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New trades eligible for Tools for Your Trade
Eligible Australian Apprentices who commenced an Australian Apprenticeship on or after 1 July 2007 at the Certificate II, III or IV level in an agricultural occupation may now be eligible for a tool kit under the Tools For Your Trade initiative.
In addition, Australian Apprentices undertaking a Certificate II, III or IV qualification in Horticulture, in a rural or regional area, may also qualify.
Yes we at Ruraloutlets are an authorised supplier of these Tool initiatives
Ph 1300 732 652
Who will benefit?
You will benefit from this initiative if you are completing an apprenticeship in agriculture or horticulture.
The list of eligible occupations include:
- Farm Hand – Dairy, Poultry Farmer, Cotton Farmer, Goat Farmer, Sugar Farmer, Pig Farmer, Beef Farmer, Sheep Farmer, Grain Production, Horse Breeder, Cane Farmer, Alpaca Farmer, Beekeeper, Organic farmer
- Wool Handler
- Crutcher
- Shearer
- Wool Classer
- Stockman
- Nursery Person *
- Irrigation Assistant
- Tree Surgeon (Arborist)
- Floriculture Worker *
- Parks and Gardens Tradesperson *
- Green Keeper *
- Landscaper *
- Farm Overseer
- Wool, Hide and Skin Classers
- Gardener *
- Shed Hand
- Station Hand
- Milk Harvester
* Must be in a rural or regional locality
To be eligible, you must be undertaking an apprenticeship in any Certificate level II, III or IV qualification in agriculture - anywhere across Australia.
As a horticultural apprentice, you must be undertaking training in any Certificate level II, III or IV qualification in horticulture in rural and regional areas of Australia.
What is a Certificate level qualification?
A Certificate level qualification is a level of study. For example, in Wool Classing you can do a Certificate level II in Wool Handling, a Certificate level III in Advanced Wool Handling, and a Certificate level IV in Wool Classing.
- A Certificate II is normally an intermediate level, which will provide you with skills to enter the workforce.
- The Certificate III will qualify you to work as a tradesperson.
- A Certificate IV is a post-trade qualification that provides you with additional skills to do your job.
If you have any concerns, you should check your Training Contract or contact your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre (this is the Centre that helped you to sign you up to your training contract).
If you haven’t yet signed up to an apprenticeship, your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre will be able to help.
What will I receive?
As an agricultural or horticultural apprentice, you may now be eligible to access the Tools For Your Trade initiative, which provides a tool kit valued up to $800 to apprentices in their first year of training.
The contents of the tool kit are decided by the employer and their apprentice and can be purchased through any of the 7000-plus registered tool suppliers across Australia.
 See a sample of suggested tool kit contents for selected agricultural and horticultural apprentices.
In addition to the TFYT tool kit, you may also qualify for a $1,000 Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher to help you with course fees. This Voucher enables you or your employer to seek reimbursement of course fees of up to $500 per year for each of the first and second years of an eligible Australian Apprenticeship.
How do I apply?
Employers of eligible Australian Apprentices, who have begun their Australian Apprenticeship in one of the above-listed agricultural or horticultural trade occupations, are automatically sent a form once their apprentice has completed the first three months of their apprenticeship.
When the form has been properly completed and returned, if eligible, the employer will receive a Tool Kit Purchase Pack. This pack provides the apprentice with all of the details they need to purchase the tools – including a voucher that can be used at any tool supplier registered with the Tools For Your Trade initiative.
The employer and the Australian Apprentice will then choose the most appropriate tools for the trade. Initially, the tool kit will be provided to the Australian Apprentice’s employer for use by the Australian Apprentice. Full ownership of the tool kit will transfer to the Australian Apprentice nine months into their apprenticeship.
- Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher
A form and voucher will be sent to you if you are eligible for the Voucher. The form will need to be completed and returned to the address provided, along with a receipt for the course fees that have been paid so that you or your employer can be reimbursed. Click
here for more information about this incentive.
Where can I get further information?
Detailed information about Tools For Your Trade is available on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page of this website. For further information about Tools For Your Trade, which is not detailed on this site, call the TFYT team on 1800 557 875.
Information about the Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher is available on the
Australian Apprenticeships website or by phoning the Australian Apprenticeships referral line on 13 38 73.
For other details regarding apprenticeships and government incentives, you should contact your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre.
How is this different from what’s been provided before?
Previously, apprenticeships in agricultural and horticultural occupations were ineligible for these initiatives.
- Only trade occupations identified as being in national skills shortage were eligible.
As an additional incentive to attract workers back into rural and regional Australia, the tool kit and training (fee) voucher are being offered to agricultural and horticultural apprenticeships at the Certificate levels II, III and IV.
- All other eligible apprenticeships must be at the Certificate III or IV level.
What is rural and regional Australia?
Rural and regional Australia is generally defined as outside capital cities, except in the Northern Territory where Darwin is included as a rural and regional location.
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