Tips for employers
Employers may find the following tips useful when training school-based apprentices and trainees:
Tips for training your school-based apprentice or trainee
1. Assign a workplace coach or mentor to your school-based apprentice or trainee. A good workplace coach will take a personal interest in their development by:
- creating a communication channel and developing a rapport
- providing feedback
- completing progress reports
- acting as a good role model.
2. Make it clear to the school-based apprentice or trainee what they need to learn by:
- assuming that the school-based apprentice or trainee has no prior knowledge
- explaining why the job or task is done a certain way
- using clear and simple language (write the instructions down if necessary), including safe work practices in your instructions
- asking questions to check for understanding
- ensuring that there are no distractions.
3. Take time to demonstrate how to do things the correct way.
4. Allow the school-based apprentice or trainee time to practice the skills they learn.
5. Provide the school-based apprentice or trainee with regular feedback.
6. Make sure the school-based apprentice or trainee is aware of the usefulness and importance of the skills learned.
7. Ask the school-based apprentice or trainee for feedback about the training they are receiving at work and from their supervising registered training organisation (SRTO).
8. Identify and resolve problems before they affect work performance and working relationships. Seek assistance if you can't resolve the problems on your own.
9. Ensure that you, the school-based apprentice or trainee and the SRTO follow the training plan and complete the training record regularly and accurately.
10. Review the training plan at regular intervals to make sure it is still relevant.
11. Where possible, provide a variety of work tasks relevant to the school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT).
12. Positive reinforcement; recognise the achievements of your school-based apprentice or trainee. Recognition might include a special mention for his or her achievements at a staff meeting, an article in the company newsletter, or nominating them for an award, such as the Queensland Training Awards.
For more information on the Queensland Training Awards, phone Apprenticeships Info on 1800 210 210 or visit the Queensland Training Awards website.