South Australian apprentices and trainees travelling long distances for training will receive higher travel and accommodation support from 1 July under an $11 million funding package aimed at reducing costs for regional learners and the businesses that employ them.
The Australian and South Australian governments are jointly funding the increase over two years through the National Skills Agreement, lifting payments available under the state’s Travel and Accommodation Allowance.
The allowance supports apprentices and trainees who travel more than 150 kilometres to attend training. From 1 July, travel payments will rise by 75 per cent from 30 cents to 52 cents per kilometre, placing South Australia among the highest-paying states for intrastate travel assistance.
Accommodation support will also increase, rising to $90 a night for eligible stays within South Australia and $150 a night for interstate accommodation. Apprentices and employers will also be able to claim up to 10 eligible trips each year, up from the current limit of eight.
The governments expect the changes to increase use of the allowance by around 20 per cent, supporting an estimated 400 additional regional apprentices and trainees.
Travel and accommodation costs have been identified as one of the factors contributing to apprentices leaving training early, particularly in regional areas where attending off-site training often requires long-distance travel.
The funding forms part of a broader $37 million investment designed to improve vocational education and training completion rates and support industries facing ongoing workforce shortages.
Recent data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research showed trade qualification completions in South Australia increased by 17.2 per cent to 3,560 in the year to 31 December 2025, compared with the previous year. The increase was higher than the national growth rate of 8.1 per cent.
Federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said the additional support was intended to reduce barriers facing apprentices in regional communities.
“We know that apprentices in regional communities face additional challenges to access the training they need. By lifting the rates of travel and accommodation payments our governments are delivering real support,” he said.
Acting South Australian Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said the changes would make training more accessible while helping employers who invest in apprentices.
“We are making training more accessible and affordable for the apprentices and trainees we need to deliver the state’s major projects,” he said.
Group Training Employment General Manager Greg Megaw welcomed the increase, saying higher allowances would reduce financial pressure on employers and apprentices across regional South Australia.
He said the additional support would help businesses continue investing in apprentices while allowing trainees to focus on completing their qualifications rather than the cost of travelling to training.
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