Queensland employers may be eligible for additional support to employ apprentices through new and expanded initiatives announced in July 2026. Australian Industry Group has strongly advocated for the need for increased support for employers to take on apprentices and this announcement directly responds to this advocacy:
- The Small Business Apprenticeship Program (formerly a pilot program) pays eligible small businesses for construction apprentice wages during training. This is based on an average training period of 8 weeks each year and up to a total of 32. The wage subsidy during training periods equals 50% of the typical wage for first- and second-year construction apprentices and 25% in the third and fourth years. Registrations opened for an additional 2,000 places on 20 July 2026.
- The TradieStart apprentice incentive helps with the cost of hiring and supporting an apprentice employed from 1 August. The program is limited to the first 2,500 eligible apprentice registrations and provides milestone-based payments to help employers recruit and retain apprentices. There are two streams available:
- Stream 1: for small businesses that have not previously employed an apprentice. Eligible employers can claim up to $10,000 for an apprentice under 21 years of age or $14,000 for an apprentice 21 years and over. If the apprentice identifies as being from an identified priority cohort this increases to $12,000 (under 21) or $16,000 (21 or over).
- Stream 2: for medium and large businesses and group training organisations that employ apprentices from identified priority cohorts. Eligible employers can claim up to $12,000 (under 21) or $16,000 (21 or over).
The Centre for Education and Training welcomes this investment by the Queensland Government in strengthening the apprenticeship pipeline in Queensland. Our research note in April 2026 highlighted the need to turn around declining apprenticeship commencements, particularly in Queensland given the scale of projected workforce demand.
These new Queensland initiatives will sit alongside the Federal Government's Australian Apprenticeships Incentives System and provide support for some employers negatively impacted by recent changes to these federal incentives.
Importantly, the new Queensland initiatives include a broad definition of 'construction', recognising that shortages of skilled trades exist across many sectors, including manufacturing. A full list of eligible apprenticeships is below.
Eligible apprenticeships include:
- AHC30921 Certificate III in Landscape Construction
- CPC33020 Certificate III in Bricklaying and Blocklaying
- CPC30220 Certificate III in Carpentry
- CPC31420 Certificate III in Construction Waterproofing
- CPC32820 Certificate III in Fire Protection
- CPC32720 Certificate III in Gas Fitting
- CPC31920 Certificate III in Joinery
- CPC30620 Certificate III in Painting and Decorating
- CPC32420 Certificate III in Plumbing
- CPC32620 Certificate III in Roof Plumbing
- CPC30820 Certificate III in Roof Tiling
- CPC31020 Certificate III in Solid Plastering
- CPC32320 Certificate III in Stonemasonry
- CPC31220 Certificate III in Wall and Ceiling Lining
- CPC31320 Certificate III in Wall and Floor Tiling
- CPC30120 Certificate III in Shopfitting
- CPC30216 Certificate III in Signs and Graphics
- MEM31922/MEM31925 Certificate III in Engineering – Fabrication Trade
- MEM30219 Certificate III in Engineering – Mechanical Trade
- MEM30819 Certificate III in Locksmithing
- MEM31322 Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
- MSF30422 Certificate III in Glass and Glazing
- MSF30822 Certificate III in Flooring Technology
- MSF30322 Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology
- UEE32220/UEE32225 Certificate III in Air-conditioning and Refrigeration
- UEE32120 Certificate III in Appliance Service
- UEE30420 Certificate III in Data and Voice Communications
- UEE33020 Certificate III in Electrical Fitting
- UEE30920 Certificate III in Electronics and Communications
- UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
- UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician and UEE31220 Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control (dual apprenticeship)
- UEE31020 Certificate III in Fire Protection Control
- UEE31220 Certificate III in Instrumentation and Control
- UEE31420 Certificate III in Security Equipment
- UEE40620 Certificate IV in Electrotechnology – Systems Electrician
For more information, please visit Business Queensland website
Small Business Apprenticeship Program | Business Queensland
