<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive:</span></strong><span> Australia is in the grips of a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/tradie-shortage-chippies-like-caitlyn-could-be-the-key-to-solving-our-housing-crisis/27a85e67-c1f6-43c0-80c7-5647e120f81e" rel="" target="_blank" title="tradie shortage"><span>tradie shortage</span></a><span> and the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/petrol-prices" rel="" target="_blank" title="fuel crisis"><span>fuel crisis</span></a><span> could make it worse as apprentices struggling to make ends meet consider leaving trades.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Average apprentice pay rates vary depending on the trade and an apprentice's age and years on the job, and most have </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-petrol-diesel-prices-tradies-worse-off/e6f67a9b-2f4d-4ed5-8edf-d5eaf3afaad4" rel="" target="_blank" title="been stung by fuel price hikes"><span>been stung by fuel price hikes</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tom Brooks, a 20-year-old second year plumbing apprentice from rural WA, makes about $650 a week and is already considering other avenues to make money.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-petrol-diesel-prices-tradies-worse-off/e6f67a9b-2f4d-4ed5-8edf-d5eaf3afaad4" rel="" target="_blank" title="Tradies hit hardest by fuel crisis forced to raise prices or go bust"><strong><span>Tradies hit hardest by fuel crisis forced to raise prices or go bust</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About a third of his weekly wage goes to fuel and he expects that figure will rise in the weeks ahead.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm traveling about 70km every day for work, so it adds up quick," he told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's made budgeting for other things like food a lot harder."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-tradie-apprentices-forced-to-quit/205bfe76-30ba-43a5-8187-347a707963a4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The servo closest to his home currently has diesel at $3.15 a litre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If he drives a little further afield to the town where he works it's $3 a litre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Brooks expects those prices to keep rising, even with local diesel limits in place.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most servos in his area have a limit of 40 litres per person, but it can be as low as 20 litres per person at locations where supplies are running out.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He hasn't been able to get a full tank in weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's been a bit of a 'buy where you can, when you can' thing," he said.</span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/bYvnm55ERcrwrerZoQI-SggCX4w=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F03%2F760803%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/middle-east" rel="" target="_blank" title="conflict in the Middle East"><span>conflict in the Middle East</span></a><span> drags on, the added financial strain could push some apprentices out of trades altogether.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nearly 60 per cent of plumbing apprentices need help with the cost of getting to work or TAFE, according to a Rheem Australia survey conducted before the fuel crisis hit.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Three in five also struggle to cover living expenses such as rent, groceries and bills.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those figures are likely higher now that petrol has surpassed $2.50 a litre and diesel is over $3 a litre in parts of Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-how-much-does-australia-have-left-explained/f266e2d2-6b91-4166-8f7e-bb424620cc09" target="_blank"><strong><span>How many days does Australia have left of fuel?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Everyone this crisis is probably thinking, 'I can't afford to be an apprentice anymore, so I'm just going to have to find another job to pay the bills,'" Brooks said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A lot of apprentices, I think, will just pack it in."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That could spell disaster for Australia's construction industry.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The construction industry is facing a critical shortage of workers, especially carpenters, electricians and plumbers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That's concerning when the federal government has set a target to build 1.2 million homes over five years under the National Housing Accord.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Housing Industry Association (HIA) said Australia needed more tradespeople for there to be any hope of hitting that ambitious construction target.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the current shortage may actually worsen if the fuel crisis drags on much longer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There is support available to keep struggling apprentices in trades.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attacks-iran-strait-of-hormuz-explained-oil-gas-prices/f8e7c1ed-f6d9-4fe5-8277-6a11c09d8de6" target="_blank"><strong><span>The 39km-wide stretch of water threatening to throw the global economy into turmoil</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Apprentices working in clean energy or housing construction are eligible for the Key Apprenticeship Program (KAP) Apprentice Incentive, which pays up to $10,000 for full-time apprentices or $5000 for part-timers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those training in a priority occupation may be eligible for the Australian Apprentice Training Support Payment (AATSP) of up to $2500.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The payments are spread out in instalments across three to four years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Apprentices can also apply for Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans of up to $25,983, paid in monthly instalments.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are also industry-specific options such as the Rheem Apprentice Plumber Grant, which Brooks received.</span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/0Of_lFzV0lZpJjvdP88haTLwYy4=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F02%2F753607%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even with financial support, some apprentices still struggle to make ends meet when the price of rent, groceries, bills and now fuel just keeps rising.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think all apprentices really feel a shitload of stress [about] cost of living at the moment," Brooks said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"At some stage it just becomes impossible to be an apprentice and afford to live."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some will push through with financial support from friends and family, while others – Brooks included – look for side hustles to supplement their wages.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Others will leave trades altogether to pursue higher-paying jobs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first 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