Everyday Australians have entered the new year up to $30,000 poorer due to a rampant cost of living crisis.
But the Albanian government has today announced a new package to ease pressures on one group of people: new trainees and “priority” trainees.
People entering the workforce in 19 selected industries may be eligible to receive an additional $10,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship in a bid to increase numbers in crucial industries.
Ambulance officers, furniture makers, pharmacy technicians and nursing support workers are the big winners from the commitment, Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor has announced.
In addition to the apprentice payment, employers can receive an additional $15,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship.
People entering the workforce in 19 selected industries may be eligible to receive an additional $10,000 over the duration of the apprenticeship in a bid to boost numbers in crucial industries.
Ambulance officers, furniture makers, pharmacy technicians and nursing support workers are the big winners from the commitment, Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor has announced.
O’Connor said he hopes the cash incentive will help develop “the skilled workforce our economy needs in priority areas now and in the future.”
“The listed occupations are based on compelling evidence drawn from public and private data, which has been analyzed by Jobs and Skills Australia,” he said.
“The work carried out by Jobs and Skills Australia is imperative in determining what skills are needed today and what skills will be needed to prepare Australia for the future.”
Loan comparison service RateCity revealed that average mortgage interest costs have soared to $69,700 in 2023, up from just under $42,000 in 2022, based on a $1.12 million loan, 80 per cent of the price average home in Sydney in 2022 for $1.4 million.
RateCity research director Sally Tindall told the Daily Telegraph ‘Every walk is not like getting a one-time parking ticket, or a broken water heater, or even the annual rego renewal.
“It’s an extra expense that people have to pay, month after month, after month.”
It is becoming harder to find rental property in Australia (pictured is a queue to view an apartment in Bondi), as interest rates soar and landlords charge more.
In addition to rate increases, electricity costs have skyrocketed, as have food bills and gasoline prices.
Some relief is expected to come in 2024 with the stage three tax cuts.
And the government’s latest announcement on the expansion of Australia’s Learning Priorities List is a move Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hopes will further ease pressures.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the department said: “These payments aim to encourage apprentices and trainees to seek work in skills shortage areas, complete their training and continue successful long-term careers.”
Additionally, a number of Centrelink fortnightly payments, including Youth Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy, Disability Support Pension and Carer’s Allowance, will increase as part of an annual indexation adjustment benefiting 936,000 Australians.
These beneficiaries are getting a big boost, above the latest inflation rate, as the Reserve Bank’s rate increases to reduce inflation hit middle-aged home borrowers struggling with higher mortgage payments. high.
The youth allowance for teenagers under 18 living at home will increase by $22.40 to $395.30 per fortnight, in line with the Abstudy rate for those of the same age.
Those living away from home and studying, aged 18 to 24, will see their Youth Allowance or Austudy payment increase by $36.20 to $639.
The youth allowance covers those aged 16 to 21 looking for full-time work, those aged 18 to 24 studying full-time and those aged 16 to 24 undertaking an apprenticeship.
Australians are feeling the pressure now more than ever. The Prime Minister helped serve the free Christmas lunch on December 25.
Carers’ allowance will increase by $8.70 a fortnight to $153.50, while nursing support worker trainees will be entitled to extra pay.
The Disability Support Pension for children under 18 years of age living at home will increase by $31.10 to $548.80.
Those between 18 and 20 years old will receive an increase of $34.50, bringing it to $608.70.
Disabled Australians living independently will see their payments increase by $44.90 each fortnight to $792.50.
The carer’s allowance will increase by $8.70 per fortnight to $153.50.
The 6 percent increase is more generous than recent inflation figures: the September quarter inflation rate was 5.4 percent and the October monthly rate was 4.9 percent.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth praised the six per cent welfare increase which will help 936,000 people.
“Australia’s social security system is a safety net that is continually strengthened and improved to support all vulnerable Australians,” he said.
“Through periodic indexation, our payments are adjusted according to changes in the cost of living to maintain their purchasing power.”