third year.

The apprentice is entitled to $5,000 in training support payments in the first two years of their apprenticeship or $1,250 every six months to go towards the cost of living to ensure they can complete their training.

The apprentice should be undertaking a qualification at either Certificate III, IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma level leading to an occupation on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

The wage subsidy for employers is set at 10 per cent of the apprentice’s wages for the first and second year, of up to a maximum of $1,500 per quarter and five  per cent of the apprentice’s wages in the third year, up to a maximum of $750 per quarter.