Release type: Media Release

Date:

2024 Australian Apprenticeship Priority List

Ministers:

The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP
Minister for Skills and Training

The Albanese Government is helping address cost of living pressures for apprentices and trainees, by expanding the Australian Apprenticeship Priority List to include 19 new occupations.

Apprentices and trainees that undertake training in designated priority occupations are eligible for extra financial support, as are their employers.

The 19 new occupations being added to the 2024 Apprenticeships Priority List are:

  • Ambulance Officer

  • Animal Husbandry Technician

  • Aquaculture or Fisheries Technician

  • Architectural Draftperson

  • Boat Builder and Repairer

  • Earth Science Technician

  • Fire Protection Plumber

  • Flight Attendant

  • Furniture Maker

  • Graphic Pre-press Trades Worker

  • Irrigation Designer

  • Irrigation Technician

  • Light Technician

  • Mine Deputy

  • Nursing Support Worker

  • Out of School Hours Care Worker

  • Pharmacy Technician

  • Shipwright

  • Sound Technician

The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List will be used by the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System (AAIS), to provide additional financial support to apprentices, trainees and their employers in order to boost apprentice numbers and support completions in priority occupations.

An eligible full-time apprentice may receive up to $10,000 over the duration of their apprenticeship to help with cost of living pressures, while an employer may receive support of up to $15,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship.

These payments are aimed at encouraging apprentices and trainees to pursue work in areas of skills shortage, complete their training, and go on to have successful long-term careers.

For more information on apprenticeships visit: https://www.yourcareer.gov.au/.

For more information on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List visit: https://www.dewr.gov.au/australian-apprenticeships/apprenticeship-support.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O’Connor: 

“I want to ensure we are giving every Australian the best opportunity to gain the necessary skills to secure a stable, well-paid and rewarding job, while also developing the skilled workforce our economy needs in priority areas now and into the future.

“The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List will help boost apprentice and trainee numbers in priority occupations.

“The occupations on the list are based on hard evidence drawn from public and private data, that has been analysed by Jobs and Skills Australia.

“The work carried out by Jobs and Skills Australia is imperative to determine what skills are needed today and what skills will be needed to future-proof Australia.’