Apprentices and trainees responsibilities
Your apprenticeship or traineeship is made up of a combination of work and training.
You must:
- attend and arrive on time for work - if you are unable to go to work, advise your employer as soon as you can
- attend training at work or at another training venue
- work towards achieving the competencies agreed in the training plan
- keep your training record in your possession and ensure it is regularly signed by your employer and your training organisation (at least every three months)
- pay tuition and student fees to your training organisation (your employer may pay these on your behalf)
- not terminate employment with your employer unless the apprenticeship or traineeship is completed or the training contract has been cancelled.
- follow all reasonable and lawful instructions given by your employer
- behave in a courteous and professional manner
- dress suitably for the job (wear safety equipment if required)
- observe the conditions of the relevant employment agreement or award
- obey safety rules and ensure quality standards are met
- understand that all materials given to you by your employer remain the property of your employer, except for your tools (if you are an apprentice), any safety equipment, your training record, and your completion and qualification certificates
- understand that all information provided by your employer in confidence must be kept confidential and not used or told to any other person without your employer's approval.
If you are under 18, the parent or guardian who signed your training contract must ensure that these responsibilities are met.
Your employer must:
- provide you the wages and entitlements as outlined in the relevant industrial relations instrument
- provide safe working conditions and safety equipment
- not expose you to unnecessary risk during your employment and compensate you for any injuries suffered as a result of their failure to protect you (workers' compensation)
- repay or cover you for money spent as part of your job (for example, spending your own money to buy materials for work).
Information for school-based apprentices and trainees
If you are a school-based apprentice or trainee, your employer must provide a minimum of 48 days full-time paid employment for each year of your apprenticeship or traineeship.
If you are a school-based apprentice undertaking an electrotechnology apprenticeship, you must work a minimum of 80 days full-time paid employment for each year of your apprenticeship. You must also work a minimum of 15 hours each week (when not on block release).
Information for part-time apprentices and trainees
If you are a part-time apprentice or trainee, you must work a minimum of 15 hours per week, including the time spent training at work and with the training provider. These 15 hours per week must be averaged over each four week period for the duration of your apprenticeship or traineeship.
As a part-time apprentice or trainee, you must be rostered to work on a regular and continuous basis.
Further information:
- Responsibilities of the apprentice or trainee
Learn more about the responsibilities of the apprentice or trainee during the apprenticeship or traineeship. - Responsibilities of the employer
Learn more about the responsibilities of the employer during the apprenticeship or traineeship. - Responsibilities of the training organisation
Learn more about the responsibilities of the training organisation during the apprenticeship or traineeship. - Responsibilities of the parent/guardian
Learn more about the parent or guardian responsibilities, in cases where the parent or guardian is a party to the training contract and the apprentice or trainee is under 18.