Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program
Small and family businesses can register to be reimbursed for construction apprentice wages during training, based on an average training period of 8 weeks each year and up to a total of 32 weeks.
Eligible small and family businesses can receive a wage subsidy during training periods, equivalent to 50% of the typical wage for first and second year construction apprentices and 25% in the third and fourth years.
Registrations for the wage subsidy will be open until the first 2,000 eligible apprentices are registered.
Check your eligibility
To be eligible to receive a wage subsidy, your business must have:
- 19 or less employees by headcount (excluding contractors)
- a maximum annual turnover not exceeding $10 million
- a full-time, part-time, or school-based apprentice who is attending training.
Your apprentice must:
- be registered in a training contract in Queensland
- have commenced from 1 July 2025 and still be undertaking the apprenticeship
- be completing an eligible construction, plumbing, engineering or electrical apprenticeship from the list below
- have completed probation (generally 90 days)
- remain active in their apprenticeship at the time of each subsidy payment
- be one of the first 2,000 apprentices registered as eligible.
Eligible apprenticeships
-
- AHC30921 Certificate III in Landscape Construction
- CPC33020 Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
- CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry
- CPC31420 Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
- CPC32820 Certificate III in Fire Protection
- CPC32720 Certificate III in Gas Fitting
- CPC31920 Certificate III in Joinery
- CPC30620 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
- CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing
- CPC32620 Certificate III in Roof Plumbing
- CPC30820 Certificate III in Roof Tiling
- CPC31020 Certificate III in Solid Plastering
- CPC32320 Certificate III in Stonemasonry
- CPC31220 Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining
- CPC31320 Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
- CPC30120 Certificate III in Shopfitting
- CPC30216 Certificate III in Signs and Graphics
- MEM31922/MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade
- MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade
- MEM30819 Certificate III in Locksmithing
- MEM31322 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- MSF30422 Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
- MSF30822 Certificate III in Flooring Technology
- MSF30322 Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology
- UEE32220/UEE32225 Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
- UEE32120 Certificate III in Appliance Service
- UEE30420 Certificate III in Data and Voice Communications
- UEE33020 Certificate III in Electrical Fitting
- UEE30920 Certificate III in Electronics and Communications
- UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
- UEE30820 & UEE31220 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician & Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control (dual apprenticeship)
- UEE31020 Certificate III in Fire Protection Control
- UEE31220 Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control
- UEE31420 Certificate III in Security Equipment
- UEE40620 Certificate IV in Electrotechnology – Systems Electrician
What we pay
An eligible employer can claim 4 payments as their eligible apprentice progresses through the block training periods. Payments will be made at quarterly milestones in the training.
Each payment provides a portion of apprentice wages for an average training period of 8 weeks per year, starting at a 50% subsidy of the typical first and second year wage and reducing to 25% in the third and fourth years.
| Payments | 21 and over* subsidy | Under 21* subsidy |
|---|---|---|
| 1. 50% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $4,580 | $2,940 |
| 2. 50% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $4,580 | $3,320 |
| 3. 25% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $2,290 | $1,730 |
| 4. 25% subsidy^ for 8 weeks training | $2,290 | $2,070 |
*The subsidy is based on the age of the apprentice at commencement of the apprenticeship.
^The subsidy is based on a typical apprentice wage.
Registration form
If you are a small and family business employing an eligible apprentice, you can register for the wage subsidy through the online registration form.
Claim form
After registration is approved and a training milestone is achieved by the eligible apprentice, use the online claim form to request a wage subsidy payment.
More information
- Read the Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program funding guidelines.
- Refer to our frequently asked questions (FAQs).
- Phone us on 1800 210 210.
- Email us at sbapp@dtet.qld.gov.au.
This activity is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and Queensland Government to support more students to complete their training.