Good news for veterinary clinics: Vet Nurse traineeships now eligible for national priority incentives

57 minutes ago
3 min read

There is positive news for the veterinary industry, with Veterinary Nurses now included on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List for 2026. This change means that additional funding and support is available for veterinary nurse employers that choose to employ a trainee.

For many businesses, traineeships are the preferred pathways for veterinary nurse workers, but the cost and time required to train new staff can be a barrier. The inclusion of veterinary nursing on the priority list is designed to help address this by providing financial incentives and support for both employers and trainees.

What new funding is available?

With the inclusion of Veterinary Nurses in the National Priority list 2026: new funding is available from the Priority Hiring Incentive where employers may be eligible for up to $2,500 in federal government incentives when they take on a veterinary nurse trainee. This funding recognises the important role employers play in developing skilled workers through workplace training.

Applicable traineeships relevant to WA are traineeships for the Cert IV of Veterinary Nursing, or the Cert III of Animal Care Services.

What other funding is available for Veterinary Nurse traineeships?

The Australian Apprenticeship Training Support Payment provides direct financial support (up to a maximum of two years) to Australian Apprentices commencing an Australian Apprenticeship in a priority occupation. The payment rate available for an eligible trainee is up to $2500, to support them to stay in their traineeship.

In Western Australia, businesses may also be eligible for additional state government employer incentives of up to $4,250 through the Jobs and Skills WA Employer Incentive program for eligible traineeships.

Beyond financial incentives, employers and trainees also receive practical support throughout the traineeship. Apprenticeship Support Australia provides a range of free services including assistance with training contracts, access to mentoring and mediation support, and guidance to help both the employer and trainee succeed. Contact Jonni Taylor for more information and assistance for employers (Jonni.Taylor@cciwa.com).

List of all WA Traineeships 2026

Who can I speak to for more information?

Veterinary clinics interested in taking on a trainee, or individuals interested in starting a career in veterinary nursing, can speak with an Australian Apprenticeship Support provider to learn more about eligibility and available incentives. Jonni Taylor is from the Chamber of Commerce WA and can speak to you about your options as an employer or trainee - Jonni.Taylor@cciwa.com.

Here at the Food, Fibre & Timber Industries Training Council our Industry Consultants are always here to support employers and industry with information for your workforce training needs.

We can provide helpful, local information around what training opportunities there are for your industry, how to find a suitably trained workforce and how to use apprenticeship pathways. Please contact us at admin@fftitc.com.au for general queries or Rosemary Irwin at rosie@ffittc.com.au for Animal Care and Management industry related queries.

The benefits of traineeships for building a skilled veterinary nurse workforce/ How does this help businesses?

Severe workforce shortages and staff turnover continue to challenge clinics across Western Australia, and traineeships can provide a practical pathway to grow the next generation of skilled veterinary nurses while supporting existing teams.

A veterinary nursing traineeship allows a student to be employed in industry while completing their Certificate IV qualification, gaining real world clinical experience alongside their formal training. For veterinary practices and other workplaces, this creates an opportunity to develop staff with the skills and culture that best suit their workplace.

Despite the ongoing workforce challenges faced by the profession, awareness of traineeship pathways has historically been low. With the new priority listing and additional incentives now available, there is an opportunity for clinics to reconsider traineeships as a way to build their future workforce.

For further information/assistance, please contact: