TradieStart opens 1 August 2026, and Minister Ros Bates says it’s designed to back Queensland’s workforce pipeline.
Queensland construction businesses will soon be able to claim government payments worth up to $16,000 for hiring an apprentice, under a new incentive called TradieStart that opens for registrations from 1 August 2026.
The program is designed to get more workers into the state’s construction pipeline. Queensland businesses will be offered new cash payments and wage subsidies for hiring apprentices, as the state aims to get 4,500 new apprentices working across the construction sector.
Two streams, different rules
TradieStart splits eligibility into two streams, and the differences matter more than they might first appear.
Stream 1 covers small businesses, 1 to 19 employees, turnover under $10 million, hiring their first-ever apprentice under a Queensland training contract. The apprentice needs to start from 1 August 2026 and complete probation, generally 90 days, and the employer needs to finish a free TAFE Queensland micro-credential in mentoring, safety or supervision before claiming.
Stream 2 is for medium and large businesses, 20 or more employees and at least $10 million in turnover, along with group training organisations. Here the eligibility bar is different in a way that’s easy to miss: the apprentice must identify with a priority cohort, veterans, women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, or people with a disability, just to qualify. Group training organisations also have to commit to reducing the service fee charged to the host employer.
What small businesses get
Under Stream 1, payments are split 50/50 across two milestones, at 6 months and 18 months of employment. An apprentice under 21 brings $5,000 per milestone, $10,000 total. One aged 21 or over brings $7,000 per milestone, $14,000 total.
There’s a bonus layer for priority cohort apprentices, lifting those figures to $6,000 or $8,000 per milestone, for totals of $12,000 or $16,000. Businesses can only claim the standard payment or the bonus, not both. Only the first 1,500 apprentices registered under this stream will be covered, out of 2,500 places available overall.
Under the TradieStart program, small businesses hiring their first apprentice will receive a base payment of $10,000. The business will receive an extra $4,000 if the apprentice is over the age of 21, and an additional $2,000 if the apprentice comes from a priority cohort.
What medium and large businesses get
Stream 2 pays the same milestone structure, $5,000 per stage for an apprentice under 21 ($10,000 total) or $7,000 per stage for one 21 or over ($14,000 total). Unlike Stream 1, this isn’t a bonus tier, it’s the only path available, since priority cohort status is a condition of entry for this stream. Only the first 1,000 apprentices registered here will qualify.
Queensland Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin described the new and extended programs as a game-changer for small businesses across the state. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and these programs will give them the confidence and support they need to take on apprentices, creating jobs and strengthening communities across Queensland,” he said.
Key dates to know
Registration opens 1 August 2026, and Business Queensland says applications will be processed within 30 business days. The claim form, needed to actually request payment once a milestone is hit, isn’t expected until early 2027, with approved claims paid within 5 business days.
Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates framed the program as part of a broader push to address the state’s construction skills shortage. “Queensland construction workers have a golden era in front of them thanks to the Crisafulli Government’s ambitious infrastructure pipeline, and we’re delivering the help businesses need to get more hands on the tools,” she said.
For businesses that already employ an apprentice, TradieStart’s Stream 1 won’t apply, since it’s restricted to first-time employers. The existing Small Business Apprenticeship Program remains the relevant option in that case.
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