Category Archives: AENWA News

2021 ATO Tax Guide for Tradies

It’s tax time! It pays to learn what work-related expenses you can claim.

Do you know what you can and can’t claim during tax time? Lodging your tax return is easy with the ATO’s work-related expenses guide for tradies. Download the summary guide here.

When completing your tax return, you may be able to claim deductions for some work-related expenses. 

To claim a work-related deduction:

you must have spent the money yourself and weren’t reimbursed
it must directly relate to earning your income
you must have a record to prove it.

 If the expense was for both work and private purposes, you can only claim a deduction for the work-related portion. Common deductions for apprentices can include: 

Car expenses
Clothing, and tools and equipment expenses
Self-education expenses

 Remember to report all income in your tax return and remove any portion of your expense that is not work-related. 

2021 ATO Tax Guide for Apprentices

It’s tax time! It pays to learn what work-related expenses you can claim. Do you know what you can and can’t claim during tax time?

Lodging your tax return is easy with the ATO’s work-related expenses guide for apprentices. For helpful information on which expenses can and cannot be claimed at tax time, download this summary guide.

When completing your tax return, you may be able to claim deductions for some work-related expenses.

To claim a work-related deduction:

you must have spent the money yourself and weren’t reimbursed
it must directly relate to earning your income
you must have a record to prove it.

If the expense was for both work and private purposes, you can only claim a deduction for the work-related portion. Common deductions for apprentices can include:

Car expenses
Clothing, and tools and equipment expenses
Self-education expenses

Remember to report all income in your tax return and remove any portion of your expense that is not work-related.

Opportunity for hundreds of new apprentices and trainees to be engaged by small and medium sized-businesses in WA

Opportunity for hundreds of new apprentices and trainees to be engaged by small and medium sized-businesses in WA

Group Training Organisations in Western Australia today welcomed the government’s announcement that, if re-elected, it will invest $32.4 million to provide openings for an additional 300 new apprentices and trainees engaged through the group training network.

Premier Mark McGowan announced that the four-year program would enable 300 positions for apprentices and trainees placed with small and medium sized businesses and employed through Group Training Organisations (GTOs).

The Chair of the Apprentice Employment Network WA (AEN WA) Stuart Diepeveen said the initiative will provide a real benefit to smaller employers in helping to build a pipeline of skilled apprentices and trainees.

“It is vitally important that we look to the next generation of young people leaving school, and older workers who are changing jobs and acquiring new skills, who are in demand by employers.

“This program will be a big help to many small and medium sized businesses that want to take on apprentices and trainees and undertake work on state government contracts,” Mr Diepeveen said.

“This is where GTOs come into their own – helping SMEs that may not have previously engaged in the training sector to take on an apprentice or trainee. GTOs handle all the administration, pay the wages and entitlements and provide the mentoring and support that makes a difference to that person completing and gaining a qualification.”

A distinctive feature of group training is that the apprentice or trainee can be returned by the host employer to the GTO if, for example, work dries up, or the need arises for more diverse or different training or workplace experience.

The group training network felt the full brunt of the COVID-induced recession, with hundreds of apprentices and trainees in Western Australia being handed back by host businesses. GTOs maintained apprentices and trainees, paid their wages and entitlements and have placed almost all back into work.

Apprentices and Trainees Vital to Rebuilding Western Australia’s Economy

Apprentices and trainees vital to rebuilding Western Australia’s economy

Western Australia’s post-COVID economic recovery will depend upon a pipeline of new apprentices and trainees with the enthusiasm and skills capable of meeting the needs of a growing and evolving workforce, the Apprentice Employment Network WA (AEN WA) said today.

The network which represents the employers of some 2,000 apprentices and trainees has urged parties at the state election on March 13, to throw their support behind apprentices and trainees, in order to grow the state’s skills base and assist school leavers, as well as mature age workers changing careers.

AEN WA has released its policy blueprint, ‘Restoring and Reinvigorating the Apprenticeship Sector’, with recommendations to help boost apprentice commencements and completions, and assist the group training sector which has been hit hard by the COVID-induced recession.

Group training organisations (GTOs) directly employ apprentices and trainees and place them with ‘host’ businesses. A distinctive feature of GTOs is that apprentices or trainees can be rotated to another host business if, for example, work dries up, or the need arises for more diverse or different training or workplace experience.

New Program to Boost Mature Age Apprenticeships

Apprentice employers today welcomed the West Australian government’s unveiling of a pilot program to help take on mature-age apprentices and trainees in the building and construction industry.

The pilot, announced by Premier Mark McGowan and Education and Training Minister Sue Ellery, will see financial support provided for employers of mature-age apprentices in order to offset higher wage costs.
The government also committed, if re-elected, to funding the ‘gap’ in total wage costs between mature age and junior apprentices for 200 additional apprentices, in a pledge worth $5.2 million.

Stuart Diepeveen, Chairman of the Apprentice Employment Network WA (AEN WA) welcomed the initiatives, saying they would help address a key issue of importance to many employers who want to engage more mature age apprentices and trainees.

“We are seeing many more mature age people wanting to embark on apprenticeships and traineeships, but they face the hurdle of higher wage costs which can serve as a disincentive.
“The COVID pandemic has caused many to re-think their career choices and has seen a lot of interest in apprenticeships and traineeships from older workers.

“We need to look at everything we can to give mature age workers a chance to take up an apprenticeship or traineeship, because they frequently bring added life experience, skills and knowledge, which is a real advantage to their employers,” Mr Diepeveen said.

2020 Awards Of Excellence Winners Announced

The Apprentice Employment Network WA Inc (AEN WA), congratulates the winners of the 2020 Awards of Excellence.

The Awards of Excellence recognise and promote the outstanding achievements of apprentices and trainees employed by our member Group Training Organisations operating in Western Australia and the host employers who support them.

Chairman, Stuart Diepeveen said, “This year, despite the impact of COVID-19, the AEN WA was very privileged to celebrate the very best of our apprentices and trainees and our host employers, in person. The quality of the nominations received demonstrates not only the commitment of the young adults to their training, but the support and pastoral care received from their Group Training and host employers, that enables them to succeed in their careers.”

The evening was celebrated by 150 people, consisting of finalists, family and friends, industry representatives, State and Australian Government Members of Parliament and State Government members. The Hon Sue Ellery MLC, Minister for Education and Training in WA and the Hon Steve Irons MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training, and Apprenticeships, along with our sponsors, presented finalists with their certificates and winners with their trophy and prize money.

Special thanks once again goes to our platinum event sponsor, AustralianSuper, for their ongoing commitment and support to our Awards of Excellence annual event and our award sponsors: AMA Training Services; Warrikal; and Apprenticeship Support Australia, without whom these events could not be presented.