Application Guidelines for Employers and Group Training CompaniesFlood Apprentice Retention Bonus 2011 (FARB) March 2011
1.0 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to receive the bonus the following eligibility criteria must be met
The apprentice is employed in a designated flood affected council or shire. Please consult attached list to see if you are in designated flood affected municipality
The business has an office in Victoria
Apprentices must be registered with Skills Victoria
The business currently derives the majority (greater than 50%) of its income from
- primary production or,
- directly servicing (supplying inputs to or processing outputs from) primary producers whose properties are located in a flood affected council or shire
The employed apprentice is in one of the designated employment categories. Please consult the attached list of occupations covered for more details. Broadly the categories are:
- Agriculture and Production Horticulture apprentice/trainees
- Other apprentice/trainees listed in the Rural Production Training Package (RTE03)
- Horticulture and Horticulture (Production or Wholesale Nursery)
- Apprentices/trainees listed in the Amenity Training Package (RTF03)
- Automotive Mechanic apprentice/trainee (including Outdoor Power Equipment)
- Automotive Electrical apprentice/trainee
- Engineering Fabrication Trade and Engineering Mechanical Trade apprentices
- Turf Management (where employer is a producer and wholesaler of turf and meets all other eligibility requirements)
- Wholesale plant nurseries
The business employs one or more apprentices, each one continuous from 1 January 2011 until 30 June 2011 (for the first payment) and the same apprentices from 1 July 2011 until 30 December 2011 (for the second payment)
Businesses must have qualified for the first payment in order to apply for the second payment
All required evidence of eligibility is submitted
Ineligible Businesses
Any business that does not meet one of the criteria will be deemed ineligible for the bonus
The apprentice is not employed in a designated flood affected municipality (see Appendix 1)
Apprentices employed by government organisations, sporting clubs, schools and shires will not be covered by the program
Businesses that provide services to primary producers through third parties, intermediaries or wholesalers are not eligible for the bonus
Retail nurseries are not eligible for the program
Quarries and mines are not eligible for the bonus
2.0 Required Evidence of Eligibility
(Please ensure your application has all required evidence attached)
First Bonus All businesses
Completed application form indicating that eligibility criteria have been met
Two pay slips to show the apprentice was employed on or before 1 January 2011 and continued in employment until or after 30 June 2011
If unable to provide pay slips, copies of pay ledger or bank statements can be submitted
A Statutory Declaration form can also be filled out stating that the apprentice was employed by the business during the eligible period. Statutory Declarations can be obtained from the DPI Customer Service Centre ph 136186
Applications for the first bonus close on 1 June 2011
Additional evidence required for engineering, automotive and metropolitan based firms
All engineering, automotive and metropolitan based firms must fill out a statutory declaration that demonstrates that the business receives a majority (greater than 50%) of their income from directly servicing primary producers in a designated flood affected municipality
Second Bonus
All Businesses
Completed application form indicating that eligibility criteria have been met
One pay slip to show the apprentice was still employed after 1 July 2011 and continued in employment until 30 December 2011
Applications for the second bonus close 1 December 2011
Additional evidence required for Group Training Companies
Evidence that the first bonus was passed on to host employers must be provided in order to receive the second bonus. This can be in the form of a remittance advice or equivalent.
3.0 Submitting Applications
Please read eligibility criteria carefully
Fill out and sign the form to indicate that you meet the eligibility criteria
Attach all required evidence (including pay slips and Statutory Declarations if required)
Mail the form to FARB Project Officer, Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 3100, Bendigo Delivery Centre, Bendigo Vic 3554 as soon as practicable
Applications for the first bonus close on 1 June 2011
Applications for the second bonus close 1 December 2011
Please note that late applications will not be processed under any circumstances
4.0 Receiving the bonus
Provided you meet the criteria, the first and second bonus payments of $750 per apprentice will be processed as soon as possible after receipt of your application.
Businesses will be notified by letter regarding the success of their application.
5.0 Applying for the second bonus
A second form will be sent out in September 2011 to eligible businesses to claim the second half of the bonus for those apprentices they still retain in employment.
Provided you employ the same apprentice(s) for the second six-month period and submit another application by 1 December 2011, the second bonus of $750 per apprentice will apply.
Enquiries
If you have any questions about the application process or eligibility, please contact the DPI Customer Service Centre 136 186 or customer.service@dpi.vic.gov.au
Appendix 1 - List of designated Flood Affected Municipalities/Shires
|
Ararat Rural City Council |
|
Ballarat City Council |
|
Buloke Shire Council |
|
Campaspe Shire Council |
|
Cardinia Shire |
|
Shire of Casey |
|
Central Goldfields Shire Council |
|
Corangamite Shire Council |
|
Gannawarra Shire Council |
|
Glenelg Shire Council |
|
Golden Plains Shire Council |
|
Greater Bendigo City Council |
|
Greater Shepparton City Council |
|
Hepburn Shire Council |
|
Hindmarsh Shire Council |
|
Horsham Rural City Council |
|
Loddon Shire Council |
|
Macedon Ranges Shire Council |
|
Mildura Rural City Council |
|
Mount Alexander Shire Council |
|
Moyne Shire Council |
|
Murrindindi Shire Council |
|
Northern Grampians Shire Council |
|
Pyrenees Shire Council |
|
Swan Hill Rural City Council |
|
Warrnambool City Council |
|
West Wimmera Shire Council |
|
Yarriambiack Shire Council |
