Employer Grant

The Employer Grant Program provides financial support to Western Australian construction employers when hiring an apprentice.

The Employer Grant from CTF has a base rate and bonus supplements which is dependent on the apprenticeship/traineeship qualification. The base rate of the grant attached to each qualification is determined by the CTF Board.

 

In 2024/25 this Program will increase the base grant for all three and four‐year indentures to a standardised base level of $15,000 for all new commencements; with commensurate increases for all other (12 and 24 month) indentures.

 

There will be a transition of all current, active Employer Grant funding structures to the new standardised base grant.

Direct Indenture – increase in base grant/supplements

 

New apprentice/trainee: From 1 July 2023 all employers of new apprentices/trainees will be advanced to the new base rate

 

Existing apprentice/trainee: If the apprentice/trainee has a milestone between 01 July 2023 and 31 December 2023 then the current payment will be paid and a top up payment will be paid in January 2024.

 

Group Training Organisations

 

Apprentice/trainee: From 1 July 2023 GTO will be eligible to receive the new rate (monthly) for each apprentice/trainee. They will continue to be paid the current amount and a top up payment will be paid in January 2024.

The increase to the base grant will apply from 1 July 2024. It will be valid for all eligible existing and new apprenticeships and traineeships currently supported by Construction Training Fund.

The processing of payments will commence in January 2025 and be backdated for all payments due in the first half of the financial year.

• The CTF Increase in base grant will be available to all current, eligible Western Australian employers and group training organisations employing apprentices and trainees in qualifications recognised in the CTF employer grant program.
• It also includes all new apprentice and trainee commencements.
• This includes those employed via direct indenture and group training organisations.
• All trades covered by Construction Training Fund.

Our employer grants help cover the costs of employing apprentices and/or trainees during training contract.

 

Grants are available to eligible employers of apprentices/trainees that:

·         Employ apprentices/trainees in specific building and construction qualifications; and

·         Have registered the training contract with the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD); and

·         Can demonstrate primary and substantial direct involvement in WA’s construction industry, specifically in on-site construction, installation and/or fabrication activities.

 

Other eligibility criteria apply. We can only determine your eligibility once you have submitted your application. You can find out more in our Levy and Disbursement Guidelines.

Typically, the sum of the total grant available is made to an eligible employer in three instalments of equal value.

The first instalment is paid to an employer when the apprentice/trainee has successfully completed six months of continuous, full‐time employment with a single employer.

 

The second instalment is paid at the half‐way point of the indicated nominal term and the final payment is made upon successful completion.

The final payment may be adjusted if the apprentice completes the qualification ahead of the agreed nominal term in the training contract.

All claims for grants by employers or group training organisations directly employing apprentices/trainees must be made directly to CTF.

If you employ apprentices and trainees who started their training under the previous funding structure (before 1 July 2024), you will automatically transition to the new structure.  

  

If your apprentice or trainee has a milestone between 1 July and 31 December 2024, the current payment will be paid, and a top up payment will be paid in January 2025. The top up payment will be the difference between instalment amounts under the previous funding structure (before 1 July 2024) and new funding structure.  

 

For example, your apprentice is currently on a three‐year indenture ($12,000 base grant). You have received two of three instalments, and the third instalment is due in October 2024. You will be paid the third instalment in October at the previous rate (e.g. $4,000). In January 2025, you will receive a top up payment of $1,000 ($15,000/3)-$4,000 = $1,000)   

 

This applies to employers (direct indenture) and GTOs.  

  

You do not need to apply for the top up payment.  

Any apprentices or trainees starting their training from 1 July 2024 onwards will be registered under the new funding structure.

If you have never employed an apprentice or trainee before, you need to ensure the training contract is registered in the WAAMS client portal. After that, we initiate the grant contract and the instalment payments to you.

Our employer grants range from $5,000 to $12,000. Additional bonus payments may apply. You can use our Employer Funding Calculator to see how much you could be eligible for.

 

Grants are usually paid to employers in instalments based on these milestones:

1.       When the apprentice/trainee has successfully completed six months of continuous, full-time employment (including probation) with a single employer; and

2.       Half-way through the training contract; and

3.       When the contract has been successfully completed.

 

Payments may be adjusted if the qualification is completed ahead of the agreed term, or if the training duration is less than what is specified in the training contract.

Once the Apprenticeship contract has been registered in the Department of Training, Workforce & Development’s (DTWD) WA Apprentice Management System (WAAMS), we receive information from WAAMS which triggers our assessment for Employer Grant Program Funding.

 

There is no requirement to submit an application to the CTF.

 

Once information is received from WAAMS, we conduct an assessment and request information from the nominated Employer at payment milestone due dates. Those emails are set to send to the nominated email on your Account – any updates to that email must be made in WAAMS.

 

When your apprentice/trainee reaches a milestone (listed above) we will send you an email requesting:

·         Copy of their payslip covering the period requested, and

·         Completed work history form, if applicable.

 

Your claim will be processed in approx. 30 days from the date we receive your documents. If you do not receive an email from us when a milestone is reached, please contact us.

No. You can access funding from either CTF (if eligible) or the EIS.

If you employ a new apprentice or trainee and have registered the training contract through the WA Apprenticeship Management System (WAAMS) portal on or after 1 July 2019, you need to declare if you intend to engage with CTF for these apprentices/trainees.

No. From 1 July 2023, the base grant amount is standardised by indenture term, rather than by qualification. For example, allstudents undertaking an eligible three‐year construction apprenticeship will be paid the same base grant ($12,000) regardless of their specific qualification.

Under the previous funding structure, the base grant amount was determined by qualification.

No, the current payment milestone structure will be maintained.

 

That is:

 

First instalment: paid when the apprentice/trainee has completed six months of continuous full‐time employment with a single employer;

Second instalment: paid at the half‐way point of the indicated nominal term (e.g. paid at 12‐months for a 24‐month indenture);

Final instalment: paid on successful completion.

Yes. The instalment amounts have been recalculated so the payments are more evenly distributed across the contract term. From 1 July 2023, all three instalments will continue to be equal payments. For example, four‐year indentures would receive a base grant of $15,000 distributed in 3 x $5,000 instalments.

Nothing. So long as your apprentice or trainee is registered in the WAAMS client portal, they will automatically transition to the new funding structure.

We will pay you the instalment amount and/or top up payment as it falls due ‐ you do not need to make a claim.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at info@ctf.wa.gov.au or on (08) 9244 0100.

In some instances, we cannot determine eligibility based on the qualification alone. For example, a sheet metal worker or an electrician may work across a variety of sites that do not involve training in a construction environment.

·         In this case, apply to CTF first (if you are working in the construction industry).

·         If you are not eligible (and declined), then the EIS will be applied instead.

·         If you are not sure if your apprentice/trainee is eligible for CTF funding but you intend to engage with us, you should declare ‘Yes’ in the CTF declaration in the WAAMS portal. This allows you to make an application to CTF first.