GTO Wage Subsidy
Reduce the cost of employing apprentices, with Skill Hire as your GTO
Grow your workforce.
Pay less in wages.
Starting July 1st, the WA Government has announced an extension to the Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program which will help employers cover wages for apprentices and trainees working on government projects and non-government residential projects, and will support 330 more workers over the next four years thanks to a $19.6 million investment.
These subsidies reduce the cost of employing apprentices and trainees by covering a significant portion of their wages, giving businesses an opportunity to grow their workforce while managing costs.
What’s being subsidised
This latest release includes a limited number of funded places, made up of:
- 205 places subsidised at 50% of wages
- 75 places subsidised at 75% of wages
- 50 places subsidised at 75% for women in electrical trades*
These places are not guaranteed and can only be accessed through a GTO. Early preparation is crucial to increasing your chance of securing a funded apprentice.
Get in touch with us today to start the process.
Why choose Skill Hire?
When you host through us, you get a partner who removes complexity and supports you every step of the way.
How we support our host employers
- Recruitment of suitable apprentices aligned to your trade and work
- Apprentices employed by Skill Hire, not your business
- Payroll, workers’ compensation, insurance and compliance managed
- Coordination of training, assessments and progress monitoring
- Ongoing mentoring and support to improve retention and completion
- Clear communication and support when workforce needs change
The team know what they’re doing and offer a wide range of solutions for both businesses and individuals.
We’re currently in the process of adding apprentices and trainees to our organisation and making use of the available government wage subsidy incentives. Skill Hire has made the process easy to understand and simple to implement.
FAQs
What is a GTO Wage Subsidy?
In the current release, wage subsidies are available at 50% or 75%, depending on the category. These subsidised places are limited and allocated based on eligibility and readiness.The apprentice remains under a registered training contract, and the subsidy applies while they are actively employed.
Who can access the subsidy?
Subsidised places are available across priority building and construction trades, including bricklaying, carpentry and electrical (with targeted funding for women in electrical trades).
Eligibility depends on the trade, the type of work you do, and funding availability. Skill Hire will assess this for you and confirm if it applies to your business.
Click here to read the full apprentciceship priority list.
What will Skill Hire manage?
- Employing the apprentice
- Payroll and entitlements
- Workers’ compensation and insurance
- Training coordination and assessments
- Mentoring, wellbeing and performance support
- Compliance with training contracts and government requirements
When should I get the process started?
If you already have an apprentice or trainee in mind, don’t wait. Contact us today so we can help place them with you now while we prepare the paperwork ahead of the application opening in July 2026.
If you don’t yet have someone secured, we can help with that too. Our team can source and place the right apprentice or trainee for your business and provide tailored workforce solutions to support you in the interim, prior to submission.
Are subsidised places guaranteed?
Can this wage subsidy be applied to an existing apprentice I have already hired?
No. The GTO Wage Subsidy only applies to new entrant apprentices or trainees who are employed by a Group Training Organisation (GTO) under a new training contract entered into on or after 1 July 2026. The subsidy cannot be applied to existing apprentices who are already directly employed, nor can it be backdated.
Skill Hire can help your business access other potential incentives to reduce your cost when hiring an apprentice or trainee. Email [email protected] to learn more.
We are committed to supporting National Reconciliation efforts through the implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan, fostering respectful relationships and creating meaningful opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
*Eligibility criteria applies. Access to the GTO Wage Subsidy is subject to the release of new program guidelines effective from 1 July 2026 and confirmation against the updated eligibility criteria. Approval for the subsidy is made by DTWD only, cannot be influenced by Skill Hire, and is not guaranteed. For the best chance of success, talk to us early so we can work with you to put the right plan in place.
