Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card
Eligible apprentices, trainees and university students living in regional, rural and remote areas of NSW can apply for a $250 prepaid card to help ease the cost of travel and support access to education and training.
The program is available for a 2-year trial period, starting in early 2023.
Visit Regional Apprentice and University Student Travel Card.
Financial support for Australian apprentices
If your apprentices need financial assistance to help with the costs of their apprenticeship, they may be eligible for support from the Australian Government, such as:
- an Australian apprentice training support payment
- new energy apprentice support payment
- support for women in trades
- trade support loans
- living away from home allowance
- disability assistance.
Visit Financial support for Australian apprentices.
State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA)
SIRA’s Small Business Assist tool helps employers navigate their workers compensation obligations during and beyond times of crisis and natural disaster.
For questions about workers compensation premiums, reopening your business or other workers compensation issues, call the SIRA Recovery Advisory Service hotline for employers on 13 10 50.
Help harvest NSW
The NSW Government is connecting agribusiness with skilled and unskilled seasonal workers to help former staff find seasonal employment opportunities with farmers and agricultural businesses.
For more information and links to agribusiness recruitment agencies, job boards, and vocational and training courses, visit nsw.gov.au.
COVID-19 support
High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment
If your business is an eligible high-risk setting (such as aged care, disability care, Aboriginal healthcare or hospital care), and one of your employees cannot work because they have tested positive to COVID-19, they may be eligible for the Australian Government’s lump sum High-Risk Settings Pandemic Payment.
Employer Fair Work obligations
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides information about the rights of your workers and your responsibilities as an employer, and the impact of COVID-19 on workplace laws. This includes how you can manage leave entitlements and when you can stand down an employee without pay.
Flexible long service leave arrangements
Under amendments to the Long Services Leave Act 1995, and by agreement with you as the employer, your employees can now take long service leave in shorter blocks (such as one day a week) without the one-month notice period traditionally required.
For details, visit NSW Industrial Relations.
SafeWork guide for workplaces
Businesses that need to prepare for, respond to and recover after COVID-19 can access resources to help them manage the risk of COVID-19 in the workplace.
Visit the SafeWork NSW COVID-19 (Coronavirus) resource page.
Workers compensation
For information and guidance on how best to manage workers compensation and COVID-19, including how to protect your workers and paying your premiums, visit icare coronavirus information for employers.