11,918 regional apprentices are already in
The Key Apprenticeship Program has signed up 11,918 new apprentices in regional Australia in 14 months, Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles and Lisa Chesters said in a joint media release on 6 October 2026.
The release says regional apprentices make up over 30 per cent of take-up in the housing construction stream. Each new apprentice can receive $10,000 in five payments.
Employers get incentive payments too, and the release says about 85 per cent of them are small businesses. It does not give the employer amount. Giles put it at $5,000 in a Bendigo doorstop interview on 5 October, which we covered here.
Where they are, and what they are training in
The release breaks the regional take-up down by trade: carpentry and joinery 40 per cent, plumbing 18 per cent and electrical 13 per cent.
By state, regional New South Wales had 3,360 apprentices, regional Queensland 3,220 and regional Victoria 3,010.
What is next for the Key Apprenticeship Program
The 2026-27 Budget locks in the Key Apprenticeship Program to 2029. From 2027, the release says there will be targeted incentives for small and medium businesses and Group Training Organisations.
Thinking of signing up? Check this first
The release points to apprenticeships.gov.au for details, so apprentices and employers should check there before relying on these figures. Amounts and eligibility can change.
Related NewsCop coverage: Waiting to train new builders not an option, says WA housing industry (August 2026)
General information only, not legal advice. Check the official source before acting.
Source: Minister for Skills and Training, joint media release (6 October 2026).
