Apprenticeships & Traineeships – Information for Employers

Apprentices and trainees are valuable team members within your business. By employing an apprentice or trainee, you'll have the opportunity to gain dedicated and enthusiastic team members. In addition, there are financial incentives available from the Government for businesses who employ apprentices or trainees.

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Childcare Apprentice

 

Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Apprenticeships and Traineeships can be for anyone. As such, apprentices and trainees do not need prior work experience. During the apprenticeship, the staff member will be learning the role and working towards the completion of a qualification. The employer will ensure that they are gaining relevant experience and have responsibilities. The duration of an apprenticeship or traineeship will often range from one to two years, depending on the qualification, and employment status. A training contract governs an apprenticeship or traineeship. This contract is a legally binding agreement between the apprentice or trainee and the employer.

Discover the Benefits of Hiring an Apprentice or Trainee

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Free Apprenticeships
for Under 25's.
If you take on an apprentice who is 25 years or under, the cost of their apprenticeship will be paid for by the QLD Government. Click to learn more.

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Government Incentives
for Employers

Your business may be eligible to access government incentives of up to $20,500* to help you hire an eligible apprentice or trainee. Click to learn more.

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Fill Current and
Future Skills Gaps

Take control of your workforce as team members expand their skills and knowledge through nationally recognised training.
Click to learn more.

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Business Growth With
Cost-effective Talent
Due to wage concessions associated with employing apprentices and trainees, you can lower staffing costs.
Click to learn more.

Employer Testimonials
"The course content & engagement with our team is of remarkable quality & consistency. Our team are gaining confidence & competence through their study with Venture Education”
Karen Prestedge
CEO Mother Duck Childcare and Pre-School Centres
"Venture Education's programs and courses have assisted our YMCA workforce by developing knowledgeable and competent employees. We love their practical approach to training."
Will Sambrook
YMCA Group Manager - Operations
“Sharon offers students a face to face approach and is readily available to answer any questions and guide the student’s learning in order for them to succeed in their study”
Arielle Russoniello
Director, Condon Kids Early Learning, Townsville

Why Hire an Apprentice or Trainee?

Fill Current and Future Skills Gaps

Utilise Apprentices and Trainees for the skills you need now, and into the future. It is an excellent way of identifying talent as your team members develop their skills, allowing you to plan your workforce and upskill potential future leaders who are already part of your business.

  • Attract and recruit staff for your current or future skill requirements
  • Mentor and develop loyal and motivated workers
  • Involve your staff in refining systems and processes

Cost-effective Talent

While apprentices and trainees must be paid wages, these rates are less than the qualified staff. Financial incentives, offered by the Government, also make apprenticeships and traineeships a cost-effective hiring solution.

  • Have staff strained your way at a lower cost for your business
  • Train future workers and supervisors, often in a short space of time
  • If under 25, the Government will subside the cost of training

Government Incentives for Employers

The Australian Government provides significant incentives to employers, subject to eligibility criteria, waiting periods and time limits. Incentives vary, depending on eligibility and may also include exemption from Payroll Tax & Workers Compensation.

  • Receive commencement and completion incentive payments
  • Receive incentive payments for specific cases – disability, mature age
  • Supporting Apprentices and Trainees provides a wage subsidy to small businesses

Incentives May Include:
  • Commencement & Recommencement incentives
  • Completion incentives
  • Additional Identified Skills Shortage payment
  • Rural and Regional Skills Shortage incentive
  • Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy trial
  • Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
  • Mature Aged Worker incentives
  • Australian School-based Apprenticeship incentive
  • Trade Support Loans

  Four Steps to Hiring an Apprentice or Trainee

Apprenticeship Steps

Employers can take on an apprentice or trainee studying either a Certificate III or Diploma level qualification. Employers can receive a range of benefits including Government incentives.

Apprenticeship Steps

Staff can choose to complete either a Traineeship with a CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care or an Apprenticeship with a CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care.

Apprenticeship Steps

A training contract is used to register the apprenticeship or traineeship. The sign up and registration is facilitated by an AustralianApprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider.

Apprenticeship Steps

Select Venture Education
(RTO 32071) as your training provider. We will receive a notification from the AASN to accept and will make contact to enrol the trainee or apprentice into the qualification. 

 

 

** Contact Venture Education regarding our preferred AASN’s to assess your eligibility for employer incentives and facilitate the sign up and registration. 

** Eligible QLD residents can access FREE apprenticeships if they are under 25 years of age.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Employer responsibilities?

Taking on a trainee or apprentice is greatly beneficial for employers but also a big commitment. There are several employer responsibilities and requirements that they need to abide by. These can include but are not limited to the following:

  • Work with an AASN provider and the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT)
  • Agree and sign a training contract with the employee and AASN
  • Have the adequate facilities, resources, and qualified supervisor
  • Provide the required paid work hours for the apprentice or trainee
  • Sign and agree to a Training Plan with Venture Education
  • Sign a Training Record Book for the on-the-job training with Venture Education
  • Continually support the trainee or apprentice and provide ongoing workplace training opportunities

 

What does an AASN do?

The Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (Apprenticeship Network) is your first point of contact for all queries about traineeships and apprenticeships. The Australian Government contracts Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) Providers as the first point of contact to provide information and advice to support employers, apprentices, and trainees.

The sign up and registration of a traineeship or apprenticeship via the training contract is facilitated by an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider. AASN’s also assist with the following:

  • Provide information on apprenticeships and traineeships
  • Complete sign up and lodges the training contract
  • Helps you lodge employer claims for Government incentives

 

How do I find a trainee or an apprentice?

It is important to think about who you take on as a trainee or apprentice as finding the right person is crucial to a positive outcome for the trainee/apprentice and employer.

There are several ways in which you could find a trainee or apprentice:

  • Advertise internally and/or select existing workers
  • Advertise externally through job search platforms i.e. Seek
  • Promote with partners, local organisations, and schools
  • Work with a Group Training Organisation (GTO).

 

What are the types of apprenticeships and traineeships?

Apprentices and trainees work towards the completion of a nationally recognised qualification while learning valuable skills at work and under the guidance of a training organisation.

Full-time:

  • Ongoing employment
  • Work or train an average of 38 hours per week

Part-time:

  • Ongoing regular employment 
  • 15 or more hours per week as an average over four weeks

School-based:

  • Part of high school studies (generally in years 10, 11 and 12).
  • Must impact school timetable with nominal term generally double

 

Are there any fees associated with a traineeship or apprenticeship?

A student contribution fee is to be charged to all full and part-time apprentices and trainees. A student may be eligible for a partial exemption of the contribution fee. The Student Contribution Fee is calculated at $1.60 per nominal hour for each Unit of Competency delivered for the qualification and therefore vary depending on the qualification and electives chosen. The Student Contribution Fee may be paid on behalf of the student by their employer or a third party.

 

How many traineeships or apprenticeships can my staff do?

Apprentices and trainees can only receive a maximum of two Government funding contributions under the current User Choice program. In addition, apprentices and trainees can only receive one government contribution for a User Choice funded qualification at any single point in time.

 

What qualification can my staff do as a traineeship or apprenticeship?

Under the funding model of the User Choice Program, students can study the CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care as a traineeship or the CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care as an apprenticeship.

 

Are there any contribution fees associated for someone under 25?

The Queensland Government is offering fully subsidised training under the Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s program, which means it will cover the cost of training for apprentices and trainees under the age of 25. Under this initiative, the Queensland Government pays the training provider for the full cost of the nationally recognised qualification that the apprentice or trainee will undertake. This means there is no cost to the student or the employer!

 

Get in contact for a conversation on how a trainee or apprentice can benefit your business. Call us on 1300037000 or contact us using our online form.

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Excited about making your start in the childcare industry? Download our course guide to learn more about what we have on offer to get your there.

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Student Testimonials
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