Alternatives to Cancelling
Thinking of cancelling your Apprentice or trainee?
Please Click here to review the discussion paper released by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry regarding apprenticeship retention.
Before cancelling your Australian Apprentice or trainee, there are a number of other solutions you should know about first. Please see below for an overview of available options.
Early Completion
Apprenticeships in Queensland are competency based. If the apprentice has completed all on and off-the-job competencies, the apprentice may complete.
If the apprentice has not quite completed all the requirements, then negotiations can be held with the employer, the apprentice and the Training Provider, to arrange training of outstanding competencies for an early completion.
Temporary Transfer or Assignment
This is an informal agreement for the apprentice to work with another employer to continue to gain training and experience relevant to the apprenticeship for a specific term.
The employer must contact the Training Provider to inform of the change. The apprentice must keep his training record up to date and return to the original employer after the temporary assignment ends.
Amending to Part time
Part time allows the apprentice to still continue the apprenticeship but work a minimum of 15 hours per week [over a 4 week period]. The Training Provider must be contacted and the training plan amended to reflect change.
An amendment form signed by all parties to the training contract needs to be submitted to the Dept of Education, Training and the Arts for approval.
The training contract can be amended back to full time if the employer is able to provide all the requirements under the training plan.
Temporary Stand Downs/Suspensions
This is a formal arrangement approved by Dept of Education, Training & the Arts for employers who are temporarily unable to perform their duties under the training plan and allows for periods of unpaid absences from work.
Applications in writing for stand downs must be approved by the Dept of Education, Training and the Arts and address specific criteria and need to be signed by all parties. Temporary stand downs can be approved for a maximum of 30 days and may be applied for the whole or part of that period.
Already Cancelled?
If you've already cancelled or the options don't suit, theres a couple more things you should know.
CancellationIf none of the options available suit, the training contract needs to be cancelled, with all parties signing the cancellation form and coming to a mutually agreed date.
Funding Assistance for Apprentices/Trainees
If the training contract is cancelled, the apprentice may be funded to continue the off-the-job training by attending block training in the same qualification in order to re-enter a training contract. Some criteria must be met to be eligible for funding. School-based Apprentices or trainees are not eligible for this funding. Travel & Accommodation support is also available for apprentices to attend training to the nearest Training Provider.
Out of Trade Register
An Out Of Trade Register is published on the Apprenticeships Info web site. It shows the trade, approximate level, location/s the apprentices wants to work in and whether the apprentice is seeking full time or part time employment. It is regularly updated.
Employers can ring the Apprenticeships Info line to obtain the name and contact details of any apprentice they would like to interview.
Queensland Apprenticeship Services
1300 360 955
Email qas@qas.org.au
Apprenticeships Info
1800 210 210
Email apprenticeshipsinfo@qld.gov.au
Construction Skills Queensland
1800 798 488
Email shopfront@ csq.org.au