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Benefits
There are various benefits available to help you get through your Australian Apprenticeship. These range from specialised Tools for Your Trade payments (available only to Australian Apprentices in Skills Shortage trades) to more general government benefits and allowances. For a full list of available benefits click here.
Common benefits guide
| AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES |
CERTIFICATE III
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Tools for Your Trade
(Skills Shortage Trades Only)
Please note: Australian Apprentices who have already received Wage Top Up or Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship payments will only receive some of these payments. Australian Apprentices who had completed 24 months or more of their apprenticeship on 01/01/10 receive no further payments.
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For eligible Australian Apprentices who commence or recommence their Australian Apprenticeship on or after 1 January 2009, payments will be made as follows:
- $800 payable after three months
- $1000 payable after 12 months
- $1000 payable after 24 months
- $1200 payable after 36 months
- $1500 payable upon successful completion of the Australian Apprenticeship
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Living Away From Home Allowance
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Up to $77.17 per week for the first 12 months, $38.59 per week for the second 12 months & $25 for the third 12 months for Australian Apprentices who were required to move away from the parental home to commence an apprenticeship or who were homeless. |
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
(Skills Shortage Trades Only)
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$150 per week for first year and $100 per week for second year where the Australian Apprentice is aged over 25 and undertaking a National Skills Needs qualification at Cert III-IV level. Can be paid to the Employer or Australian Apprentice depending on actual wages paid. |
Note: Benefits are payable subject to both the employer and Australian Apprentice meeting eligibility criteria set out in the Australian Government Australian Apprenticeships Guidelines. Please contact us for a detailed assessment of your circumstances before making any decisions based on this information.
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Available Benefits
AMA Apprenticeship & Traineeship Services
Living Away from Home Allowance:
If you are required to live away from home for your Australian Apprenticeship, you may be entitled to receive a Living Away from Home Allowance. To check if you are eligible and for further information, download the Living Away from Home Allowance fact sheet from the AMA Australian Apprenticeship Centre website.
Tools for Your Trade:
You may be entitled to payments which are to be used to purchase the tools required for your trade. For further information please contact AMA Apprenticeship & Traineeship Services or download the Tools for Your Trade fact sheet from the AMA Australian Apprenticeship Centre website.
Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
Applying for a Tax File Number:
To be directed to the Apply for a Tax
File Number form click here.
Education Tax Refund:
You may be eligible for the education tax refund (ETR) if you, or your partner, incurred eligible education expenses between 1 July 2009 and 30 June 2010 for the primary or secondary school studies (at school, home or TAFE) of:
- A child
- Yourself, if you were an independent student under 25 years old undertaking primary or secondary studies
For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Education Tax Refund information page on the ATO website.
Centrelink
Abstudy:
If you are Indigenous and a full-time Australian Apprentice, you could be eligible for Abstudy. Abstudy is an allowance to assist you in staying at school or participating in further study.
Depending on your situation, you may also be eligible for extra payments to help with the costs of your studies. For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrelink Abstudy information page.
Austudy:
You may be eligible for Austudy if you are aged 25 or over and are:
- Studying an approved full-time course at an approved institution
or
- Undertaking a full-time Australian Apprenticeship
For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrelink Austudy information page.
Away from Home Allowance:
If you need to live away from your family home to study or train, you may be eligible for the higher 'away from home' rate of Youth Allowance or Abstudy Living Allowance.
If you are an Australian Apprentice, you may be eligible for the higher rate if you need to live away from your family home to undertake the Australian Apprenticeship.
For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrelink Away from Home Allowance information page.
Fares Allowance:
If you receive Abstudy, Austudy, Pensioner Education Supplement or Youth Allowance, and you are living away from your permanent home to study, you may be eligible for Fares Allowance. Fares allowance helps you to cover the cost of travelling between your home and where you are doing your studies. For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrelink Fares Allowance information page.
Low Income Health Care Card:
A Low Income Health Care Card entitles you to various concessions such as:
- Cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Concessions offered by private companies
- Concession rate movie tickets at most cinemas
- Concession rate at Perth Zoo
- State and Territory Government and local council concessions, for example:
- Energy and electricity bills
- Health care costs including ambulance, dental and eye care
- Public transport costs
- Water rates
For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrelink Low Income Health Care Card information page.
Rent Assistance:
The cost of renting can be a major financial burden. Centrelink has a Rent Assistance program which provides extra money for eligible people, if you rent privately.
For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrelink Rent Assistance information page.
Youth Allowance:
Youth Allowance can assist you if you are a young person who is studying, undertaking training or an Australian Apprenticeship, looking for work, or sick.
For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrelink Youth Allowance information page.
Department Of Housing
Homeswest:
Homeswest provides public rental and accommodation properties to people on low income. To see if you qualify for Homeswest housing, visit the Homeswest Housing and Accommodation information page of the Government of Western Australia's Department of Housing website.
Goal Setting
What is Goal setting?
Goal setting is like planning for a holiday. When you plan a holiday you need to consider: Where are you going? How you will get there? Who will you see? What will you do when you get there? What unexpected things might you encounter once you get there?
Goal setting is very similar. You need to be able to plan: What it is you want to achieve? How you are going to achieve it? What you will do if your circumstances change? Who you might seek advice and information from to get there?
Question yourself as to whether your goals are realistic, reasonable and flexible. Follow this link to a view a workbook that covers some excellent points.
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Finance Money & Wages
For many school leavers, commencing an Australian Apprenticeship also means becoming financially independent. This may include opening bank accounts, paying bills, financial planning and shopping.
Banking and Credit
Opening a New Account:
So many banks, so many offers! All saying they have a good deal for you. What ID do you need to open a bank account and what should you be looking for when opening an account? Click here for information on opening a new bank account.
Loans:
Thinking of buying a car? Need a loan? So how do you go about getting a loan and what should you look out for? Visit the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website for tips and techniques on how to find the best loan for you.
Managing Loans and Credit Traps:
Credit cards and loans will charge you interest on the amounts you borrow or use. You could end up paying a fortune and being in some serious debt if you choose the wrong loan or credit card. Visit the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website for information on managing your loans and avoiding credit traps.
Finances and Planning
Financial Services Assistance:
Need a little bit extra. Got some questions you want to ask, but don't know who to call? The following organisations can assist you with financial information or point you in the right direction:
- Financial Counsellors Resource Project: 08 9221 9411
- Consumer Credit Legal Service WA: 08 9221 7066
- Financial Counsellor's Association of WA: 08 9325 1617
Money Tips:
Spending, saving and money for the future! With a little bit of planning you will always be one step ahead in the game. So what can you do to make life easier? Visit the Money Tips page on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website, for further information.
Tools and Resources for Budgeting:
Keep a track of your spending and savings by putting together a budget. For tips and techniques visit the Budget Planner page on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website.
Household Bills and Payment Plans
Synergy:
Split your bills into regular monthly repayments so you aren't hit with a big quarterly bill. For further information visit the Synergy website.
Telstra:
Have a house phone? Mobile? Internet? For further information on reducing your bills, visit the Telstra website.
Alinta Gas:
Split your bills into regular monthly repayments so you aren't hit with a big quarterly bill. For further information visit the Alinta Gas website.
Centrepay:
Centrepay is a free direct bill-paying service offered to customers receiving payments from Centrelink. Through Centrepay you can choose to pay bills by having a regular amount deducted from your Centrelink payment. For further information and to see if you are eligible, visit the Centrepay information page on the Centrelink website.
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Retail Directory
Clothing:
- Harbour Town is an outlet store shopping destination featuring frequent sales and discounts.
- Kmart is a well known discount store featuring low cost clothing and apparel.
- Salvos Stores offer quality second hand clothing and apparel at low prices.
Fruit and Veg:
Fruit and veg markets are often cheaper than supermarkets and offer a fun shopping atmosphere. Below is a list of different markets located around the Perth metropolitan area:
Grocery:
Whitegoods and Furniture:
Online Discounters:
Online discount sites can save you money on many household items as well as entertainment goods and services through promotional discounts and vouchers:
Student Edge:
Student Edge provides students with free access to online student services information including health and wellbeing, study and career tools. It also engages students with membership rewards, including a host of exclusive big brand discounts. For information on how to become a student edge member, visit the Student Edge website.
Union Cards:
For information on becoming a member of your industry union and to have access to union benefits and discounts, visit the Unions WA website to search for your applicable union.
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