Financial help
When you start your apprenticeship or traineeship, everybody wants to see you succeed.
The State Government and the Commonwealth Government offer assistance to encourage employers to take you on as an apprentice or trainee. They also want to make life as an apprentice or trainee easier.
On this page:
Travel concessions
First, second and third year apprentices and new entrant trainees registered in NSW are eligible to receive a concession card that entitles you to concession fares on NSW government buses, trains and ferries. Some private transport operators may also allow you to use this concession card.
Existing worker trainees are not eligible.
Travel and accommodation assistance
Apprentices and new entrant trainees may be eligible for travel and accommodation assistance if they need to travel more than 120kms round trip to attend day or block release with their registered training organisation.
Travel and Accommodation Assistance is $28 per day and the rate for travel expenses is 12 cents per kilometre. This applies to both public and private transport.
Once approved you can view your travel and accommodation payments history using the Student, Apprentices and Trainees login.
$100 rebate on car registration for apprentices
First and second year apprentices may be eligible to receive a $100 rebate on their car registration. To be eligible for the rebate, the vehicle must be:
- registered in NSW
- registered in the name of an eligible apprentice, or jointly with an eligible apprentice
- be registered for general private or general business use
- have been registered in the name of an eligible apprentice, or jointly with an eligible apprentice, at the time the registration fee and motor vehicle tax were last paid.
Details are available at the RTA website.
Continuing Apprentices Placement Service (CAPS)
CAPS is a NSW Government service that helps apprentices and trainees in skills shortage occupations who have lost their jobs because of the economic downturn to find an employer and complete their apprenticeship or traineeship.
Unemployed apprentices and trainees who are completing a certificate in a skills shortage occupation may also be entitled to financial assistance up to a maximum of $2500 to relocate to or from a regional area to continue their apprenticeship or traineeship.
Ben Chifley Scholarships
The Ben Chifley scholarships are available for first year apprentices in rural NSW who need some financial assistance to continue their apprenticeship.
In 2011 ten Scholarships are available for and will be awarded by the Premier of New South Wales in the middle of the year.
Each Scholarship is valued at $5,000 for every year the recipient is completing their apprenticeship up to a maximum of $15,000. At least two of the Scholarships will be awarded to people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background each year.
