New incentive to hire an Australian apprentice.

At a time where all Aussies are feeling the pinch of the cost of living, a new Australian Government incentive may provide some financial relief to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) looking to grow their teams.

The GTO Reimbursement Program is a new incentive intended to reimburse some or all of the cost of GTO services for SMEs that host an Australian apprentice or trainee towards a qualification and occupation listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.

SMEs (with 199 or less employees) that have not engaged an Australian apprentice either directly or through a GTO within the last two years are eligible for the incentive. Up to $5,200 will be available over 52 weeks via a direct reduction in the usual GTO service rate.

The Program means SMEs will have more cashflow available to invest in other areas of the business while still benefiting from the expertise GTOs offer in the apprenticeship and traineeship space.

What is a Group Training Organisation (GTO)?

If you’ve never worked with a GTO, here’s how it works. We employ an apprentice or trainee and then place them with your business where they undertake practical on-the-job training. You supervise them on-the-job and teach them the tricks of the trade, while we – as their legal employer - take care of all the administrative and regulatory tasks, such as wages, workers compensation, insurances, health and safety compliance, recruitment and managing training contracts. The apprentice/trainee also completes off-the-job training with a Registered Training Organisation.

What are the benefits of using a GTO as opposed to employing direct?

Employing and managing apprentices and trainees can be time consuming and complex, but we’ve been doing it for the last 43 years, so you could say it’s our bread and butter. We offer end-to-end support for SMEs who don’t have the time, resources or capacity to manage the whole apprenticeship/traineeship process.

We start by finding the right candidate for your business using our large network of industry and school connections, using comprehensive recruitment and candidate screening initiatives. We then onboard them into the workforce with inductions safety education tailored to your industry.

Working with a GTO gives you more flexibility, with the option to rotate the apprentice/trainee to another host if required.

Every apprentice or trainee is assigned a dedicated workforce solutions specialist (WSS to mentor them and keep them on track both at work and in their studies, with regular monitoring visits to ensure you are happy with their progress, performance and development. Through early intervention, we can implement training and performance strategies to help apprentices and trainees overcome barriers and complete their training. It’s why we currently boast an 80% completion rate, and why GTOs across the board continue to lead the way in delivering successful training outcomes.

How do I take advantage of the GTO Reimbursement Program? 

If cost has been a factor behind your decision not to employ an apprentice or trainee, the GTO Reimbursement Program may be the financial leg up you need.

Visit our website for more information about the incentive or call us on 1800 247 864.