Information for employers

In addition to a normal employment contract, apprentices and trainees are required to sign a training contract which needs to be registered with Skills Victoria.

All or some of the training and assessment may take place in the work place, depending on the training program the apprentice/trainee is enrolled in. A training plan is also put in place which lists all the training (both structured training provided by the RTO and practical experience) that will be delivered during the apprenticeship or traineeship.

When the training is completed the apprentice or trainee will have a nationally recognised qualification.

Offering apprenticeship or traineeship options provide many benefits to employers such as:

People are trained to meet your business requirements,
They can be a great way to attract and retain staff,
Financial incentives are available for employers (depending on qualification),
They can be full-time, part-time or school based depending on what suits your needs,
You have the opportunity to be consulted and involved in the development of individualised and customised training programs,
They can start any time of the year.

A range of support is available to employers of an apprentice or trainee:

Australian Apprenticeships Centres (AACs) provide information about setting up an apprenticeship/traineeship,
The registered training organisation, such as Bendigo TAFE, can help with matters related to the training of the apprentice/trainee,
Apprenticeship Field Offers can offer advice on training issues and help resolve concerns or disputes between apprentices, trainees and employers.

The Australian Government provides a range of support including financial assistance for employers of Australian Apprentices. Full details can be found at the Australian Apprentices website but some examples include:

Support for Adult Australian Apprentices,
Assistance for Australian Apprentices with Disability,
Support for employing an Australian School Based Apprentice,
Securing Australian Apprenticeships,
Apprentice Kickstart Extension.

There are many ways to employ an apprentice or trainee including through an Australian Workplace Agreement or Certified Agreement (or state equivalent). Both new workers and existing workers may be eligible for an apprenticeship or traineeship. There are some conditions that affect eligibility. You will need to discuss each situation with an Australian Apprenticeships Centre (AAC). Once you have an apprenticeship or traineeship position the steps are as follows:

Step 1

Contact an (AAC) to organise for your employee to be signed on as an apprentice or trainee. (Bendigo TAFE can give you a list of AACs or you can call 13 3873 to find the nearest AAC.) You will also be asked to nominate your preferred training provider.

Step 2

Once an apprenticeship/traineeship training contract has been approved, the training provider of your choice will be informed and make contact with you.

See the Australian Apprenticeships Centre or Skills Victoria for more information.

You can also Contact Bendigo TAFE for more information and a list of local AACs on 1300 554 248.

Bendigo TAFE provides extremely flexible “off the job” training for apprentices and trainees. Programs are designed to meet the increasingly diverse needs of industry. They can be developed in consultation with your needs as an employer and still meet the requirements of the specific qualification.