Are you owed $10,000? Thousands of Aussies workers are urged to claim free cash payments

Thousands of Aussies are eligible for new support payments as part of a scheme to offer workplace incentives.

The Australian apprenticeship training support payment kicked in this week for specific trades deemed ‘priority occupations’ by the Albanese government.

The new $5,000 payment is aimed at apprentices who work in areas that have a high demand for skilled workers both currently and in the future.

If their occupation is in ‘clean energy’, workers are eligible for more money as part of the New Energy Apprenticeship Support Payment, which can be up to $10,000.

Priority occupation list includes aged care workers, arborists, boat builders, bakers, locksmiths and beauty therapists, according to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), the

The $5,000 Australian Apprenticeship Training Support Payment is given to eligible workers in four instalments over two years, and apprentices must be undertaking a qualification at the Certificate III level or above.

The New Energy Apprentice Support Payment is distributed over the course of the apprenticeship – which is up to $5,000 for part-time apprentices and up to $10,000 for those working full-time. 

Sectors eligible under the ‘clean energy’ category include agriculture and agritech technicians (pictured agriculture worker), as well as electricians, gas fitters and plumbers

The sectors selected as ‘clean energy’ are also varied and include agricultural and agritech technicians, automotive electricians, regular electricians, gas fitters, glaziers, joiners, plumbers and welders. 

‘It’s available where employers can provide apprentices with meaningful exposure, experience and work in clean energy,’ the DEWR states.

The two payments aimed to keep apprentices working towards their career goals.

Employers can also access a payment if they hire apprentices in the listed occupations, as part of the priority hiring incentive.

It provides employers with up to $5,000 in the first year of an apprenticeship, paid over two instalments.

Aussies are urged to check if they are eligible for the new payments of up to $10,000

Apprentices can see the full eligibility list on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website. 

According to Apprenticeship Support Australia, The New Energy Support Payment is eligible for workers who have commenced or recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship with a new employer on or after January 1 2023.

‘Or recommenced an Australian Apprenticeship after 1 July 2022 with the same employer after a break of greater than six months or twelve months if the commencement date was on or after 1 July 2022,’ it said.