REQUIREMENTS
Before an apprenticeship or traineeship contract can be established, it must meet certain requirements:
- The apprenticeship or traineeship is recognised as an approved trade or vocation.
- The position is paid employment under an appropriate award or industrial agreement.
- The apprentice or trainee satisfies relevant visa requirements.
- The employer and apprentice or trainee agree to the terms of the training contract, including:
- Trade or vocation e.g. Carpentry
- Credit for previous work or study e.g. Certificate II Construction
- Registered Training Organisation is nominated to deliver formal training
- A Training Contract is completed with an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP). https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search-aasn
Once these requirements are satisfied and the Training Contract has been submitted to the NSW Department of Industry the apprenticeship or traineeship may be established.
REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATION
A Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is an organisation providing training to students resulting in qualifications that are recognised and accepted by industry and other educational institutions.
As an apprentice or trainee will undertake study with a RTO; in conjunction with learning on-the-job you will ultimately achieve your qualification.
This training may be delivered at school, online, at the RTO or on-site depending on the RTO, trade or qualification.
The RTO may be government owned for example, TAFE NSW or an industry RTO such as Master Builders.
SUPERVISION
An apprentice or trainee must be supervised at all times.
This means your employer must ensure that you are supervised by a qualified and experienced person while you are working. For apprentices or trainees, this usually means your supervisor is a qualified tradesperson.
Training Services NSW has more information on supervision of apprentices and trainees in the workplace. https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational
TRAINING CONTRACT
A Training Contract is the agreement you enter with your employer to establish your apprenticeship or traineeship.
A Training Contract outlines important information, such as:
- The qualification you will be completing
- The term of the contract
- The Registered Training Organisation delivering the formal training
- Any credit for previous training or qualifications
- The employer’s name and details
- The apprentice or trainee’s name and details
Training Contracts are registered with Training Services NSW.
TRAINING PLAN
A Training Plan https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational
is a document that outlines the formal training you will complete during your apprenticeship or traineeship.
The Training Plan will:
- Be developed using the template provided by Department of Industry
- Be developed by the nominated Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
- Be developed in consultation with you and your employer
- List the units of competency you are required to complete
- Have you and your employer’s signature to show the parties agreement to the plan
- Support competency-based progression and completion
- Be updated regularly to reflect the achievement of units of competency or changes as required
Training Services NSW has more information on training plan requirements. https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational
Competency-based training
Apprenticeships and Traineeships are competency based.
This means that you complete your apprenticeship or traineeship when you have completed all required training and been assessed as competent in all elements of the relevant qualifications.
For example, Luke commenced a carpentry apprenticeship which is comprised of 30 units against which Luke must be assessed as competent in order to complete his apprenticeship. Luke attends work and the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to learn and complete the units of competency.
Training Services NSW has more information on competency-based training. https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/apprentices-and-trainees/employers/completing-qualification
Competency-based progression
In past times an apprentice would progress through an apprenticeship based on time, for example an apprentice would be a 1st year for 12 months, then become a 2nd year and so on.
Apprenticeship and traineeship terms are now flexible.
You may progress through your apprenticeship or traineeship when you have achieved an appropriate number of units of competency. This means when you reach a milestone, you progress to the next stage.
For example, apprentice carpenter Luke, has completed 8 units of competency so he will progress to the 2nd stage of his apprenticeship
The milestones for a 30 unit carpentry apprenticeship are:
- 8 units or 25% of the total units are achieved, the apprentice can progress to stage 2
- 15 units or 50% of the total units are achieved, the apprentice can progress to stage 3
- 23 units or 75% of the total units are achieved, the apprentice can progress to stage 4
Note: You will progress to the next stage of your apprenticeship 12 months after starting that stage if the required units of competencies are not achieved earlier.
Competency-based completion
You may complete your apprenticeship or traineeship when all of the required units of competency have been achieved.
For example, apprentice carpenter Luke has completed all of the 30 units of competency within the Certificate III Carpentry, which means he can complete his apprenticeship.
If this occurs prior to the term of the Training Contract, it is known as early completion.
Generally, in order for early completion to be finalised, your employer support is required.
Training Services NSW has more information on competency-based completion. https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/resources/pol-proc/competency-based-completion-of-apprenticeships-and-traineeships-nsw#cbp
PROBATION
Probationary Period
Normally apprenticeships and/or traineeships commence with a 3 month probationary period. This probationary period may be extended by the Commissioner for Vocational Training up to a maximum of 3 months beyond the initial probationary period.
An application must be lodged with Training Services NSW.
TRANSFER OF AN APPRENTICESHIP
As an apprentice or trainee, if you wish to change your employer you will need to transfer your Training Contract to your new employer.
The transfer of your apprenticeship or traineeship requires a specific application form with which Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) may assist.
https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search-aasn
Once the forms are completed and submitted, Training Services NSW https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/resources/policies-procedures/transfer-of-an-apprenticeship-or-traineeship-by-mutual-consent
will review and determine the next appropriate steps.
Training Services NSW has more information on transferring an apprenticeship or traineeship. https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/resources/policies-procedures/transfer-of-an-apprenticeship-or-traineeship-by-mutual-consent
The Australian Apprenticeships Support Network has more information on finding an apprenticeship network provider. https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search-aasn
DISMISSAL
Your apprenticeship or traineeship contract is a binding agreement and can only be cancelled by agreement. You cannot be ‘dismissed’ from your apprenticeship or traineeship once the Training Contract has been established.
Training Services have more information regarding dismissal of an apprentice or trainee. https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational
CHANGING YOUR EMPLOYER
At some point during your apprenticeship or traineeship, you may wish to change your employer.
This may be done through a Transfer of your training contract.
If changing your employer also means that you will be working towards a different qualification, your training contract must be updated to reflect these changes.
For example, Jessica is an apprentice shopfitter, but she wants to become an apprentice carpenter. Jessica has found a new employer who is qualified to train her to be a carpenter, therefore she needs to update her training contract.
The easiest way to manage any change to your training contract is by contacting your Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP). https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search-aasn
MUTUAL SUSPENSION
You or your employer may apply to suspend the training contract in certain circumstances. For example, your employer may run short of work, or you need to take extended time off work for illness or injury sustained outside of work.
An application to suspend training contracts https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational
must be lodged with Training Services NSW.
For assistance or advice, please call 13 28 11 or contact your Apprenticeship Network Provider. https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search-aasn
MUTUAL CANCELLATION
You or your employer may apply to cancel your Training Contract. If you both agree to cancel the contract, there is a specific form that is required.
An application to cancel the training contract https://www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational
must be submitted to Training Services NSW.
For assistance or advice, please call 13 28 11 or contact your Apprenticeship Network Provider. https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search-aasn
Travel and accommodation assistance
You may be eligible for travel and accommodation assistance if you need to travel more than 120kms round trip to attend training with your registered training organisation.
You can find out if you are eligible for this assistance at Training Services NSW.
Continuing Apprentices Placement Service (CAPS)
Continuing Apprentices Placement Service (CAPS) is a NSW Government service.
CAPS helps you, if you have lost your job, to find an employer to complete your apprenticeship or traineeship.
Unemployed apprentices and trainees who are completing a certificate in a skills shortage occupation may also be entitled to financial assistance up to a maximum of $2500 to relocate to or from a regional area to continue their apprenticeship or traineeship.
