Indigenous Australians

Support is available to help you recruit and retain Indigenous Australians in an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Depending on the apprenticeship or traineeship and your situation, you may be eligible to apply for one or more of the following support.

Support for an apprentice

• ABSTUDY
  • ABSTUDY is the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Study Assistance Scheme and can give you an allowance that can help you stay in your apprenticeship or traineeship for longer.
  • ABSTUDY is available for full time apprentices or trainees who are Indigenous Australians and have reached minimum school leaving age.
  • Your eligibility can depend on your study, training and your personal circumstances. For more information we recommend you get in touch with your local Centrelink office on 13 36 33 or apply online. 

Support for an employer

• Indigenous Wage Subsidy (IWS)
  • The Indigenous Wage Subsidy is an incentive paid to employers when they employ Indigenous Australians on an ongoing basis.
  • The subsidy is worth up to $6,600 (including GST) over 26 weeks for a full time ongoing job of at least 35 hours per week or up to $3,300 (including GST) for a part time job of at least 15 hours per week, over 26 weeks.
  • To be eligible for IWS your employee must be:

1. An unemployed Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
2. 21 years of age or older and receiving an eligible income support payment.
3. Participating in a CDEP project and not in receipt of income support (the job must be outside of CDEP grant funding).
4. Under 21 years of age and not in receipt of income support, registered with Centrelink or a Job Services Australia provider as looking for work.  

• It's important to apply within 28 days of the employee starting the apprenticeship or traineeship. Applications and further information are available from the IWS website or you can phone the Indigenous Employment Line toll free on 1802 102.
• Career Development Assistance
  • Career Development Assistance of up to $550 (including GST) is available to employers with IWS participants (with job start dates from 1 July 2009) who enrol in an accredited training course, obtain a ticket (such as Stop/Go), or Licence (such as forklift) within their first 26 weeks of employment.
  • Eligibility conditions apply for the Career Development Assistance. For more information contact the IWS website or call the Indigenous Employment Line toll free on 1802 102. 

BUSY At Work can assist you in making an informed decision about which qualification and training outcome will best suit your needs, along with providing information on appropriate training organisations and their delivery options.