Australia Extends Apprenticeship Support for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Trades
- brg_news_room
- Feb 13
- 1 min read
Australia: The Australian government has extended financial support for employers and apprentices in priority and clean energy occupations, including refrigeration and air conditioning, under the Key Apprenticeship Program. The updated measures will continue incentive payments through December 2026, with the programme supporting New Energy Apprenticeships and targeting workforce development in critical trades. Since July 2025, more than 15,400 new energy apprentices have commenced training under the programme and its predecessor.
Under the scheme, employers can receive up to AUD 5,000 (USD 3,300/EUR 3,050) in incentive payments during the first year of an apprentice’s training. Apprentices may receive up to AUD 10,000 (USD 6,600/EUR 6,100) for full-time training, or AUD 5,000 (USD 3,300/EUR 3,050) for part-time training, with payments linked to milestones. Additional support includes weekly relocation assistance for apprentices who move for training, access to loans, wage support for apprentices with disabilities, and a separate reimbursement pilot for small and medium enterprises placing apprentices through Group Training Organisations, which will close to new applicants by 30 April 2026 or once its 400-placement cap is reached.
Source: Refindustry
