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Australian apprenticeships wages are guided by certain wage entitlements required by the Australian government. There are different entitlements for different apprenticeships.  Entitlements are established by the government and each wage entitlement has a set of criteria one needs to meet to receive it.

There is assistance for young adults, those aged 25 and over, Indigenous Australians, those who are supposed to live away from home and apprentices with disabilities. Please note the apprenticeships wages entitlements outlined here and relative amounts are current as of January 2012 and may change over time.

Australian apprenticeships wages for people 16-24 include the Youth Allowance.  Apprentices who are aged 25 or older may be eligible for the Austudy Allowance.  Indigenous Australians may qualify for the ABSTUDY Allowance.  These allowances are fortnight payments.  These are all Centrelinked administered allowances.  Regardless of age, during the first three years of an apprenticeship, all apprentices may be eligible for the Living Away from Home Allowance.

Another Australian apprenticeships wages allowance available for those 25 and over is the Support for Adult Australian Apprentices allowance.  This particular allowance is designated to apprentices learning a trade in a field that suffers a shortage of skilled workers.  Payments are made on a weekly basis.  For those enrolled in full-time apprenticeships, the weekly amount is $150.  This adds up to an annual rate of $7800.  This amount is for the first year of the apprenticeship.

During the second year, the rate decreases to $100 per week with annual accruement of $5200 per year.  The rates are less for part-time apprentices.  Weekly payments for part-time apprentices are $75 during the first two years.  For second two years, the weekly rate decreases to $50.  The money is paid to the individual or it is paid to the employer.  Who the money is given to initially is fully dependent upon the amount of the apprentice’s wages from the employer.

Another form of apprenticeships wages is the Tools for Your Trade payment.  This type of payment is for those who are in agricultural apprenticeships.  These payments are paid in five increments.  The first payment is $800 and it is paid at the three-month date.  The second and third payment is $1000 dollars and it is paid at the twelve and twenty-four month anniversary of the apprenticeship. The fourth payment is $700 and it is paid at the thirty-six month marker.  When the apprenticeship is successfully completed, the fifth payment is made.  The fifth payment is $700 as well.

There are also apprenticeships wages for those with disabilities.  Apprentices who meet disability standards, or become disabled during the duration of their apprenticeship may qualify for different amounts of allowances.  The program covering Australians with disabilities is known as the Disabled Australian Wage Support program.  It is best to contact them directly to find out what is available for the apprentice depending on his or her disability.

The Australian apprenticeships wages entitlements are available for everyone.  Those seeking apprenticeships should be able to receive an allowance.  The type of allowance and the amount is dependent upon the criteria he or she meets.