Grants for Employers of Apprentices and Trainees

CTF grants are available to eligible employers that employ apprentices and/or trainees in specific building and construction qualifications. Apprentices/trainees must be employed under training contract arrangements that are registered with the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD) and have an ‘active’ status.

The employer grant is intended to reduce the costs of employing and training an apprentice during the term of the training contract.

A list of eligible apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications and the grant amounts available to employers is listed in the Table of Employer Grants. Eligibility criteria is also available on our website.

Grant funding available to employers

The following information is current for all eligible employers with apprentices and trainees. Due to recent changes in the base grant rate and supplement grants, the total grant amounts and grants disbursed in each claim may differ from the information below depending on when the apprentice or trainee commenced and when the payment milestone is reached. For more information, see the Employer Grant Increase FAQ or contact us.

Base rate

The grant has a base rate which is determined  by the qualification and nominated duration of the training contract.

The base rate of the grant for each qualification is determined by the Board.

The base rate is available to employers of apprentices or trainees resident in the metropolitan area, which covers the region within an 80km radius of the Perth GPO.

Grant supplements

In addition to the base rate, we offer several supplements for eligible employers .

1. Regional apprentices/trainees.

An employer may be eligible to claim an additional  supplement of:

• 10% of the base grant for the qualification if the apprentice/trainee has a residential address in a region outside the metropolitan area and south of the 26th parallel.
• 20% of the base grant If the apprentice/trainee has a residential address in a region north of the 26th parallel.

2. Pre-apprenticeship/Certificate II Building and Construction (Trades Pathway) through WACE .

An additional incentive of $2,000 is available to eligible employers of new apprentices who have successfully completed a recognised pre-apprenticeship or the Certificate II Building and Construction (Trades Pathway) qualification as part of a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) program. This qualification must be completed during full-time enrolment in a WA secondary school. Pre-apprenticeship/Certificate II graduates must be employed in a recognised trade within 12 months of completing the qualification for this supplement to be paid to the employer.

3. Employment of women

If the new apprentice/trainee is female, the employer may be eligible to claim an additional supplement of up to 40% of the base rate of the grant.

4. Employment of Indigenous people 

If the apprentice/trainee is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, the employer may be eligible to claim an additional supplement of 30% of the base rate of the grant.

5. Employment of mature-age people

If a new apprentice is 21 years of age or over on commencement of the training, the employer may be able to claim an additional 30% of the base rate of the grant.

Examples of funding employers can receive

1. An employer has taken on a new female apprentice with a residential address in Albany. The apprentice is undertaking a Certificate III in Carpentry (48 month) qualification and completed a Certificate II in Building and Construction (Trades Pathway) qualification as a VET course. The employer may be eligible for a $24,500 grant based on the following:

2. An employer has taken on a new 25-year-old male, indigenous apprentice with a residential address in Broome. The apprentice has undertaken a Certificate III in Solid Plastering (48 month) qualification and completed a pre-apprenticeship course. The employer may be eligible for a $30,500 grant based on the following:

Please note:

The potential value of the grant available to eligible employers may be affected if the apprentice/trainee:

• Transfers between employers; or
• Does not meet required CTF milestones.

The potential value of the grant may also be affected if an employer is eligible for milestone payments under the State Government’s Jobs and Skills WA Employer Incentive Scheme (EIS).

Grant payment structures and claims

All claims for employer grants must be made directly to the CTF.

Typically, the total grant available is made to an eligible employer in three instalments of equal value or when the apprentice reaches the following milestones:

1. Paid to an employer when the apprentice/trainee has successfully completed six months of continuous, full-time employment with a single employer.
2. Paid at the half-way point of the nominated duration of the training contract.
3. Paid upon successful completion of the full term of the contract.

For 12 or 18-month apprenticeships, the total grant available is made to an eligible employer in two instalments of equal value.

1. Paid to an employer when the apprentice/trainee has successfully completed six months of continuous, full-time employment with a single employer.
2. Paid upon successful completion of the full term of the contract.

When applying for payment of each instalment, an employer may be required to provide supporting information relating to the employment and training status of the apprentice/trainee, such as a work history or current payslip.

Applications for employer grants should be made during the time the apprentice is employed. However, we may provide the grant to an eligible employer up to 12 months after the apprentice has successfully completed the qualification, or from cancellation of the training contract.

We must receive each milestone claim within 12 months of milestone attainment.

Eligibility and adjustments to the grant value

The CTF has final determination of eligibility and the value of the grant to be paid to an employer.

The potential total amount of the grant is determined by a range of factors. Please refer to the Table of Employer Grants for more information.

Adjustments to grant amounts

During the term of training contract (indenture), we may need to adjust the grant value which may affect the amount paid to an eligible employer.

Adjustments to grant amounts are likely to result if:

• The employer is not the original employer of the indentured apprentice/trainee; or
• The apprentice/trainee did not reach the scheduled payment instalment point.

To confirm that an apprentice has remained in continuous employment, we may request to meet an employer and apprentice on a current work site at any point during the term of the training contract.

Please refer to the Table of Employer Grants for a full list of qualifications and funding structures included in the employer grants program. 

Please also refer to Section 2 for general conditions for eligibility for further details.

Group Training Organisations

Group Training Organisations (GTOs) employing apprentices/trainees studying eligible construction apprenticeships/traineeships are also eligible to receive our employer grants.

GTOs can use this funding to reduce apprentice/trainee employment and training costs, effectively reducing hire-out costs to an eligible host employer.

To be eligible for grants under our GTO program:

• The GTO must meet the criteria contained in the Group Training Organisations Funds Management Agreement. Please contact us at info@ctf.wa.gov.au for a copy of this document; and
• The host employers of the apprentices and trainees must actively and directly involve the apprentice/trainee in on-site construction, installation or fabrication activities in WA’s construction industry. The CTF determines the final interpretation of this requirement, and therefore eligibility determination.

We reserve the right to determine eligibility and the value of the grant to be paid to a GTO for individual apprentices/trainees. Especially in situations involving a reduction in term, and/or if the GTO is not the original employer of the indentured apprentice/trainee.

Our grants are determined for each eligible apprentice/trainee employed by the GTO based on their qualification. These grants are paid in arrears on a monthly basis, rather than at set milestones, and while the apprentice/trainee remains employed by the GTO.

Please note:

The potential value of the grant available to eligible employers may be affected if the apprentice/trainee:

• Transfers between employers; or
• Does not meet required CTF milestones.

The potential value of the grant may also be affected if an employer is eligible for milestone payments under the State Government’s Jobs and Skills WA Employer Incentive Scheme (EIS).

Continue reading Section 4: Upskilling and Short Course Funding

Contact us

For further information, please contact us:

• For general queries: info@ctf.wa.gov.au
• For levy-related queries: levycompliance@ctf.wa.gov.au
• (08) 9244 0100
• www.ctf.wa.gov.au