Apprentices
Below are some answers to questions we are frequently asked in regards to your Apprenticeship and the Kickstart Mentoring Service.
Q: Am I a Kickstart Apprentice?
A: If you were under 20 years old at commencement and started your apprenticeship from 1 December 2009 – 28 February 2010 or from 12 May 2010 – 12 November 2010, and if your trade is a Skills Shortage Trade, then yes, you are.
Q. What is a Kickstart Mentor?
A. If you have a question about your apprenticeship and you are not sure who to ask, your local Kickstart Mentor is available Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 8:00pm to give advice and support and help you during the first few months of your apprenticeship.
Q: How much should I be getting paid?
A: Your rate of pay is set out in the award you are employed under.
Q: What is an award?
A: An award sets out the rights and obligations of employers and workers engaged in particular types of work. There are many different types of awards covering different industries and occupations.
Awards cover conditions of employment including:
- Hours of work
- Pay rates, penalty rates, overtime and other loadings, such as annual leave loading
- Allowances, for example, tools or uniform allowances
- Leave entitlements
- Employment protection provisions, for example, redundancy payments
- Part-time or casual work.
Q: How do I found out what award I’m under?
A: Question 38 of your Training Contract that you signed when you started your apprenticeship shows the name of the award you are working under.
Q: I can see the name of the award, but how do I get more information about it?
Q: What incentives can I get from the Government?
A. From 1 January 2011, the Tools For Your Trade payment initiative is available to eligible Apprentices in selected trade occupations on the National Skills Needs List, agricultural occupations, and, if in rural and regional Australia, horticulture occupations. This payment comprises of five tax exempt cash payments totalling $5,500.
For milestones after 1 January, 2011 the payments will be made as follows:
· $800 payable after 3 months
· $1000 payable after 12 months
· $1000 payable after 24 months
· $1200 payable after 36 months
· $1500 payable upon successful completion of the Apprenticeship
Q. What if I’m part-time or a school-based Apprentice?
A. Part-time or school based Apprentices will receive the first payment after they have completed 3 months of their Apprenticeship. Subsequent payments will be paid after 24, 48 and 72 months and upon successful completion of their Apprenticeship.
Q. How do I apply for my Tools For Your Trade payments?
A. Around the time your payments are due, we will mail you a claim form that you need to complete and post back to us. We will then transfer the payment directly into your nominated bank account.
Q. What should I do if I haven’t received my claim form?
A. Call our Kickstart Hotline on 1800 KSTART (1800 578 278) and we will arrange for one to be sent to you.
Q. Do I have to pay tax on my payment?
A. Tools For Your Trade payments are tax exempt.
If you have any questions about how tax exempt payments are treated as income you can talk to the Tax Office on 13 28 61, an accountant or a registered tax agent.