The Housing Construction Apprenticeship Program has been established in response to the Strategic Review of the Australian Apprenticeship Incentive System - released today - which found cost-of-living pressures faced by apprentices are steering people away from taking up apprenticeships.

From 1 July 2025, eligible apprentices will receive $10,000 in incentive payments, on top of their wages, over the life of their apprenticeship to work in housing construction or clean energy.

Apprentices will receive $2,000 at six, 12, 24, 36 months, and at the completion of their apprenticeship.

Eligible occupations for the housing construction stream will be determined in consultation with Jobs and Skills Australia and Jobs and Skills Councils.

Apprentices living away from home will also receive more money in their pocket, with Labor committing to raise the allowance paid to apprentices living away from home for the first time since 2003.

Labor’s plan for a Future Made in Australia is very clear: we want Australian workers to make more things here and that includes building more homes.

Encouraging more people into apprenticeships will ensure Australia has the workforce to deliver Labor’s Homes for Australia Plan, an ambitious target to deliver 1.2 million homes over the next 5 years.

It builds on the Federal Labor Government’s plan to support more students and trainees through expanding Free TAFE and slashing HECS fees for university students.


QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BENDIGO, LISA CHESTERS MP: 

“We want to build more homes for more Australians, but we can’t do that without a skilled workforce to help build our future.

“This incentive encourages more Australians to take up a trade and supports them on their journey to finish their apprenticeship.

“Labor is backing our skills and training sector, building on our investments into Fee-Free TAFE and making student debt fairer for all Australians.”