The revised discount program sees eligible apprentices who use their vehicle to get to and from work between 8.30pm and 5.30am receive a 50 per cent discount on their registration and Transport Accident Commission charge. 

Lily, 20, begins work at Warrnambool’s Jane Dough bakery daily at 4.30am and said the initiative was great news for young people trying to make ends meet on apprentice wages.

The second-year baker/pasty chef apprentice said it would be helpful. “I’m not on that much in the first place so I need to save every cent that I can,” Lily said. “We’re already struggling and some of us are moving out of home so we don’t need that extra $700 cost of registration.”

Her employer Will Jane said it would have helped him when he was training but said the government provided “sufficient help” to apprentices. “When I did it we had a living away from home allowance and a tools for your trade allowance which was $800 to buy tools relevant to your industry,” Mr Jane said. “The government are pretty good with incentives in terms of supplying financial assistance to apprentices because they want apprentices to get jobs.”

Premier Daniel Andrews said eligible apprentices in rural areas would save $349.95 per year. “We’re putting money back in the pockets of thousands more Victorian apprentices, helping ease their cost of living pressures,” Mr Andrews said. 

Bricklayers, carpenters, joiners, chefs, hairdressers, electricians and plumbers will be among those eligible for a discount if their employers agree that the use of the vehicle is an essential part of their work.

The scheme, established in 2016, was previously only available to apprentices in defined trades who used their vehicles to travel between work sites during work hours. It was expanded on Tuesday to include those who used their vehicle to travel to and from work between 8.30pm and 5.30am.

To be eligible apprentices must be registered with the Victorian Registrations Qualification Authority, use their own vehicle and regularly use it during their apprenticeship.

Eligible apprentices can now apply for the discount by going to the VicRoads website.