The Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD) assists apprentices/trainees with travel and accommodation costs related to the completion of their off-the-job training component via a Travel and Accommodation Allowance (TAA).
Apprentices and employers are eligible claim TAA providing they meet the eligibility criteria set out in the Travel and Accommodation Allowance – Terms and Conditions(opens in a new tab) as determined by DTWD.
Travel Requirements
To be eligible for the TAA, the minimum round-trip distance, an apprentice must travel from their residential address to the closest training venue is as follows:
- 71 kilometres or more for travel allowance.
- 150 kilometres or more for accommodation allowance; and
- 1100 kilometres or more for airfare travel.
Air Travel
- Must be booked by the RTO in accordance with the Terms and Conditions
- Apprentices requiring air travel must complete the Apprentice Travel Request Form(opens in a new tab) at least two weeks prior to the travel date.
The closest training venue is defined as the one that is:
- located the shortest possible road distance (by car) from the apprentice’s residential address, or;
- accessed by the most direct bus or train route from the apprentice’s residential address; or
- accessed by the most direct air route from the apprentice’s residential address.
Accomodation Requirements
Apprentices may claim for stays in commercial or private accommodation:
- Commercial accommodation: Hotels, motels, serviced apartments, caravan/holiday parks.
- Private accommodation: Holiday houses, units, apartments (including Airbnb), bed and breakfast, ancillary dwellings (e.g., granny flats), and caravans offered for short-term accommodation on a commercial basis.
Claims
Must be submitted by the apprentice or employer within 60 days of travel via the DTWD TAA Portal(opens in a new tab) in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
General Eligability Conditions
- The apprentice must ensure that they are familiar with TAA eligibility criteria prior to attending off the job training.
- Accommodation should be close to the training venue since travel between the accommodation address and the training venue is at an apprentice’s own expense.
- The apprentice must ensure that they board flights or public transport on the scheduled day and time as booked by the training provider or their employer.
- If an apprentice fails to board their flight, bus or train without a valid reason, DTWD will not pay for another ticket.
- If an apprentice chooses to return home earlier than planned, or if their employer requires them to return early, any extra costs incurred to rebook flight, train or bus travel will not be covered