The WA government is investing an additional $21.5 million to expand the Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program — immediately creating 150 new apprentice positions for the building and construction industry.
The program — a joint effort of the Department of Training and Workforce Development and the Construction Training Fund — helps address skilled labour shortages in the sector.
The initiative aims to accelerate home construction by providing up to $135,000 for a four-year apprenticeship, covering the average award wage for full-time apprentices in the building and construction industry.
The GTO Wage Subsidy Program enables Group Training Organisations (GTOs) to offer Western Australians opportunities to complete paid apprenticeships, gaining hands-on skills across various projects.
This initiative helps small to medium-sized businesses access apprentices to meet project needs, alleviating skilled labour shortages in the sector.
The program supports the growth of skilled workers in trades such as carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and gasfitting.
The expansion of this program is part of the state government’s efforts to boost Western Australia’s residential construction workforce and speed up the delivery of new homes across the state — increasing the total investment in the program to $87.8 million since 2022.
Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk highlighted the program’s contribution to the state’s construction workforce: “The GTO Wage Subsidy Program is a key initiative to help grow the next generation of WA’s building and construction workforce.”
WA Premier Roger Cook emphasised the importance of skilled local workers for building houses: “We’re doing everything we can to build more houses throughout WA.”
Treasurer Rita Saffioti noted the program’s role in supporting businesses and boosting local jobs, stating: “The fact we’re expanding the Group Training Organisation Wage Subsidy program again, with another additional 150 places, shows how much it’s assisting businesses get more apprentices and trainees on the job, while also helping to build more houses locally.”
