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Step by Step - Taking on an Apprentice

Sarina Russo Apprenticeship Services is here to help you make the best informed decisions at every step.

Step 1 - Apprenticeship or Traineeship ?

There are over 700 different apprenticeships and traineeships to choose from. Selecting the right apprenticeship / traineeship for your business means:

Deciding what the job entails
Identifying the skills required to do the job
Determining whether the employee needs to be full-time or part-time.
(If you require someone on a part-time basis, think about whether a school-based apprentice or trainee will meet your needs)

For a full list of all apprenticeships and traineeships currently available in Queensland, visit the apprenticeships and traineeships section of the Queensland Department of Employment and Training (see website) or call 1300 369 935.

Step 2 - Find the Right Person

Taking on an apprentice / trainee is a big commitment. It is important that you think carefully about whether you can give someone a training opportunity and employ them for the term of the apprenticeship / traineeship.

Sarina Russo Job Access employment agency can help you find the right apprentice / trainee for FREE! Alternative ways to find an apprentice / trainee include:

Employment agencies (such as Sarina Russo Job Access)
Advertise the job vacancy (newspapers, websites)
Word of mouth
Contact local schools / training providers

Step 3 - Choose a Training Provider

When you employ an apprentice / trainee, you both must choose a training provider who will work with you throughout the apprenticeship / traineeship. The training provider will help you to develop a training plan, deliver training, assess your apprentice / trainee's achievement of skills, and issue a qualification on successful completion of the training. Each training provider will offer different training methods. It's therefore important to shop around for the best one to meet both your needs.

Points to discuss with a training provider include:

What skills you want your apprentice / trainee to learn
How and when the training can be delivered
When and who will assess the apprentice / trainee
What learning assistance is available
What training methods suit your workplace and apprentice / trainee
What feedback or progress reports can you expect.

Some registered training organisations are funded by the Queensland Government to provide training for all apprenticeships, and some traineeships, at a reduced cost. Employers and apprentices / trainees have the option of selecting a registered training organisation that receives government funding, or can choose to pay for training delivered by another training provider.

Once you and your apprentice or trainee have chosen a registered training organisation, that organisation is then referred to as the 'supervising registered training organisation' in all official paperwork and legal documentation. Following the induction and initial training plan development, your supervising registered training organisation will make contact with you at least four times in each year of the apprenticeship / traineeship to monitor training and provide support.

Step 4 - Complete the Paperwork

Completing the paperwork involves signing and registering the training contract. This is a legally binding document which needs to be signed by yourself and your apprentice / trainee (and a parent / guardian if apprentice / trainee is under 18).

Once the training contract is registered, you will receive a letter from the department and a copy of the training contract. Please remember that the training contract is legally binding. Once you sign the training contract, you are bound by both the conditions contained in the Training and Employment Act 2000 and conditions in the contract itself.

Sarina Russo Apprenticeship Services can help by:

Provide information on apprenticeships / traineeships
Help to complete and lodge the training contract
Provide advice on eligibility for Government financial incentives
Help lodge claims for Government financial incentives
Make regular visits to your workplace and check progress of training
Provide induction information.

Step 5 - Probation Period

The probationary period allows you and your apprentice / trainee to work together before deciding to continue with the apprenticeship / traineeship. It's designed to make sure you've made the right choice and the best time to assess your apprentice / trainee's work ethic, reliability and potential to succeed. Probation begins at the commencement of the apprenticeship / traineeship and is normally 90 days for an apprentice and 30 days for a trainee.

During probation, you'll need to sign the training contract and negotiate the training plan with your apprentice / trainee and training provider. The training plan outlines the type of training, who, when and where training will take place, and when and how that training will be assessed.

Once probation is completed, you and your apprentice or trainee are contracted to each other for the length of the training contract.