Australian Apprenticeships

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Australian Apprenticeships
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What are Australian Apprenticeships?

• Australian Apprenticeships were introduced in
  1998 to establish a single integrated system of
  employment and training incorporating the
  previously separate apprenticeship and
  traineeship systems.
• Australian Apprenticeships cover all occupations
  where a contract of training applies, and can be
  applied to varying training periods (usually from
  1 to 4 years) and various vocational
  qualification levels (from Certificate I to
  Diploma)

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Australian Apprenticeships- Features

• Australian Apprenticeships offer a pathway that
  people can use to commence a career and get an
  industry based qualification without using the
  traditional routes of undertaking university or
  TAFE courses before being employed. This pathway
  can also start at school with Australian
  School-based Apprenticeships.
• The apprentice or trainee is employed whilst
  undertaking their training under a training
  agreement. This agreement outlines the
  qualifications the apprentice or trainee is
  expected to obtain and the obligations of both
  the employer and apprentice or trainee.

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Effectiveness

• Recent research has found that the employment
  retention outcomes from Australian
  Apprenticeships are very good.
• Over 90 of Australian Apprentices are employed
  three months after completion of their
  apprenticeship.
• This compares very favourably with the employment
  outcomes of TAFE and university graduates, which
  are nevertheless also very good.

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Growth

• Australian Apprenticeships in Australia are more
  popular than ever, with numbers having grown
  steadily in the last decade to reach a record
  406,900 in September 2003. Since then Australian
  Apprenticeships Numbers have decreased slightly
  to 403,600 in March 2006.
• Recent figures indicate that 45 of all teenagers
  in full time employment were employed as a
  Australian Apprentice.
• The rapid expansion of the system beyond the
  traditional trades means that Australian
  Apprenticeships now better reflect the structure
  of the Australian labour market.

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Australian Apprenticeship Growth
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Growth

• The opening up of the system to people of all
  ages has not meant a reduction of opportunities
  for young people. In fact, Australias
  apprenticeship system is adjusting to global
  changes in the nature of work and the rapid
  ageing of the population better than the
  apprenticeship systems in other countries.
• 3.9 of Australias working age population are
  employed in Australian Apprenticeships - ranking
  Australia 4th in the world behind Switzerland,
  Germany and Austria in terms of coverage of the
  workforce by the apprenticeships system

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Training Packages and Australian Apprenticeships

• Training Packages are based on competencies
  required in the workplace. The competencies have
  been developed by industry to meet specific skill
  requirements of that industry.
• Employers may choose different combinations of
  competencies within the rules of each Training
  Package that determine the Australian
  Apprenticeship qualification. In some cases
  different combinations of competencies can lead
  to the same qualification.

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• Australian Apprenticeships and Training Package
  Qualification Pathways
• Training Package

Australian Apprent- iceships
Australian School -based Apprentice-ships
Certificate I
Certificate II
Certificate III
Certificate IV
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
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Training Packages Now Available

• Aeroskills Animal Care Management
• Amenity Horticulture Assessment Workplace
  Training
• Asset Maintenance Asset Security
• Australian Meat Industry Automotive Industry
  Manufacturing
• Aviation Automotive Retail Service and Repair
• Beauty Business Services
• Coal General Construction
• Caravan Industry Conservation Land Management
• Civil Construction Chemicals, Hydrocarbons Oil
  Refining
• Community Pharmacy Community Services
• Competitive Manufacturing Community Recreation
• Correctional Services Drilling Industry
• Electricity Supply Generation Electricity
  Supply- Transmission Distribution
• Electrotechnology Entertainment Industry
• Extractive Industry

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Training Packages Now Available

• Financial Services Film, TV, Radio Multimedia
• Fitness Industry Floristry
• Food Processing Industry Forest Forest
  Products Industry
• Funeral Services Furnishing
• Gas Industry General Construction
• Hairdressing Health Industry
• Hospitality Industry Information Technology
• Laboratory Operations Lifts Industry
• Local Government Maritime
• Manufactured Mineral Products Metalliferous
  Mining
• Metal Engineering Industry Music
• Museum, Library Information Services

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Training Packages Now Available

• Sport industry Public Sector
• Off-Site Construction Plastics, Rubber
  Cablemaking
• Printing Graphic Arts Property Development
  Management
• Public Safety Pulp Paper Manufacturing
  Industries
• Racing Industry Plumbing and Services
• Rural Production Retail
• Seafood Industry Sugar Milling
• Telecommunications Textiles, Clothing
  Footwear
• Tourism Transport Distribution
• Visual Arts, Craft and Design Wholesale
• Water Industry Outdoor Recreation Industry
• Australian Red Cross World Vision Humanitarian
  Relief
• Boral Qantas
• Kodak Australia Queensland Rail Civil
  Infrastructure

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Benefits of Australian Apprenticeships

• Provides an ideal way to train / induct new
  people into an industry
• Offers flexibility in allowing the training to be
  tailored to meet industry requirements
• Introduces a new employee into the workplace who
  is keen to develop their skills, accepts their
  role as a Australian Apprentice and understands
  that on going training is beneficial to them and
  their employer
• Helps improve an individuals career prospects
  and earning potential
• Helps to improve the productivity of workers and
  their contribution to the workplace
• Provides an industry based career path with
  nationally recognised qualifications from entry
  level through to Diploma and Advanced Diploma
  levels.
• Helps to prepare people to be flexible and
  adaptable to meet new work methods and changing
  technology

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Who can be a Australian Apprentice?

• Secondary school students - now have new
  opportunities to learn new vocational skills by
  participating in VET in Schools and Australian
  School-based Apprenticeships that deliver
  competencies and qualifications from Training
  Packages while they are still at school.
• School leavers - can move from school to work
  into an Australian Apprenticeship that delivers
  not just a nationally recognised qualification
  but a comprehensive industry career pathway via
  Training Package Qualifications.
• People seeking to change their career direction -
  or re enter the workforce can also use Australian
  Apprenticeships to gain industry qualifications
  that will provide them with access to industry
  career pathways.
• People already in the workforce - can use
  Australian Apprenticeships and Training Packages
  to gain qualifications for competencies they have
  already attained in the workforce. These
  qualifications will in turn give them access to
  industry career pathways.

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Australian Apprenticeships Employment Options

• Australian Apprenticeships can be undertaken in a
  variety of ways. Apart from the most common
  being conducted on a full time basis, the
  following alternatives are also available in most
  cases
• Part Time
• must work a minimum of 15 hours per week,
  averaged over a four-week period and be rostered
  to work on a regular and continuous basis (note
  WA min. is 20 hours per week)
• School-based
• allows students to study for their Senior
  Certificates and also undertake a nationally
  recognised qualification as paid employees
• students generally work 1 to 2 days per week and
  attend school on the remaining days. Or,
  alternatively, other arrangements such as working
  blocks during school holidays can be negotiated

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Australian Apprenticeships

• Most commonly asked questions by Employers

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Whats in it for Me ?

• Australian Apprenticeships mean you (the
  employer) can train your own people. They help
  you train your staff so that they are familiar
  with your company, your work environment, your
  standards, your equipment and your customers.
  Australian Apprenticeships also give you the
  chance to provide an opportunity for a new worker
  to learn valuable skills as you teach them what
  you know.
• Taking on an Australian Apprentice involves
• an opportunity to select new people who will
  become the future of your company
• an ideal way to train and induct new people into
  your business
• the opportunity to bring a new person into your
  business who will add the skills to help you
  adapt to new business trends
• Access to government funding and financial
  incentives assistance for those eligible
• improved customer service through having better
  trained staff
• Ensuring your industry skills are preserved and
  passed on for the future

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What assistance is available ?

• SupportAustralian Apprenticeships Centres and
  Group Training Organisations can provide you with
  information, help and support at all stages of
  the Australian Apprenticeships cycle, from
  recruiting an Australian Apprentice to receiving
  funding and incentives from government, to
  managing and completing an Australian
  Apprenticeship with your business.
• Funding and incentivesAustralian Apprenticeships
  attract both Commonwealth and State and
  Territory financial assistance for eligible
  employers to help reduce the cost of training.
• WagesAn Australian Apprentice is usually paid a
  reduced training wage reflecting the time the
  employee spends in training.

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What are my obligations as an employer ?

• Employing an Australian Apprentice involves
  certain obligations beyond those you normally
  provide to employees such as a safe workplace.
• These obligations include
• providing the Australian Apprentice with a
  suitable induction into your business
• providing the Australian Apprentice with
  training, supervision and relevant workplace
  instruction, and training time (including, where
  appropriate, time off to attend organised off the
  job training for their Australian Apprenticeship)
• meeting any specific work conditions for
  Australian Apprentices as outlined in your Award
• you must also sign a Training Contract.

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Financial Incentives to employ Australian
Apprentices

• The Commonwealth Government provides a range of
  employer incentives to encourage employers to
  offer the kinds of employment related training
  opportunities, that will encourage people,
  particularly young people, to acquire, complete
  and expand their working skills to commence an
  industry based career.
• For eligible employers, incentives currently
  start from 1,250 for a Certificate II
  traineeship. Eligible employers (or Australian
  Apprentices) may also receive one or more
  additional incentives for
• Certificate III IV and selected Diploma and
  Advanced Diploma Australian Apprenticeships -
  commencement (1,500) completion (2,500)
  payments)
• Rural and Regional Skills Shortages
• Drought declared areas
• Mature Aged worker (45 years or more special
  commencement and completion)
• Australian School Based Apprentices
• Australian Apprentices with a disability
• Innovation industries (including Aeroskills,
  Telecommunications, Laboratory Operations,
  Information Technology and Electrotechnology)
• Tools For Your Trade (from 1 July 2005)
• Commonwealth Trade learning Scholarships and
  Living Away from Home Allowances
• Mid career (adult over 30 years of age)
  apprentices (from 1 July 2007)
• Australian Apprenticeship Centres can provide up
  to date information on employer and Australian
  Apprentice eligibility for these and other
  incentives

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New Incentives from 2007

• Skills for the Future initiatives to support
  Australian Apprenticeships
• Support for Mid-career Apprentices
• From 1 July 2007, workers aged 30 years and over,
  who wish to upgrade their skills mid-career will
  attract new financial incentives to support their
  move from their current work to and
  apprenticeship at the Certificate III or IV
  level. The amount payable to eligible apprentices
  or employers will be 150 per week in the first
  year and 100 per week in the second year.
• Incentives for Higher Technical Skills
• From 1 January 2007 eligible employers will
  receive incentive payments of 1500 for each
  employee commencing a Diploma or Advanced Diploma
  program and 2500 when they complete. Fields for
  consideration will include electrical, gas,
  mining, oil drilling, automotive and aeronautical
  engineering. These incentives could be paid for
  employment-based training or where this is not
  available, for institution based training

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New Incentives from 2007

• Skills for the Future initiatives to support
  Australian Apprenticeships
• Business Skills Vouchers for Apprentices
• From 1 January 2007 vouchers valued at up to 500
  will be available to apprentices to contribute
  towards the costs of accredited small business
  training. Apprentices who are undertaking an
  apprenticeship in the traditional trades will be
  eligible to apply for the voucher any time from
  the end of their second year until two years
  after completion

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What is a Training Contract ?

• A training contract is a legally binding contract
  signed by both the employer and their Australian
  Apprentice (if aged under 18 a parent/guardian
  must also sign), who agree to work and train
  together for a length of time.
• When you sign this document, both you and your
  Australian Apprentice agree to do certain things.
  You agree to provide the Australian Apprentice
  with employment and training (including arranging
  training with a registered training organisation)
  and your Australian Apprentice agrees to
  undertake training as a part of their normal
  duties.
• You will find full details of these obligations
  in the Conditions and Obligations section of the
  Training Contract. Ensure that you read and
  fully understand the information before signing -
  remember it is a legally binding contract!

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How does training commence ?

• Before the end of the probation period, you must
  map out a training plan to make sure the
  apprentice or trainee learns their new skills.
• Working as part of a team, you, your Australian
  Apprentice and your chosen Registered Training
  Organisation will need to design the plan. This
  outlines the type of training to be undertaken
  and when and where this will be done.
• The training plan is to be completed and signed
  by all parties, with a copy of the document kept
  by all to ensure progress is maintained.

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Is there a Training Package for my industry ?

• Training Packages are now available in most
  industries and they provide a training framework
  that will give your Australian Apprentices the
  foundation skills and competencies required for
  them to embark on a career in your industry.
• Your local Australian Apprenticeship Centre can
  provide you with advice on the range of training
  package options available to meet your business
  needs.
• Remember .
• training packages are not just about training
  workers
• they are about educating our workforce for the
  future!

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Whos Who ?

• Australian Apprenticeship Centres (AACs)
• Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)
• Group Training Organisations (GTOs)
• The Job Network
• The State Training Authority (STA) - State
  Government
• Dept of Education, Science and Training (DEST) -
  Federal Government

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Australian Apprenticeship Centres (AACs)

• Australian Apprenticeship Centres were
  established in 1998 as part of the new employment
  services market. They are contracted by the
  Commonwealth Government to provide a free service
  to
• give advice on the selection of an appropriate
  Training Package
• give information and advice on selecting an
  appropriate Registered Training Organisation
• give advice on employer and Australian Apprentice
  rights, responsibilities and obligations
• help to complete and register the training
  agreement
• give advice on the Commonwealth and State
  Government incentives available and assist in
  lodging claims if eligible.
• Assist with the recruitment of Australian
  Apprentices
• For more information contact the
• Australian Apprenticeships Information Line 13
  38 73

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Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)

• Government has registered some training
  organisations to provide training for Australian
  Apprentices. An RTO will help you train your
  Australian Apprentice in a way and at a time to
  suit the needs of your workplace. This includes
• working with you and your Australian Apprentice
  to make sure you both understand the requirements
  of the Training Package you have selected
• conducting and validating competency assessments
• provide advice to Australian Apprentices on fees
  and charges
• design a training plan, including what training
  needs to occur and options on how and when it can
  take place
• provide your Australian Apprentice with a
  training record and any materials essential for
  their training
• train your Australian Apprentice and assist in
  ensuring that training is completed on time
• visit the workplace to check the progress of
  training and organise additional learning support
  if required

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Group Training Organisations(GTOs)

• Group Training Organisations employ Australian
  Apprentices and hire them out to different
  businesses on a short or long-term basis. This is
  ideal for business to employ for peak workloads
  and seasonal variations.
• Group Training Organisations offer businesses
• carefully selected Australian Apprentices,
  without the worries of long-term employment
  contracts
• they screen and recruit potential Australian
  Apprentices
• handle administration matters such as wages,
  superannuation and payroll tax
• explain the obligations of the employer and the
  Australian Apprentice

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The Job Network

• The Job Network is contracted by the Federal
  Government and is made up of private, community
  and government organisations offering services to
  help employers recruit staff and unemployed
  people to find jobs.
• Their services include
• Job Matching - gathering employers vacancies and
  matching job seekers to the requirements
  specified by employers
• Job Search Assistance - providing training in job
  search techniques to prepare the unemployed for
  the labour market
• Intensive Assistance - individually tailored help
  to get long term unemployed people, and those at
  risk of long term unemployment, into jobs

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Training Authority- Department State Government

• The State Training Authority has the
  responsibility for regulation of Australian
  Apprenticeships. They also approve Registered
  Training Organisations and monitor the quality of
  training they deliver. They also provide advice
  on
• Employment and legislative obligations applying
  in their jurisdictions, and issues related to the
  Training Agreement
• lists of approved government funded Registered
  Training Organisations contracted to deliver your
  training
• the rights and obligations of the employer and
  the Australian Apprentice
• and approve early completions of a Australian
  Apprenticeship
• accessing travel and accommodation subsidies for
  your Australian Apprentice
• wages and allowances for Australian Apprentices
• approval of variations to Training Agreements
  including suspensions and cancellations
• Provision of assistance from Field Officers in
  resolving problems between employers and
  Australian Apprentices

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Dept of Education, Science and Training (DEST)

• DEST can provide advice and assistance via
• State Contract Manager
• the DEST website
• the Australian Apprenticeships website
• the Australian Apprenticeships Information Line
  13 38 73
• the Australian Apprenticeships Complaints Line -
  1300 367 847
• National Code of Good Practice for Australian
  Apprenticeships
• Monitoring of Conflict of Interest
• Conduct of the National Industry Strategies
  programme
• Support of the AAC Information Service

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Useful Web Sites

• www.aatinfo.com.au
• www.aajobpathways.com.au
• www.training.com.au
• www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/
• www.jobnetwork.gov.au
• www.dest.gov.au
• www.wagenet.gov.au

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DESTAACs
The National VET System at a Glance
Federal Minister Decide VET Policy and Funds
DEST INDUSTRY
State/Territory Ministers

• State and Territory Training Authorities
• Administer the State Training System
• Approve and Fund Registered Training
  Organisations
• Monitor and Approve Training Agreements
• Monitor Quality of the system
• Receive industry advice from State ITABs
• Monitor workplace arrangements
• Liaison with AACs on registration and training
  arrangements for Australian Apprenticeships

• Department Education Science and Training (DEST)
• Contracts Australian Apprenticeships Centres
• Funds Commonwealth Employer Incentives
• Funds Information Services

• DEST
• Administers Programs and Training Funds
• Take industry advice from and fund ISCs to
  develop Training Packages
• Australian Recognition Committee approves
  Training Packages

• Registered Training Organisations
• Deliver training, assess competencies and issue
  nationally recognised qualifications to
  Australian Apprentices.
• State registered Training Organisations include
  public and private training providers and
  individual companies

• Australian Apprenticeships Centres
• Provide advice and assistance to employers,
  Australian Apprentices with training
  arrangements, training agreements and government
  financial assistance under the Australian
  Apprenticeships system

• National Industry Skills Councils
• Develop Training Packages and training support
  materials
• Advise DEST on industry demand and training
  priorities

• State/Territory Industry Advisers (includes state
  ITABs where they exist)
• Advise State/Territory Government on industry
  training demand training priorities

• Employers and Australian Apprentices
• Employers employ Australian Apprentices, provide
  them with on-the-job training appropriate
  off-the-job structured training delivered by
  their Registered Training Organisations

NOTE The arrows indicate relationships between
the VET players not lines of reporting