Who's who in apprenticeships and traineeships
Department of Education and Training
The department has offices throughout the state to provide assistance and information on all aspects of apprenticeships and traineeships, including:
- government-funded training
- details of supervising registered training organisations funded by the Queensland Government to deliver training
- the rights and obligations of the employer and the apprentice or trainee
- any administrative matter related to an apprenticeship or traineeship
- travel and accommodation subsidies for apprentices and trainees (except school-based who should contact their school)
- maths, reading and writing training
- providing advice on problems between employers and apprentices and trainees, including communication problems, absenteeism and behavioural issues
- incentives and allowances
- support for apprentices and trainees with a disability
- the roles of the supervising registered training organisation and the Australian Apprenticeships Centre.
Officers from the department may also visit the workplace to check the progress of training and assist with any issues.
For further information or advice, telephone the department through Apprenticeships Info on 1800 210 210.
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
(previously known as new apprenticeships centres)
Australian Apprenticeships Centres are contracted by the Commonwealth Government to:
- provide general information on apprenticeships and traineeships
- assist in completing and lodging training contracts
- provide advice on eligibility for Commonwealth Government incentives
- arrange payment of Commonwealth Government incentives and allowances
- make regular contact with employers and apprentices/trainees to check on the progress of training
- provide employers and apprentices/trainees with induction information.
Find the Australian Apprenticeships Centre closest to you by telephoning 13 38 73, or visit the Australian Apprenticeships website.
Supervising registered training organisations
(also referred to as training organisations)
The Queensland Government has registered a number of training organisations (i.e. TAFE institutes and private training providers) to provide training for apprentices and trainees.
Once a registered training organisation is chosen to become part of an apprenticeship or traineeship, it then becomes the 'supervising registered training organisation' (also known as SRTO or your training organisation). The training organisation works with employers and apprentices/trainees to develop a training plan, deliver training, undertake assessment and issue the qualification upon successful completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship
The training organisation will:
- provide induction information on the rights and responsibilities of both the employer and the apprentice or trainee under the training contract
- ensure employers have the range of work and facilities required to train the apprentice or trainee
- work with employers and apprentices/trainees to design a training plan, including what training needs to occur, how and when that training will take place, who will provide the training, and how that training will be assessed
- provide the apprentice or trainee with a training record and any materials essential for their training
- where required, train the apprentice or trainee and assist employers to make sure the training is completed on schedule
- regularly make contact to check the progress of training
- deliver additional learning support if required - for example, help with maths, reading or writing skills
- advise on the costs of training
- provide advice to apprentices or trainees on any student fees and charges they may have to pay
- provide advice on travel and accommodation subsidies
- issue the nationally recognised qualification.
Each training organisation offers different methods of training apprentices and trainees. Employers and apprentices/trainees need to find a training organisation to suit their needs.
To find a training organisation search the Queensland Training Information Service (QTIS), the Training.gov.au (TGA) website or call Apprenticeships Info on 1800 210 210.
Group training organisations
(also referred to as GTOs or group schemes)
Group training organisations employ apprentices and trainees and place them with different host employers on a short or long-term basis.
Group training organisations may:
- screen and recruit apprentices and trainees
- handle the administrative requirements of apprenticeships and traineeships
- pay apprentices and trainees
- charge host employers an hourly rate for the time apprentices and trainees work, based on the cost of wages, WorkCover, superannuation and - in some instances - an administrative charge
- arrange the off-the-job training components of apprenticeships and traineeships.
To find a group training organisation in your area, call 1800 819 747 or visit the Group Training Association website.
Host employer
Where apprentices or trainees are employed by a group training organisation, they will be placed with host employers to develop the skills necessary for their apprenticeship or traineeship.
Hiring an apprentice or trainee from a group training organisation enables host employers to participate in the employment and training of apprentices and trainees to suit their business needs.
School-based apprentices and trainees
School-based apprentices and trainees are students - usually in years 10, 11 or 12 - who are undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship as part of their school studies.
For a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship to be established, students must have the support of their employer, their school, a SRTO, and their parents or guardians (if under 18).
Visit the School-based apprenticeships and traineeships section of this website for more information.
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 need to:
- sign the training contract
- ensure that the apprentice or trainee fulfils all their responsibilities under the apprenticeship or traineeship
- support the Education, Training and Employment Schedule (for school-based apprentices and trainees).
Once the apprentice or trainee turns 18, the parent or guardian ceases to be a legal party to the training contract and is no longer responsible for the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Read the Parents' responsibilities information sheet for more information.
School
In the case of a school-based apprentice or trainee, the school must approve and be involved in the apprenticeship or traineeship. The school's involvement includes:
- developing and supporting the Education, Training and Employment Schedule (ETES - part of the training plan) with the training organisation, the employer and the school-based apprentice or trainee. The ETES 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 training organisation
- providing support to the school-based apprentice or trainee throughout the school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
Visit the Facts for schools page in the School-based section of this website for more information.
