Release type: Media Release

Date:

More homegrown apprentices for more Victorian homes

Ministers:

The Hon Andrew Giles MP
Minister for Skills and Training

Victorians are leading the way in benefitting from the Albanese Labor Government’s Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP), which is delivering more housing construction apprentices for communities across the state.

With the Housing Construction Apprenticeship (HCA) stream of the program recently marking six months, data has revealed that in that time there have been 3,415 housing construction apprentice commencements in Victoria from the program – the most of any state or territory.

Carpenters and joiners are the most popular occupations under the program in Victoria (1,102 commencements), followed by plumbers (953 commencements) and electrical trades workers (659 commencements).

The program, which helps apprentices to start and finish training in the critical skills needed to build more homes, provides support through a $10,000 incentive, paid in instalments over the course of their apprenticeship to assist with costs such as tools, equipment and fuel.

KAP apprentices receive $2,000 payments at six, 12, 24 and 36 months and on completion of their apprenticeship.

Employers of an apprentice under the program can claim up to $5,000 in the first year of the apprenticeship.

The Key Apprenticeship Program sits alongside other supports introduced by the Albanese Government to support more apprentices to start – and importantly finish – their apprenticeship, including the first increase to the Living Away from Home Allowance in 20 years.

Apprentices or employers interested in learning more about the Key Apprenticeship Program can find out more information at www.apprenticeships.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training, Andrew Giles:

“Six months in to the Key Apprenticeship Program it’s great to see so many West Australians taking up the tools to help us build more homes.

“From carpenters to electricians and plumbers, the Albanese Labor Government is backing more Australians to kickstart their apprenticeship in housing construction, and helping them through to the finish line too.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Cooper, Ged Kearney:

“Equality, safety and opportunity all start with access to secure housing. Here in the inner-North, demand for affordable homes is high, and it’s exciting to see local apprentices stepping up to help deliver them.

“If you’re thinking about a new career, there has never been a better moment to start an apprenticeship that offers secure, long-term and well-paid work.”

BACKGROUND

Facts at a glance:

  • In Victoria there have been 3,415 housing construction apprentice commencements in the first six months of the Key Apprenticeship Program (1 July 2025 to 31 December 2025), across 2,598 employers.
  • This includes 1,463 (42.8%) apprentices aged 19 and under.
  • Commencements are occurring across the state:
    • 2,443 (71.5%) commencements in Greater Melbourne and Geelong
    • 967 (28.3%) commencements in regional Victoria
  • The top five occupations in Victoria under the KAP are:
    • Carpenters and joiners – 1,102 (32.3%) commencements
    • Plumbers – 953 (27.9%) commencements
    • Electrical trades workers – 659 (19.3%) commencements
    • Horticultural trades workers – 170 (5%) commencements
    • Glaziers, plasterers and tilers – 98 (2.9%) commencements

ENDS