Civil Construction Pilot Program

What is the Civil Construction Pilot Program?

A $5.996 million dollar program designed to address the wage-gap issue created by the transition of nine existing traineeships in the civil construction industry to apprenticeships.

As the award rate for a junior apprentice (under 21) is lower than the award rate for a trainee, wage-gap funding is available to employers of civil construction apprentices to offset the difference in the minimum award wages between junior trainees and apprentices.

CTF will also fund the wage gap between the trainee and the apprentice award rate for 50 mature-age civil construction apprenticeships.

The program will run over a four-year period and include a requirement for civil apprentices to attend an induction session facilitated by CTF’s Industry Training Advisors. CTF will contact all eligible employers and apprentices to arrange their induction date and time.

More broadly, the program will increase the quality of training in civil construction and create robust career pathways into the industry, ensuring a supply of qualified apprentices both junior and mature age. This is just one way that CTF provides financial support for apprentices in construction.

Background

The Minister for Education & Training, Sue Ellery, endorsed the Establishment and Variation (EVAC) processes in September 2021, which facilitated the change from existing civil construction traineeships to an apprenticeship model of learning.

Following Ministerial approval, CTF worked with the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD), the Civil Contractors Federation WA (CCF WA) and the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) to build a program that would assist the civil construction industry in improving the quality of training.

The program aims to ensure a steady flow of apprentices into State Government and private sector civil infrastructure projects over the next four years by subsidising Junior apprenticeship wages so they remain the same as the previous traineeship wages.

The existing base grant offered to employers who hire an apprentice has been increased from $8,000 to $10,000. The Employer Support Grant is intended to subsidise the costs incurred by the employment and training of an apprentice during the term of the training contract.

Impacted Qualifications

Table 1: Qualifications available under the CCPP:

Employer Support Grant

An increased base grant is available to all eligible employers as outlined in the Levy and Disbursements guide.

Wage-Gap Program

Junior Wage Gap Subsidy (under 21 years at commencement)

Eligible employers can receive a wage-gap subsidy from CTF if their apprentice commenced in one of the new apprenticeships (see Table 1) or transitioned from a traineeship to the apprenticeship on or after 3 September 2021.

Mature Age Wage Gap Subsidy (over 21 years at commencement)

There are a limited number of places available to direct indenture employers with apprentices over the age of 21 at commencement who are enrolled in the qualifications outlined in Table 1 above.

Process - Wage Gap Subsidy

Junior (Under 21) Age Wage Gap Subsidy

1. Eligible employers/GTO will be contacted prior to payment requesting eligibility documentation.
2. Upon authorisation, employers/GTOs will receive payment.

Mature (Over 21) Age Wage Gap Subsidy (Spaces are now full)

1. The MAWG program has limited places.  To apply, an employer must complete an application form.
2. Employers will be emailed to inform them of their acceptance into the program.
3. Employers will be contacted prior to payment requesting eligibility documentation.
4. Upon authorisation, employers will receive payment.

Process - Employer Support Grant

1. Please go to www.ctf.wa.gov.au to submit claim via CTF Portal
2. Ensure you have all supporting documentation before commencing claim as outlined in the Levy and Disbursements guide

Trainees converting to an Apprenticeship*/New Apprentices

1. Employers/GTOs will be contacted requesting eligibility documentation prior to an Employer Support Grant payment.
2. Upon authorisation, employers/GTOs will receive payment.

* Payments to Employers/GTOs of trainees converting to an apprenticeship may be adjusted depending on previous funding received.

Apprenticeship Office FAQ’s

Get more information about Civil Construction Pilot Program, or view the FAQ below.