Australian Apprenticeships ( including traineeships) combine practical work with structured training to give a nationally recognised qualification with relevant work experience.

Australian Apprenticeship Centres provide a free service to employers to help them with the sign-up and administration of an Australian Apprenticeship. They now operate from over 500 sites Australia-wide. To find the location of a Australian Apprenticeship Centre, just ring 1800 639 629 (freecall) or search on the Australian Apprenticeship Centre website.

The Australian Government provides a range of incentives to encourage employers to take on New Apprentices and provide them with high quality employment and training. The standard range of incentives provides up to $4,000.
Australian Apprenticeship Centre services include:

• providing information on Australian Apprenticeships options to employers and other interested people
• marketing and promoting Australian Apprenticeships in the local area
• administering Commonwealth incentive payments to employers
• working with the State/Territory Training Authority to provide an integrated service
• establishing effective relationships with Commonwealth contracted Job Network Members, training providers, schools and other organisations

The Australian Apprenticeship Centre in your region is your point of contact for information on Australian Apprenticeships.

It is important to remember that most trainees are new to the industry, and in fact are probably new to any sort of job or working environment. It would be a mistake to assume that they have the same work habits, expectations, and knowledge, and capabilities as the rest of your workforce. Often they are young, and part of a completely different generation to managers, supervisors and other more experienced employees.
Some strategies for Trainers and Training Managers to provide more support to and for trainees might include the following.

• Make sure Trainers and Managers know each trainee by name and the trainees feel a part of the organisation.
• Give trainees an overview of the industry and what their role is.
• Explain why something needs to be done.
• Monitor new trainees for problems such as fatigue, muscle soreness, strains.
• Give trainees a workplace ‘buddy’.
• Provide trainees with at least one day of dedicated induction training.
• Be honest about career pathways in the organisation.
• Make sure Trainers and Managers are approachable, and respectful of trainees.
• Make sure supervisors and leading hands know who trainees are.
• Make sure other employees don’t undermine company attempts to make trainees feel welcome.

It is important to implement strategies and policies such as those outlined above early in the traineeship.
Download the “Strategies for supporting trainees” (PDF) for more information.

• Australian Apprenticeships - The national Australian Apprenticeships Centres website.
• Australian Flexible Learning Framework - This website is a guide to e-learning which may be useful to companies seeking to introduce e-learning training strategies.
• www.training.com.au –This website is a very good resource for anyone wanting information about training and traineeships. It is very clear, easy to read and follow. Particularly good for people who are new to training and traineeships.
• National Training Information Service - A good site for finding out information about training packages, qualification and training providers.
• DET Apprenticeships and Traineeships - Apprenticeships and Traineeships specific site, good for RTOs or employers, as well as trainees who are interested in legislation and/or the responsibilities of parties in a traineeship.
• Department of Education, Training and the Arts - QLD  - This Queensland government page is relevant for employers and trainees. In particular there are lots of newsletters that can be viewed and downloaded.