Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) The range of questions and answers provided are structured to assist Employers, Australian Apprenticeships Centres, Registered Training Organisations and potential Apprentices. What benefits does an automotive Australian Apprentice bring to a business? What are the benefits of being employed as an Australian Apprentice? Are there any restrictions on whom I can employ? What is the range of automotive training courses available? What is the duration of particular Australian Apprenticeships? What is the extent of administrative ‘red tape´ involved in employing an Australian Apprentice and who will handle it? Who will carry out the training of an Australian Apprentice and who will pay for it? What are the likely training arrangements for an Australian Apprentice? What are the financial incentives involved in employing an Australian Apprentice? Who will monitor the progress of an Australian Apprentice and assist if necessary during the training period? Can there be a wage top-up for Australian Apprentices?
Under the National Training Framework, the Australian Apprenticeships system has operated from 1st January 1998 and encompasses existing and newly developed apprenticeships and traineeships. For the purposes of these questions/answers, apprentices and trainees will also be referred to as Australian Apprentices. 
What benefits does employing an automotive Australian Apprentice bring to a business? What are the benefits of being employed as an Australian Apprentices? Are there any restrictions on whom I can employ? Under what terms and conditions can I employ an Australian Apprentice? What is the range of automotive training courses available? What is the duration of particular Australian Apprenticeships? What is the extent of administrative 'red tape' involved in employing a Australian Apprentice and who will handle it? Who will carry out the training of an Australian Apprentice and who will pay for it? What are the likely training arrangements for an Australian Apprentice? What are the financial incentives involved in employing an Australian Apprentice? Who will monitor the progress of an Australian Apprentice and assist if necessary during the training period? Is there any financial assistance for Australian Apprenticeships? Can there be a wage top-up for Australian Apprenticeships?
Employing and training an automotive apprentice/trainee will give a business access to nationally recognised and accredited training customised to suit a business´ needs. In addition, the employer can appoint the training provider of their choice and negotiate the method of training delivery. The relevant State/Territory Training Authority pays for the training and employers receive Federal Government financial incentives. Australian Apprenticeships represent greater flexibility in meeting the needs of employers, apprentices and trainees. Employers have found that the provision of accredited training leading to formal qualifications enhances the motivation and dedication of Australian Apprentices.
An Australian Apprenticeship will provide a person with a paid job opportunity coupled with the achievement of new skills and attainment of a nationally recognised and portable training qualification. It provides a pathway to higher qualifications and career opportunities. Employees who commence as apprentices/trainees are more likely to continue with their employer in an effort to establish a career.
An Australian Apprentice can be aged between 15 and 64 years. A potential apprentice or trainee should not be experienced in the work required of the course, but can have worked in other areas. An Australian Apprentice should not have the qualifications which the apprenticeship or traineeship leads to, but can have other qualifications. An employer may engage a relative and there are no limits on the number of trainees that an employer can have, as long as there is proper supervision. For recruiting apprentices, the relevant State/Territory Training Authority must be satisfied that the employer or supervisor holds the qualifications that the apprentice is aspiring to achieve.
Under what terms and conditions can I employ an Australian Apprentice?
A traineeship trainee can be employed under the National Training Wage Award which specifies a rate of pay (a National Training Wage table based on the skill level of the trainee’s course, the level attained at secondary school & the number of years since leaving school) and terms and conditions relevant to the Award of the particular industry in which the trainee will be working. Alternatively, a trainee can be employed under an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) or Certified Agreement (CA) that will override the terms and conditions of an industry Award provided that the wages paid either equal or exceed the minimum rates of the National Training Wage. An apprentice can be employed under the relevant industry Award or under an AWA or CA.
The range of Australian Apprenticeships available comprise the traditional apprenticeship courses and the National Training Wage Traineeships as listed in the Automotive Australian Apprenticeships List.
Traineeships at the Certificate I and Certificate II levels are of a one year duration excepting the Certificate II in Automotive Manufacturing (utilised by the Manufacturing sector) which is of a two year duration. Traditional apprenticeship AQF 3 courses have been of a four-year nominal duration. However, these and other AQF 3 level courses may vary in length based on flexible delivery methods and the achievement of competencies in a non-time based learning situation.
In employing an apprentice or trainee, a number of administrative and liaison functions need to be completed. To enter into an apprenticeship or traineeship, a contract of training or training agreement is completed and registered with the relevant State/Territory Training Authority. The nomination of a Registered Training Organisation for training delivery needs to occur as well as arrangements for the payment of employer incentives. These tasks are the responsibility of Australian Apprenticeship Centres contracted by the Federal Government.
In each State/Territory there are Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) who are contracted to provide automotive training. The employer is able to nominate the RTO of their choice based on the training arrangements which are most suitable to the employer and apprentice/trainee. The cost of this nationally accredited training is met by individual State/Territory Training Authorities who directly pay the RTO.
The Australian Apprenticeship system combines the principles of ‘user choice´ for employers in selecting a training provider and in negotiating the most suitable and flexible training delivery arrangements. Currently, whilst some Traineeship courses provide for entire on-the-job training delivery, the majority of entry level apprenticeship/traineeship courses combine on and off-the-job training. The mix of training in this regard will be dependent on the capacity of individual employers to deliver on-the-job training and be involved in the assessment process based on their operations, and the flexibility of RTO’s to cater for individual enterprise training delivery requirements.
For a full summary on these employer incentives, please contact your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre.
Under the terms of the contract of training or the training agreement, the relevant State/Territory Training Authority (STA) is responsible for monitoring the progress of an apprentice/trainee. Employers or apprentices/trainees should contact the STA where the terms of the contract or agreement are threatened or breached. In other cases which involve the support services for an apprentice/trainee, basic training arrangements or other liaison problems, employers should contact the Australian Apprenticeships Centre responsible for their support services.
Is there any financial assistance for Australian Apprentices?
Pre-apprenticeship students may, if eligible, receive payment under AUSTUDY. This includes living, incidentals and fares allowances which may be payable on a non-competitive basis to students at least 16 years of age who meet the means test, residential status and previous study criteria. Contact your local Centrelink office for further details.
Apprentices who need to live away from home to do an apprenticeship may be eligible for a Living Away From Home Allowance (LAFHA). For further information contact any Centrelink office.
For apprenticeships and traineeships developed under new agreements between employers and employees (either Australian Workplace Agreements or Certified Agreements) a wage top-up may be payable if a full time apprentice or trainee wage falls below a specified minimum level because the amount of time spent in training has been increased. For further information contact any Centrelink office.
Author : ATA
Date : 17/07/2003
