Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidies 043-22022208

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has engaged Services Australia to support service delivery of the following AWS:

• Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC), from 12 April 2022
• Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC), from 12 April 2022

BAC and CAC are paid under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program (AAIP).There are several apprenticeship wage subsidies employers or apprentices could claim under the Incentive System or AAIP. The agency only supports service delivery for BAC and CAC.

To prevent confusion, refer to each subsidy by its name (BAC, CAC or Priority Wage Subsidy) when speaking with employers rather than the collective term 'Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy'.

The agency undertakes:

• Verification of AWS claims, claims in the DEWR Apprentice Data Management System (ADMS), using DEWR Logons, and
• Inbound telephony support to employers claiming an AWS

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy supports businesses and Group Training Organisations (employers) that engage an eligible apprentice or trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 June 2022. Employers may receive a subsidy of 50 per cent of gross wages paid to a new or recommencing apprentice or trainee for the 12-month period from the date of commencement. The maximum amount is $7,000 per quarter per apprentice and capped at $28,000 for the 12 month period.

See the BAC and CAC subsidies table on the Resources page.

After 12 months of BAC, employers may be eligible for the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third year of an apprenticeship. Under the CAC, eligible employers will receive per apprentice:

• 10% wage subsidy for the second year up to $1,500 per quarter, and
• 5% wage subsidy for the third year, up to $750 per quarter

The CAC subsidy is only available to employers who have already registered for the BAC subsidy.

See the BAC and CAC subsidies table on the Resources page.

Before claiming a BAC or CAC wage subsidy, eligible employers must complete the BAC registration form with an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider. BAC registrations close on 30 June 2022. The relevant State Training Authority must approve the training contract before the employer is eligible to claim BAC or CAC.

BAC and CAC wage subsidies are claimed in arrears on a quarterly basis.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) will advise eligible employers to lodge their claim in the Apprenticeship Data Management System (ADMS) portal. Claims for BAC and CAC can be lodged after the wage period being claimed concludes (the effect date). Employers will receive notification from DEWR when a claim has been created for them to review and submit. This may be up to 15 days after the wage period ends. For example, although an employer can lodge a claim from 1 July, the effect date where they are claiming the wage subsidy for wages paid 1 April to 30 June of that year, a claim may not be created in ADMS for their completion until 15 July. The employer will receive an email from DEWR notifying them when the claim is ready for their action.

Employers must:

• provide evidence of wages paid to the apprentice or trainee to support their claim
• submit evidence that training has commenced for the apprentice. Evidence that 'training has commenced' relates to the formal training component of an apprenticeship or traineeship. For example, through a TAFE or other Registered Training Organisation. Employers generally provide this evidence to support their first BAC claim

Note: wage evidence must be provided to support all BAC and CAC claims, however commencement of training evidence is required only once, unless the apprentice's workplace is based in an exempt state or territory.

Employers have time limits to lodge their claims for each claim period. At the end of the claiming period, claims not actioned by employers, will:

• update from the claim status of Ready to Expired
• not be able to claim for that claiming period

See the Resources page for the BAC and CAC processing arrangements, effect dates and claiming time limits table.

Employers use Apprenticeship Data Management System (ADMS) to lodge BAC and CAC claims. Services Australia staff use DEWR logons to access and verify evidence for BAC and CAC claims in ADMS.

From 11 April 2022, Services Australia on behalf of the DEWR, started verifying evidence for BAC and CAC claims lodged on or after 9 April 2022, for wages paid from 1 January 2022 onwards.

Apprentice Connect Australia Providers process BAC and CAC claims for wages paid from 5 October 2020 to 31 December 2021.

See the Resources page for the BAC and CAC processing arrangements, effect dates and claiming time limits table.

Services Australia staff are not responsible for:

• determining eligibility for the AWS
• providing advice or assistance on the myGov ID registration process
• providing IT or ADMS navigation support
• claims for wages paid from 5 October 2020 to 31 December 2021
• reassessment of rejected claims
• appeals, complaints, compliance or debt actions
• enquiries about AWS other than BAC and CAC

Apprentice Connect Australia Providers determine eligibility for BAC and CAC. Refer employers enquiring about eligibility to their provider.

Services Australia staff are responsible for:

• verifying BAC and CAC claim evidence where a claim cannot be finalised through automation, and
• providing a telephony service for employer enquiries about their BAC or CAC claim

Note: ADMS will determine and pay the subsidy amount.

See the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program - Program Guidelines on the References page.