apprenticeship tool allowances

[andyman]

can anyone confirm that when you start an apprenticeship your given an $800 tool grant + the weekly allowence

[drewins]

Yeh thats correct. The government gives you an 800 dollar voucher to spend at certain Tool stores (mine was Blackwoods). Its called 'tools for your trade'. You can purchase these tools I beleieve after 3 months of employment. And they are officially yours after 9 months. I finally got my tools a couple of months ago. I got a 6 drawer tool chest with 120 piece tool kit and a bonus 7 drawer roller cabinet and 3/8 drive socket set. The whole set cost $900 so I just had to pay $100 on top of the $800 that the government gave me. So I got over $1500 worth of stuff for $100.

Enjoy it man and I recommend putting a bit of money in yourself so you get a decent kit.

I was lucky as Holden gave me tools (which arent actually mine to keep) when I first started so they just said I could take my 'tools for your trade' tools home. Sweet as I said.

[andyman]

so ya have to be employed for 3 months before u get the grant, do ya have to register for it or does it work itself out after a while

[coolvxss]

Would that be the same in canberra? Because im getting plumbing apprenticeship and have to buy about $1000 or more worth of tools. That would be a big help if i get $800 to start.

[andyman]

just found it http://www.toolsforyourtrade.com.au/Default.asp?page=1

[ssmate]

i heard bout this a while ago is it only for new app or wot?
im second year??

[andyman]

i heard bout this a while ago is it only for new app or wot?
im second year??

did you start after 1st july 2005, have a read of this http://www.australianapprenticeships..._FactSheet.pdf

[Boonz]

im a second year mechanic, i got my $800 grant from the government eventually, took 11 months to see the grant but i got it 4 months ago.... and weekly tool allowance is like $10 a fortnight or something pathetic....

i bought a torque wrench, air ratchet, cordless light, electric screwdriver, some tools for the workshop and stuff.
you dont actually OWN the tools till youve worked at the place for 9 months.
i could of bought a full sidchrome tool kit but would of had to pay full price for it so i just went out and bought the same kit for almost half price and ended up saving me about $1200.
you also get an extra $200 after completing your second year

[andyman]

on there websites it says the employer decides what you need and buys it for you, or does most employers cant be bothered

[Boonz]

pfffft the employer decides where you buy it from usually. they are going to be your tools so you choose what you want to have as everyone has different methods for undoing things with different tools

[andyman]

yep yep, thanks for that

[drewins]

A guy from Blackwoods came and saw us 1st years and advised us of what we should get relative to our trades. There were kits specially made up for the tools for your trade with bonuses. He also said you could just go and spend it on whatever YOU wanted/needed as long as your boss new what you were getting and was okay with it. Just go to a tool place that is involved with the program and they will be more than happy to help you. I chose a kit because mine was for home and I didnt have any tools so it was basically a starter kit e.g. spanners, sockets, hex keys, screw drivers and stuff.

You were doing a mechanic app. right? You would have to get heaps of specialised tools like torque wrench, air impact wrench and stuff so you would prob have to pick it all out yourself. You could prob go and sort it all out now what you want to get but the paperwork wont come in until 3 months is up.

[V8 Berlina]

Its fair for some trades but Mechanics, and as the plumber said, They need alot more then $800 worth of tools.
What about bakers and even Spary Painters. They wont need to much so there laughing.
I know a spary painter that got a $100 mask and a $700 gun or something like that

[holden#1]

i'm in carpentry and from what i've seen you need to be on your bosses case and push him to sort the tool allowance out with the government - bosses can be slackers in this regard.... I get $800 / year for tools & a $500 incentive (also from the government) to spend on whatever I like to supposedly keep me in the trade!

[andyman]

i'm in carpentry and from what i've seen you need to be on your bosses case and push him to sort the tool allowance out with the government - bosses can be slackers in this regard.... I get $800 / year for tools & a $500 incentive (also from the government) to spend on whatever I like to supposedly keep me in the trade!

how do ya get the 500?

[holden#1]

It's only paid twice actually and you need to be doing a trade which the government deems to be in demand...

As Follows...

Commonwealth Trade Learning ScholarshipThe Commonwealth Trade Learning Scholarship provides two tax exempt $500 payments to eligible Australian Apprentices undertaking qualifications in the skill needs trades with a small/medium enterprise or Group Training Organisation.The scholarship is paid to Australian Apprentices after they complete the first 12 and 24 months full-time (or full-time equivalent) employment in their Australian Apprenticeship.

[greenfoam]

If a Chef uses their own Knives you get about 10$ extra pay a week or something like that

[ProphetVX]

And yet uni fees go up and up.

I often wonder whether the government actually thinks university is a useful form of education, because they certainly tend to give a much larger helping hand to the tradies.

[Doubleshadow]

And yet uni fees go up and up.

I often wonder whether the government actually thinks university is a useful form of education, because they certainly tend to give a much larger helping hand to the tradies.

As University education get more competitive, it is inevitable that the prices would go up. It is best for a university education be publically funded. The problem there are always privatly funded Universities that would offer better facilities than the government. But because it is privately funded with superior education, it becomes colleges for the elites.

The government would be fools if they didnt think University education is useful. A country that does not have a high academic standard would see their standards of living plummet. You see what is happening with India and China...education is the key. In fact it is in the interest of the government to get as many people as it can into universities. Right now, Australia does not have enough graduates to meet its economic goals, and it therefore has to import certain skill sets.

If you look at all countries, you would find a direct coorelation between their literacy level and their standards of living, especially in a world economy.

[ProphetVX]

As University education get more competitive, it is inevitable that the prices would go up. It is best for a university education be publically funded. The problem there are always privatly funded Universities that would offer better facilities than the government. But because it is privately funded with superior education, it becomes colleges for the elites.

The government would be fools if they didnt think University education is useful. A country that does not have a high academic standard would see their standards of living plummet. You see what is happening with India and China...education is the key. In fact it is in the interest of the government to get as many people as it can into universities. Right now, Australia does not have enough graduates to meet its economic goals, and it therefore has to import certain skill sets.

If you look at all countries, you would find a direct coorelation between their literacy level and their standards of living, especially in a world economy.

Thats exactly right, yet with no offence to tradesmen, here is a situation a university student faces.

Upto $1000 in university fees every year from the outset.
Upto $10,000 in course fees every year (ongoing).
Upto $2,000 in textbooks every year.

Then they have to manage to work a job to pay it all off, completely unrelated to their field whilst studying.

Whereas tradesmen get heavily subsidised courses (may only need to pay up to a maximum of $1000 per year), get their tools subsidised, get paid to learn (employers get subsidised)... etc etc.

To me it's a very lopsided approach by the government, university fees are increasing, government subsidies are decreasing, and its starting to show in our workforce.

*NOTE* this is not having a go at apprentices or tradesmen, its just venting some anger in the differences in approach by the government between the two education systems.

[Doubleshadow]

Thats exactly right, yet with no offence to tradesmen, here is a situation a university student faces.

Upto $1000 in university fees every year from the outset.
Upto $10,000 in course fees every year (ongoing).
Upto $2,000 in textbooks every year.

Then they have to manage to work a job to pay it all off, completely unrelated to their field whilst studying.

Whereas tradesmen get heavily subsidised courses (may only need to pay up to a maximum of $1000 per year), get their tools subsidised, get paid to learn (employers get subsidised)... etc etc.

To me it's a very lopsided approach by the government, university fees are increasing, government subsidies are decreasing, and its starting to show in our workforce.

*NOTE* this is not having a go at apprentices or tradesmen, its just venting some anger in the differences in approach by the government between the two education systems.

I am going to get jumped on for this, but I am not saying it to be offensive. As an outsider, I do not fully understand how Australia is such a progressive economy, and yet it has such a major blue-collar workforce. Take for instance, Sydney closes down on weekend. That is unheard of in most major economies. New York moves 28 hours for every 24 hours.

Another symptom is a lot of these smaller stores, like independant pharmacies. I am surprised the larger conglomorates have not yet bought them up. Bear with me because I am leading up to addressing your point.

I believe if the government were to make agressive movements to reduce the trade subsidies, they would lose public support quickly. Australia has a history of labor unions protecting tradesmen, but governments from Hawk recognized Australia could not continue this legacy, if it wanted to compete in the world economy. Hawk and Keating started to slowly dismantle the power of the union with a culmination in Howard. The next shoe to drop will be a moving away from trade and into the service sector. That would require that funding move away from trade into universities. Unfortunately, the next generation of houses and cars will be mostly assembled by technological constructs.

Now, before you go hitting me over the head with a metal bat, I am stating what I see in the future, that does not mean I am advocating it.

[Garth]

why does the government help out us tradesmen.
well, let me put ti this way, for every 1 job in the paper for my trade (electrician) you are lucky if you get 1 person applying for it

for every job of office administration for example there are 10+ people applying for it

there is a huge labour shortage in this country. and let's face it, without use tradesman where are you lot gonna do all your flash type of work?

im on 80+k a year as a fully qualified electrical fitter mechanic. im happy


now back to the tool alowance, my tool alowance was 450 a year, and i didnt get it, employer did, and he/she passed it on to me via a purchase order so i got stuff relivent to my trade.

[Doubleshadow]

why does the government help out us tradesmen.
well, let me put ti this way, for every 1 job in the paper for my trade (electrician) you are lucky if you get 1 person applying for it

for every job of office administration for example there are 10+ people applying for it

there is a huge labour shortage in this country. and let's face it, without use tradesman where are you lot gonna do all your flash type of work?

im on 80+k a year as a fully qualified electrical fitter mechanic. im happy


now back to the tool alowance, my tool alowance was 450 a year, and i didnt get it, employer did, and he/she passed it on to me via a purchase order so i got stuff relivent to my trade.

You are not going to see tradesmen like electrician or plumbers being replaced anytime soon. Those are the lifeblood of the economy. But the car and housing industry is in for a rude shock in the next 5-10 years.

[walesy]

[QUOTE=Garth;470007]why does the government help out us tradesmen.
well, let me put ti this way, for every 1 job in the paper for my trade (electrician) you are lucky if you get 1 person applying for it.[QUOTE]

very true garth but the same problem that i had was at the end of the add it always says... experience needed... but to get experience you need to work so its a stupid circle

[ProphetVX]

why does the government help out us tradesmen.
well, let me put ti this way, for every 1 job in the paper for my trade (electrician) you are lucky if you get 1 person applying for it

for every job of office administration for example there are 10+ people applying for it

there is a huge labour shortage in this country. and let's face it, without use tradesman where are you lot gonna do all your flash type of work?

im on 80+k a year as a fully qualified electrical fitter mechanic. im happy


now back to the tool alowance, my tool alowance was 450 a year, and i didnt get it, employer did, and he/she passed it on to me via a purchase order so i got stuff relivent to my trade.

Why is there so few trained jobs available in this country is the question we should be asking, not why there are so many applicants (many of which are not suitable).... The answer is simple, large multi-national organisations stay clear of Australia because our workforce is not trained for the work they require. If you don't encourage the higher education, then it will further compound the situation.

There is a vast difference between an "office job" and a trained profession. You'll find that we actually come up quite short in quite alot of trained fields.