: Range of Options
Range of Options
As an employer you can choose from a wide range of training and employment options to suit your business and training needs.
This page is divided into four sections:
Available Qualifications
With over 600 Australian Apprenticeship and Traineeship qualifications available in Queensland, you are sure to find one that suits your specific job requirements.
If you are not sure about the different apprenticeship and traineeship options available, click on the following links to view the full list.
Queensland Training Information Service (QTIS)
Once you have decided on a specific apprenticeship or traineeship qualification that suits your needs, you can find out more detailed information including course outlines, contact details of local training providers, modules and other useful information by clicking here. Simply enter the relevant qualification in the search box provided.
Types of Employment
Australian Apprenticeships and traineeships are available to both your new and in many cases existing employees who are employed on either:
- Full-time
- Part-time or
- While still at school (Australian School-based Apprenticeships)
(Apprenticeships and traineeships are not available for casual employees)
For information on eligibility criteria click here
Priority Groups
To encourage employers to employ staff from key priority areas, the Australian Government provides additional employer incentives (on top of the standard Australian Government incentives) for the following Australian Apprenticeship and traineeship groups:
Australian School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
An additional $750 Australian School-based commencement incentive is payable for commencing an apprentice or trainee while they are still at school and an additional $750 Australian School-based retention incentive for retaining them in your business after they successfully complete their qualification and schooling. For more information click here
Mature Age Workers
An additional $750 Mature Age incentive is payable for commencing a disadvantaged Mature Age (45+) Australian Apprentice or trainee and another $750 for retaining them in your business after they successfuly complete their qualification. For more information click here
Indigenous Australians
Additional funding may be available for employing an Indigenous person who is registered as being unemployed with Centrelink and has a Wage Assistance Card. Eligible employers may receive up to:
- $4,400 (GST inc) over a 26 week period for full-time employment (35 hours/week) or
- $2,200 (GST inc) for ongoing part-time employment (min 15 hrs/week)
on top of the standard Austalian Government employer incentives. For more information click here
People with a Disability
Employers of Australian Apprentices and trainees with a disability may attract the following Australian Government assistance:
- Wage Support of up to $104.30 (GST inc) per week for the duration of the apprenticeship or traineeship
- Workplace Modifications valued up to $5,000 (GST excl)
- Tutorial Assistance of up to $5,500 (GST inc) per year
- Mentor or Interpreter Assistance of up to $5,500 (GST inc) per year.
For more information click here
Training Options
Employers of Australian Apprentices and trainees now have more choices in regards to the training process, including choosing the training provider and having input into how, when and where the training is delivered.
Training providers (also known as Supervising Registered Training Organisations (SRTOs)) are either public (i.e. TAFE) or privately run organisations that are contracted by the Queensland Government to deliver apprenticeship and traineeship training.
What is the role of the Training Provider?
The training provider is responsible for:
- Establishing the Training Plan
- Undertaking an Employer Resource Assessment
- Delivering the training and assessing your apprentice's or trainee's achievements
- Issuing the qualification upon successful completion
Who funds the training?
Most training of Australian Apprentices and trainees in Queensland has traditionally been funded by the State Government under ‘User Choice’ arrangements, though not all traineeships are covered. In many cases employers choose to fund the training under a user pay’s or fee-for-service arrangement.
User Choice is a term used to describe the funding and policies which allow employers and their apprentices and trainees to choose an approved training provider and negotiate key aspects of the training.
You will need to reach an agreement with your training provider as to which method of funding is most suitable to your needs. Please note that in some industries or qualification outcomes, only one training provider may be available.
How do I choose a Training Provider?
When choosing a training provider it is important to take into account their flexibility in meeting your training needs, including how, where and when the training will be delivered, their experience, ongoing support and how much input you have in the training delivered. Things you should consider include:
- Type of Funding - Does the training provider have funding available under a User Choice contract or do they charge on a fee-for-service basis? You may choose to pay on a fee-for-service basis, due to the greater choice of providers and training delivery options.
- Key Priority Groups - Some traineeships fall under Key Priority Population Group restrictions. Depending on the priority group rating, some funded traineeships are only available to specific targeted groups (note: this excludes all apprenticeships and Australian School-based Apprenticeships and traineeships, as they are all fully funded).
Key Priority Groups include: young people (15 to 24 years of age), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, Australian South Sea Islanders, long term unemployed, woman re-entering the workforce, people over 45 years of age, people of non-English speaking background or people with a disability - Experience - Does the training provider have experience in delivering the qualification to your industry and your type of business?
- Training Options - What options do you have when it comes to choosing the content of the Training Plan and sequence of training? The training provider is required to work with you and your apprentice or trainee to design the Training Plan which includes what training needs to occur and how and when it will take place
- Delivery Mode - Is the training self-paced or training driven? Is it delivered in the workplace, at college, or a combination of both? How much time will your apprentice or trainee spend off site?
- Service Levels and Costs – Can the training provider provide you with the level of service you require? They must develop and provide a training record book which is based on the Training Plan, as well as essential training materials. In some instances, the apprentice or trainee is required to pay fees and charges e.g. Certificate level III and above qualifications.
- Flexibility of Delivery - Can the timing of the training be rearranged? If your other staff are away on holidays or you are experiencing a busy period, you may want to reschedule some of the training so that your apprentice or trainee is in the workplace when you need them the most.
- Assessment - How and when does the training provider assess the apprentice or trainee? Do you play a role in the assessment? What support is given to help you with assessments?
- Amount of Contact - How much contact can you expect to have with the training provider? At least every 6 months, the training provider is required to review the Training Plan with you and your apprentice or trainee. They must also maintain regular contact either in person, by telephone, fax or email to check the progress of the training and to verify that your apprentice or trainee has achieved the skills as documented in their training record book.
- Additional Support - Does the training provider provide any additional support to suit your businesses needs? If your apprentice or trainee needs additional learning support (eg. maths, reading or writing) is this provided? They are required to organise this if it is required.
- Complaints Process - Is there a complaints handling procedure? If you are unhappy with the training or the way it is delivered, you have the right to complain and to change to another provider.
To find out which training providers can deliver on your training requirements, call Queensland Apprenticeship Services on 1300 360 955.
* QAS will make every effort to advise employers of current User Choice funding availability, however does not warrant that the SRTO will make available or has available User Choice funding.