Grants and Incentives
In addition to the financial assistance and incentives provided by the Australian Government, employers of apprentices and trainees may be eligible to access Northern Territory Government funding.
The Northern Territory Government provides funds to encourage training to:
- support developing industries or industries in which there are skill shortages;
- increase training opportunities in remote locations;
- offer disadvantaged groups pathways to training and employment.
NT Employer Incentive Scheme
Under the Northern Territory Jobs Plan, the NT Employer Incentive Scheme has provided financial assistance to eligible employers to increase the employment of additional apprentices/trainees in the Northern Territory. The following incentives are available to employers of apprentices/trainees in the NT.
Payroll Tax Deductions
Wages paid to apprentices/trainees are excluded from taxable wages for payroll tax purposes.
Travel and Accommodation Assistance
In accordance with the Northern Territory’s User Choice Policy, apprentices and trainees may undertake off-the-job training with the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) of their choice, regardless of whether training is conducted in the apprentice or trainee’s locality, or away from home.
Employers and their apprentice or trainee who voluntarily choose off-the-job training away from home when the training is available locally, will have to meet any additional cost associated with this training. This includes any travel and accommodation expense as well as any additional costs over and above the standard rate provided by DET for the provision of RTO services.
If however, there is no RTO providing the training locally and where the only practical option available for some apprentices or trainees is to undertake off-the-job training away from home (more than 50km), either in the Northern Territory (eg Charles Darwin University, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, or private RTO) or in another state or territory, (eg TAFE or Institute or private RTO), apprentices and trainees may be eligible for financial assistance under the Travel and Accommodation Subsidy Scheme.
Travel subsidies paid to the apprentice or trainee may be equivalent to the average discounted airfare available on the dates of travel or the cost of a return bus fare. For distances of less than 1000 kilometres one way, the subsidy will be for a bus fare or if travelling by road, 45 cents per kilometre, whichever is the lesser. A grant of 45 cents per kilometre for daily trips is available, if the trip is more than 50 km one way.
Transfer subsidies to assist with the cost of travel between the airport or bus terminal and accommodation are available. The current rates are:
- Interstate travel $55
- Intrastate travel $33
Accommodation grants of $220 for a full week (7 days) and $31.50 for each extra day are also available.
It should be noted that the amount paid by the Northern Territory Government for travel and accommodation is a subsidy only. It is expected that the apprentice or trainee pay the remaining balance of the costs. Some employers also contribute to the costs of travel and accommodation to assist their apprentices or trainees.
Travel and Accommodation Subsidy claim forms are available from Australian Apprenticeships NT and should be forwarded to them for processing six weeks before travel is to occur.
For further information about the Apprentice and Trainee Travel and Accommodation Subsidy Scheme, please see the policies page or contact Australian Apprenticeships NT on 1300 137 130.
Australian Government Incentives
Australian Government incentives may vary and change depending on government policy.
Check the Australian Apprenticeships website or Australian Apprenticeships NT for up to date details and to find out which Australian Government employer incentives you are eligible for.