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What is an Australian Apprenticeship?

 

The term 'Australian Apprenticeship' is used by the Commonwealth government and covers both apprenticeships and traineeships, both of which are jobs that combine paid work and structured training. As such they are each comprised of two parts:

 

1.	Paid employment under an appropriate industrial arrangement (for example an award or enterprise agreement), and
2.	Nationally recognised, practical based training program where individuals must demonstrate the required skills before progressing to the next training level.

 

Australian Apprenticeships allow individuals to complete the training at their own pace provided it’s within the agreed training period.

 

 

How do traineeships, apprenticeships, internships and cadetships differ?

 

In some States and Territories there is a clear distinction between a traineeship, apprenticeship, cadetship and internship, based on the level of the qualification, duration of training and employment arrangement. For detailed information you must contact your local State Training Authority.

 

The following is a basic definition of each –

 

Traineeship

 

A traineeship is offered via an Australian Apprenticeship program. It is a Commonwealth solution. It takes 12 months to complete and is operated by a Group Training Organisation in partnership with a Registered Training Organisation, the government and a host employer. It is also synchronised with a training program.

 

Apprenticeship

 

An apprenticeship is offered via an Australian Apprenticeship program. It is a Commonwealth solution. It takes 36 months to complete and is operated by a Group Training Organisation in partnership with a Registered Training Organisation, the government and a host employer. It is also synchronised with a training program.

 

Internship

 

An internship is not offered via an Australian Apprenticeship program. It is a private-sector solution. There are many types of internships in the creative industries. Most take 1 to 12 months to complete and are offered directly by an employer as either unpaid, temporary or permanent employment positions. Applicants may be studying but unlike an apprenticeship or traineeship, the internship does not necessarily synchronise with a training program.

 

Cadetship

 

A cadetship is not offered via an Australian Apprenticeship program. It is a private-sector solution. There are many types of cadetships in the creative industries. Most take 12 to 24 months to complete and are typically offered directly by an employer as temporary employment positions. Applicants may be studying but unlike an apprenticeship or traineeship, the cadetship does not necessarily synchronise with a training program.

 

 

What organizations are involved in an Apprenticeship?

 

Australian, State and Territory Governments

 

The Australian and State or Territory Governments participate in the implementation of Apprenticeships. The Australian Government offers a range of financial incentives to eligible employers in the creative industries to create and fill an Australian Apprenticeship position. In general terms, Australian Government involvement is designed to help increase the number of skilled or training employment opportunities in the creative industries.

 

State and Territory Training Authorities

 

The State and Territory Training Authorities (STAs) have responsibility for the registration of nationally endorsed Training Package qualifications for use in their State or Territory. STAs also establish public funding levels for the qualifications they register. This is often referred to as 'User Choice' funding. Some qualifications in a Training Package may not be covered by this public funding. The State and Territory Training Authorities have the responsibility for the registration and auditing of Australian Apprenticeship Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

 

State and Territory Training Authorities are also responsible for formally registering apprentices and trainees, and so are the agencies where the 'Training Agreement' is lodged. Naturally they are also the agency responsible for approval of variations to Training Agreements, including suspensions and cancellations. The approval of an early completion of an Australian Apprenticeship is also their responsibility.

 

Further to this, State and Territory Governments may also be involved in the practical issues that sometimes arise between an Apprentice and their employer or the training provider. Most have field staff in metropolitan and regional areas that aim to help resolve issues. State or Territory Training Authorities usually issue the apprentice or trainee with a certificate or acknowledgement on completion of their Australian Apprenticeship.

 

Bodies such as the Dept. of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), Industry Skills Councils and employer and employee associations

 

DEEWR is an Australian Government Department responsible for the development and implementation of Australian Apprenticeships. This includes the contracting out of services such as Industry Skills Councils (ISCs), Australian Apprenticeships Centres (AACs) and Job Network Members, as well as the delivery of many vocational education and employment related initiatives. DEEWR also funds the National Training Quality Council (NTQC) that is responsible, along with ISCs, for managing the endorsement and review of industry focused Training Packages.

 

ISCs are peak industry bodies involved in the development of Training Packages that are a qualification framework for specific industries. ISCs consult with employers and industry stakeholders, such as Registered Training Organisations and vested Charitable Institutions, in developing these qualification frameworks. The qualification outcomes can range from Certificate level I to Advanced Diploma or in some industries to higher level post-graduate qualifications. ISCs also provide advice on their industries including identifying current and potential areas of skill shortage.

 

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)

 

An RTO may be a public organisation or private organisation. An employer may also apply to become an RTO. RTOs adhere to nationally consistent standards. Their performance is audited by State or Territory Governments. RTOs may deliver training outside of Apprenticeships, such as 'fee-for-service' courses, 'pre-apprenticeships' programs or higher level courses that articulate into tertiary study.

 

RTOs participate in the development of individual Training Plans for Australian Apprentices and their host employer. The Training Plan details the units of competency to be completed to obtain a qualification. The units must be selected on the basis of the packaging rules set out in the Training Package.

 

People undertaking a qualification have the opportunity to have their current skills, knowledge and experiences recognised formally, without having to undergo unnecessary training if they are already competent. This is known as a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment which is conducted by an RTO.

 

RTOs also conduct Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) assessments where a person who has already completed some formal training in the relevant field gains 'credit' and does not have to repeat the training.

 

RTOs provide the teaching and often the teaching materials required to take apprentices through the Training Plan. The RTO can provide training in a combination of ways such as on-campus, in the workplace, or by distance-education. They must also keep in contact with employers to maximise the level of integration of the training with the Apprentice's duties in the workplace.

 

The RTO is responsible for assessing or validating that the Apprentice is competent in the units set out in the Training Plan. The RTO issues a certificate to Apprentices who successfully complete the requirements of the qualification.

 

Pacific Incubator of Intellectual Property Ltd (PIIP)

 

PIIP is a registered Charitable Institution. It has the principle purpose of helping businesses in the creative industries thrive so they can increase their demand for Australian Apprentices. Through the Incubator Council it produces projects and runs programs that stimulate creative commerce and labour demand. Projects and programmes are both proprietary and licensed. PIIP also works with Group Training Organisations (GTOs). GTOs are the primary employer of trainees and apprentices under the Federal Government’s Australian Apprenticeship scheme. GTOs on-hire the trainees and apprentices to host businesses while they undertake their training at a Registered Training Organisation under a Training Agreement.

 

Group training is a proven alternate method of employment for small-to-medium sized businesses which:

 

	•	Are unable to offer an Apprentice a permanent position because they can’t guarantee ongoing work,
	•	Do not have the range of work available to ensure that an Apprentice gains all the necessary job skills for that industry, or
	•	Do not have the time to undertake all employment and training functions.

 

Group training is an arrangement where a group training company is the primary employer of an Australian Apprentice and on-hires them to host businesses, called host-employers, while they undertake their training at a Registered Training Organisation under a Training Agreement. For and on behalf of the host-employer, the group training company:

 

	•	Carefully selects the Apprentice,
	•	Manages the training,
	•	Takes responsibility for all paperwork connected with wages, allowances, superannuation, workers compensation, sick/holiday pay and other employment benefits, and
	•	Rotates the Apprentice between businesses, if necessary, to ensure that each Apprentice receives a broad range of training and experience.

 

At the heart of an Australian Apprenticeship is competency-based assessment. Employers and trainees/apprentices agree on the range of competencies they wish to develop and then learn and demonstrate these competencies in the workplace. The emphasis is on giving the trainee/apprentice opportunities to demonstrate their competence. As a vocational ‘competency based’ qualification, the focus is on their ability to apply their workplace knowledge to the issues raised in the study material and on the application of their practical work experience and problem solving.

 

Group training provides a cost-efficient and simple way for SME businesses to hire Australian Apprentices when this might otherwise be impossible. It also creates quality employment and training opportunities for young people and provides them with a breadth of experience gained in a number of different roles.