Who is Involved?

There are a lot of organisations involved in each apprenticeship or traineeship. Below are some of the networks that you might have contact with.

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers deliver free support to apprentices, trainees and employers throughout the life of an Australian Apprenticeship.

Their services include:

providing information on apprenticeships and traineeships suitable for a workplace
conducting an induction with the employer and apprentice or trainee
administration of the lodging and updating of the training contract
managing the eligibility, submission and progress of potential allowances, loans and incentives
providing information and support about relevant training providers
providing support through mentoring.

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers must be used by an employer when taking on an apprentice or trainee.

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network Providers

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Registered Training Organisations

Registered training organisations deliver the formal off the job training for Australian Apprentices. A registered training organisation could be a TAFE or a private training provider.

The registered training organisation works with employers and apprentices/trainees to:

develop the training plan
deliver off-the-job training
support the employer in delivering on-the-job training
approve and issue the qualification upon successful completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship.

Employers

It all starts with an employer! To be able to start an apprenticeship or traineeship you need to have an employer wanting to employ you as an apprentice or trainee in the relevant occupation. Employers looking to employ an apprentice or trainee may:

advertise a job vacancy or recruit a person directly
employ a person they know or someone who has been recommended to them, or
take on a job hunter who has knocked on their door seeking employment

Apprenticeship and traineeship jobs are potentially available in every industry but they all need to start with an employment opportunity. So the industry or occupation you are interested in will have an impact on your job hunting approach based on whether employers want to take on apprentices and trainees.

Group Training Organisations

Group Training Organisations employ apprentices and trainees and place them with host employers (see below). They take on many of the employer responsibilities such as:

selecting and recruiting apprentices and trainees
management of wages, allowances, superannuation, workers compensation and other employment benefits
managing the quality and continuity of training, both on and off the job
managing ongoing host position, finding a new host when needed
providing ongoing support for the apprentice and host employer throughout their apprenticeship or traineeship.

Group Training Organisations operate across Australia, with some specialising in particular industries, while others may cover many industries.

Find out more about how Group Training Organisations can help you find an apprenticeship or traineeship, or assist an employer looking to take on an apprentice or trainee.

Group Training Organisations

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Host Employers

When an apprentice or trainee is employed by a Group Training Organisation, they are placed with a host employer to develop the skills required for their apprenticeship or traineeship.

Hiring an apprentice or trainee from a Group Training Organisation allows host employers to take part in the employment and training of apprentices and trainees to suit their business needs.

Group training can be particularly important to small and medium sized businesses that otherwise:

see employing an apprentice or trainee as too difficult
lack the resources to manage an apprentice or trainee
are unable to provide the range of on the job training and skills required
are unable to commit to the full term of an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman can provide advice for employers and apprentices for various entitlements such as:

wages, benefits, allowances and subsidies
award requirements, such as ‘who pays for the training?’
employment conditions.

Fair Work Ombudsman website

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Schools

In the case of a school-based apprentice or trainee, the school must approve and be involved in the process. The school's involvement includes:

Negotiating a schedule of education, training and employment with the Registered Training Organisation, the employer and the student. The schedule outlines when the school-based apprentice or trainee is at school, at work, or attending training.
Helping the school-based apprentice or trainee to modify their school timetable to include time for working with the employer and training with the Registered Training Organisation
Providing support to the school-based apprentice or trainee throughout the school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.

Parent or Guardian

If an apprentice or trainee is under 18 years of age and in the care and control of a parent or legal guardian when they enter into an apprenticeship or traineeship, the parent or guardian will have requirements in relation to the signing of the training contract.

Information for Family and Friends

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State and Territory Training Authorities

State and Territory Training Authorities are government departments that regulate the apprenticeship system in each state or territory. They provide advice and support to apprentices, trainees and employers. Some of their services include:

Australian Apprenticeship policy, regulation and administrative arrangements
employment arrangements for Australian Apprentices
registration and certification of Training Contracts
providing copies of credentials/certificates/training records
determination of which qualifications are suitable for Australian Apprenticeships
User Choice training funding
registration and monitoring of Group Training Organisations and Registered Training Organisations
quality of training issues.

State and Territory Training Authorities will usually be your second point of contact for issues regarding your Australian Apprenticeship after speaking with your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider.