The federal government is expanding the New Energy Apprenticeships Program which provides incentives to encourage more people into sectors playing a key role in the transition to a net zero economy.

From 1 June 2024, the program will be broadened to assist more apprentices and trainees skilling-up in sectors with exposure to clean energy, such as housing construction, automotive and advanced manufacturing.

“The announcement of the expanded New Energy Apprenticeships Program is welcome recognition of the need to support more people to take up and stay in apprenticeships that are critical for Australia’s clean energy transition,” Clean Energy Council workforce development acting policy director Nicole Boldt says.

“Attracting people into apprenticeships and supporting them to complete will go towards addressing the workforce challenge facing Australia’s clean energy sector. Australia needs to grow the pool of qualified, skilled and safe tradespeople available to work on clean energy projects and this is a positive step forward.”

The program is also expanding the types of apprenticeships that are eligible, including designing and constructing hydroelectricity, solar and battery installations and electric vehicle maintenance and will remove a requirement that an apprentice’s work be solely dedicated to clean energy whilst retaining a clean energy skilling purpose for the apprenticeship.

Apprentices will be given up to $10,000 in support over the duration of their apprenticeship.

More than 2,210 apprentices have signed up since the program’s launch last year.