Apprenticeships and Traineeships

The Department of Training and Workforce Development assists apprentices with travel and accommodation related to the completion of their off-the-job training component via a Travel and Accommodation allowance.

Financial assistance is available to support off the job training being delivered to apprentices who are, or would normally be, required to travel long distances to attend off the job training.

To claim assistance the minimum round-trip distance an apprentice must travel from their residential address to the closest training venue of all training providers able to deliver the off the job training is:

• 71 kilometres or more for travel allowance;
• 150 kilometres or more for accommodation allowance; and
• 1100 kilometres or more for airfare travel.  (Air travel must be booked by the RTO to be eligible)

Please note Distances are measured by Google Maps.

Procedures for the Travel Accommodation Allowance(opens in a new tab) (TAA) for Apprenticeships are attached and available via the Apprenticeship Office webpage.

Employers or apprentices wishing to claim for the Travel and/or Accommodation Allowance will need lodge their claim via the Western Australian Apprenticeship Management System (WAAMS).

If you have not yet registered for WAAMS, you will need to request an account and the Apprenticeship Office will send you an email with login instructions.

All claims must be submitted within 60 days of the completion of the apprentice’s training or attendance period for the claim to be eligible.

The Department has developed a user guide(opens in a new tab)  if you need help lodging your claim.

Apprentices who need to book travel will need to complete an Apprentice travel request form no less than two weeks prior to the date of the requested travel. 

Changes to travel must also be submitted using the Apprentice travel request form.

In some areas evidence tracking is used to gather evidence of skills practised in an on-the-job environment.  Some delivery areas opt to use this evidence tracking and some are required by training package assessment conditions.

At Central Regional TAFE the tool used to track this evidence is Ready Skills. Ready Skills  is an electronic profiling tool used to enable RTOs to monitor an apprentice's “on the job” training for specific units highlighted. 

Each student that requires access will be provided with login details and instructions on how to use the system.

There is an app that can be downloaded for use with Apple or Android devices, or the system can be access from an internet browser.

The Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 (“the VET Act”) legislates that employers must release their Apprentices for scheduled training. Failure to do so without approval requires us to inform the Apprenticeship Office, which may result in penalties being applied under the VET Act.

Apprentices will attend the blocks outlined in the call up letter sent out to both the apprentice and employer in December the previous year (or upon completion of the sign up process for new commencements).

For all purposes (including the payment of remuneration) time spent at training within the obligations of the training contract is classified as time spent working for the employer 

Once your apprentice commences block release training, it is essential they complete the training program. Requesting them back to work disadvantages the apprentice, delays their training program, incurs additional costs, and takes a training place that could be allocated to another apprentice.

Attendance at all scheduled block sessions is critical - if critical OSH introductions are missed, students may not be able to continue with their block.

Missed assessments may result in students having to repeat blocks or units.

Central Regional TAFE appreciates the importance of you managing a successful business and understands there may be rare occasions where your apprentice cannot attend their scheduled training. In these instances, you will need to seek approval in advance.

Absences

In accordance with statutory requirements, Central Regional TAFE is required to:

• Notify an employer when an apprentice fails to attend scheduled training or confirm with an employer any absence of an apprentice due to:
  • Early completion of work
  • Employer advised illness or other leave from the workplace.

Where an employer has provided an email address, this notification will be sent electronically within a week of the absence.

If lecturers are concerned about your apprentice’s aptitude/attitude at training, we endeavour to let you know as soon as concerns arise.

Apprentices that need to travel more than 70km round trip to training will be eligible for Travel Allowance - please see the Travel Allowance information above.

If you have any queries in relation to Apprentice attendance, please ask to speak to your Apprentice’s Head of Program.

Employer details are downloaded to our Student Management System directly from the Apprenticeship Office(opens in a new tab) , and we cannot update an employer’s details. If your employer details need to be updated you will need to do so via the Western Australian Apprenticeship Management System (WAAMS)(opens in a new tab) online client portal.

If you don’t already have a logon for this system, select the “Request an Account” tab and work through to create an account.  Once you have access you can make changes to all of your apprentice's and business details, extend contracts and manage your apprentice business directly with the Apprenticeship Office.

If you have any questions please contact DTWD Apprenticeship Office.

T 13 19 54

A training contract is successfully completed when there is agreement between the employer, registered training organisation (RTO) and apprentice that the apprentice has attained all the required competencies for the qualification. The RTO is responsible for reporting a successful completion date between the RTO and parties (employer and apprentice) to the training contract.

Early completion

Once your apprentice has completed 100% of the Training Plan we will contact you to advise that off the job study is completed. You have the option at this time of signing your apprentice off as complete which will bring forward the completion date. Should you feel that your apprentice still requires time to develop their skills on the job, you can opt to continue until the scheduled completion date.

Contact the Apprentice and Traineeship Management Team (ATMT) on clientsupport@crtafe.wa.edu.au to request an early completion for your apprentice or trainee.

Completion

Approximately six weeks prior to the completion date of the apprenticeship, the ATMT will confirm that all TAFE requirements have been met, and then issue a Training Contract Completion Agreement (TCCA) via email to the employer. This is to be signed by the employer and apprentice and returned to the ATMT.

Completion forms cannot be backdated so it is important to ensure that this documentation is signed in a timely manner.

Training contract extension

A training contract may be extended if both the apprentice or trainee and the employer agree that the training required will not be completed within the nominal term. You can process an extension to the Training Contract via the WAAMS portal.(opens in a new tab)  It is important that any application to extend is made prior the end date.

Should this date pass the contract will expire and should your business wish to continue the training contract you will need to re-indenture this student on a new contract. Once the extension has been processed, you may wish to make contact with ATMT to ensure that your company and the trainee are aware of what work and on the job training is still required for successful completion.

Please note:

On the completion date if all parties have signed the TCCA, the ATMT will lodge the completion with the Apprenticeship Office. Once this is processed by the Apprenticeship Office your Trade Certificate will be issued. 

If you have not received your Trade Certification within five working days of your completion date please contact the Apprenticeship Office on 13 19 54.

The completion notification will be forwarded to the ATMT for processing and issuing of your TAFE Certificate.  Please note that the TAFE Certificate cannot be issued before the Training Contact Completion advice is received.

Students and employers will receive a confirmation email on the date of completion. Students in licensed trades will also receive the documentation required to take to the relevant licensing board.

Please direct your queries to the appropriate team to ensure a correct response.

Type of enquiry and contact

Trade Papers/Trade Certification (please ensure that your completion date has passed by at least 5 working days prior to follow up)

Apprenticeship Office 

T 13 19 54

E apprenticeshipoffice@dtwd.wa.gov.au

Central Regional TAFE follow up | Apprentice and Traineeship Management Team

E clientsupport@crtafe.wa.edu.au

A training contract entered into between an apprentice and an employer may be transferred (assigned) from one employer to another, provided that the current employer, the prospective employer and the apprentice agree.

A fact sheet and Notice to Transfer  (opens in a new tab) form have been published by the Apprenticeship Office.

If a training contract is terminated or cancelled, the record of the training contract is administratively closed on the Apprenticeship Office’s system.

This fact sheet(opens in a new tab) explains the options available to an out of contract apprentice.

The duty of care for a person conducting a business or undertaking, is to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their workers and other persons.

Failure to comply with a health and safety duty could lead to regulatory action being taken, including prosecution which may include substantial monetary penalties.

In some Industry areas the supervision requirements are outlined in the relevant employment award.
Where not stipulated the appropriate level of supervision for the employment and on the job training of an apprentice/trainee shall be determined by the employer based on the following factors:

• any accepted industry supervision standards.
• the level of competence and experience of the apprentice in a particular task/skill; and
• the risk associated with the worksite and the type of work in which the apprentice is engaged.
• the level of supervision must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at regular intervals.

The supervisor should be a suitably qualified and licensed (where required in licensed trades) person, who is permanently employed at the same workplace and predominantly for the same hours as the Australian Apprentice.
For Trainees, a suitably qualified supervisor can be the employer or another staff member who already has the skills and knowledge that the trainee is learning, which may have been gained through a variety of pathways, including on-the-job experience.

Direct vs General Supervision

Direct supervision means under the personal supervision of the supervisor, and within visual contact and/or earshot on a constant basis. Direct supervision cannot be provided by electronic means – this would generally be applicable to a First- or Second-year apprentice.

General supervision is being under instruction and direction for tasks being performed. The Apprentice is to be provided with instruction and direction for the tasks to be performed, with progressive checks while the work is being undertaken. This means the Apprentice does not require constant attendance of the supervisor but requires personal contact on a recurrent (periodic) basis.

The supervisor must remain on the same work site as the Australian Apprentice and be readily available to communicate directly with the Australian Apprentice when required (this does not mean by phone).

It may be appropriate for Apprentices in the third and fourth year/stage of an apprenticeship to be under a general level of supervision as determined by the employer or stipulated in Awards.  General supervision is appropriate only for those skills where the Apprentice has demonstrated competence.

If an apprentice has prior learning and/or experience, this may be recognised.

This fact sheet(opens in a new tab) explains how RPL and credit transfer works, and how to go about seeking it. This should be discussed with the RTO at the time of developing the Training Plan.

Once the completion paperwork is signed by all parties and lodged with the Apprenticeship Office, the Apprentice will receive their Certification.

A trade certificate is issued by the Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce Development when an individual has successfully completed a Class A or B qualification, either through an apprenticeship training contract or through the recognition of skills process conducted by a registered training provider.

Central Regional TAFE will issue a Qualification Certificate for the related qualification. Apprentices should ensure that their address details are up to date to ensure that qualifications are sent to the correct address.

Students can also access their results and progress via the student portal(opens in a new tab) .

Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are required to apply a capstone assessment to each apprentice electrician during the late part of their training for the purpose of confirming they have attained the ‘critical items’ of the Essential Capabilities List.

Apprentices indentured into the following qualifications:

• UEE30820 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician
• UEE30811 Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician (Phasing Out)

will be required to complete a Capstone Assessment following the successful completion of their On-the-Job training and within three (3) months of the end of your contract.

This is to confirm that you satisfy specific training outcome requirements. In Western Australia, upon receipt of the endorsed qualification, the Electrical Licensing Board will issue an electrician licence to the apprentice without further examination.

The Capstone Assessment covers 31 of the 55 essential performance capabilities and includes a practical demonstration of skills as well as an assessment of underpinning knowledge.

Geraldton Capstone Information

Capstone Schedule

• Candidates are required to be available for the entire week (40 hrs).

• Revision & Capstone Groups are arranged based only on the apprentice Expected Completion Date. Capstone eligibility is dependent on Exemplar Capstone Readiness Report and Training Plan Progression.

• The Geraldton Electrical Department will contact you to confirm Capstone Eligibility prior to the scheduled Assessment dates.

T: 9956 2768

E: clientsupport@crtafe.wa.edu.au

Fortnightly Tutorials

Tutorials are primarily to support students on Hold. Alternative arrangements may be made for accelerated learning and extra work in preparation prior to upcoming blocks but only with prior agreement of the lecturers.

Apprentices are to contact their respective lecturer to indicate their intention of attending Tuesday Night Tutorials prior to the Tutorial date.

Tutorials are held at our Geraldton campus on Tuesday night during term dates between 4:00pm and 7:00pm.

Students are permitted to re-sit components of the test should the first attempt not be successful.

Kalgoorlie Capstone Information

Eligibility

Apprentice must have completed all off-the-job training, their Exemplar profiling record must be complete to demonstrate eligibility to sit the Capstone Assessment.

Candidates are required to be available as follows:

Revision

Revision is conducted approximately 4 weeks prior to the Capstone assessment.

• Monday to Tuesday: Mandatory attendance
• Wednesday: Self-study day with recommended reading from lecturer
• Thursday to Friday: Optional practical revision in Workshop (recommended)

Capstone Assessment

• Apprentices will need to be available for three days.
• Capstone Assessment is a mix of theory and practical assessments.

Class Time

• Class: 8.00am – 4.00pm

Students are permitted to re-sit components of the test should the first attempt not be successful.

Standard dress and PPE requirements apply to all workshop areas. Other areas such as salons, kitchens and other simulated work environments also have dress requirements. Please refer to your Call Up letter for specific trade requirements and more information.

Any student who attends training without appropriate PPE may have admission to workshops denied and be returned to work.

Students that are required to purchase equipment may be able to access Trade Support loans(opens in a new tab) via the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network(opens in a new tab) .