FAQs for Apprentices

The Australian Apprenticeships & Traineeships Information Service (AATIS) consists of useful information and resources for students, job hunters, employers and industry insiders.

For Australian Apprentices, AATIS can connect you to organisations involved in an Australian Apprenticeship. The website has information on the types of apprenticeships available, how does the employment and training work and information on wages and conditions.

Part of the apprenticeship or traineeship is to complete formal training. Formal training is conducted by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which may be a TAFE, a community provider, or a private training provider.

The formal delivery of training can be conducted in a number of ways, face to face either in a classroom situation or on site, workbooks or online. It may be conducted through a combination of these training types.

Your employer may already have an RTO they use to train their apprentices and trainees. If you and your employer are choosing an RTO, you should consider:

• Which RTO can deliver the training you need for your qualification?
• Which RTO you can get to for your 'off the job' training (e.g. the location)?

For more information about the training component of your Australian Apprenticeship, visit our How Does Training Work? page.

It is important to seek help if you are having problems at work. If possible, speak to someone at your workplace. Your supervisor may be a good person to talk with, however another staff member may also be able to help.

If you cannot talk to someone at work, the first organisation to contact is the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider that completed the sign up or, contact your State or Territory Training Authority.

If you are employed through a Group Training Organisation, contact your designated field officer to discuss your problems and for support through your apprenticeship.

You may need to contact Fair Work or 13 13 94 if your issue relates to wages, conditions or harassment.

The Registered Training Organisation delivering yout training can also be a good contact point to discuss any issues, particularly problems about the training.

For more information about support service, visit our Ongoing Support for Apprentices page.

Your apprenticeship contract is between you and your employer so if your employer cannot continue to employ you, that contract has to be cancelled. Either yourself or your employer needs to contact the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network(AASN) provider, that completed the sign up paperwork.

What you do next will depend on how far you are through your apprenticeship. If you are nearly finished you may be eligible for an early completion. Contact your AASN and training provider for advice.

If you are still some way from completion and would like to continue your apprenticeship, the best thing to do is immediately start looking for a new employer. Our job hunting section has losts of ideas and tips to help you. 

Your State or Territory may have an 'out of trade' service where you can register.

• NSW - Continuing Apprentices Placement Service (CAPS)
• NT - GTNT Out of Trade Services
• QLD - Tradeapprentices.com.au
• SA - The Skills Connect Register
• VICTORIA - Retrenched Apprentices and Trainees Program

Talk to the training provider as they may have some links to prospective employers and you may be able to continue with your training while you are job searching.

You should also register with any Group Training Organisations in your area as they specialise in apprenticeship employment. 

Talk to your employer and see if they would be willing to take you on as an apprentice or trainee. Depending on the type of work you have been doing you may be able to apply for credits or an early completion.

Contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider to discuss your eligibility and to see if there are any available incentives.

Many traineeships and apprenticeships have fees for undertaking the training part of the apprenticeship or traineeship. There are also a number of different subsidies and incentives available depending on your circumstances. 

The best place to find advice about entitlements for apprentices, trainees and employers is your local Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider. Talk to the Registered Training Provider about enrolment fees and if they have a payment plan option. For additional information about the types of support that might be available, visit the Wages & Financial Support page. 

Apprenticeship wages are determined by the relevant award you are under. All the relevant information about the award, including the wages and allowances you are entitled to can be found at the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

If you aren't sure which award you are under, use the Pay and Conditions Calculator. In the award you should look for the section about Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

If you don't think you are getting paid correctly discuss this with your employer. If this is not an option, call Fair Work directly on 13 13 94.

Trade Support Loans are administered through the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider and instalments will automatically be entered into your nominated bank account each month. If there are any changes or discrepancies with payment contact the AASN to investigate.

You will be required to opt-in every six months for future instalments and remember you are paid in arrears, so make sure you have your opt-in application in early. Set yourself up a calendar alert as a reminder.

This depends on the apprenticeship you are undertaking and the conditions of the award covering that apprenticeship. Some awards say who is to pay enrolment and material fees and some don’t. Fair Work has the information about training and fees.