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Australian Apprenticeships in the Disability Sector

Australian apprenticeships are a flexible combination of practical work and structured learning, leading to nationally recognised qualifications. Government subsidies are available for agencies employing staff that qualify under the Australian Apprenticeship program.

Note: On July 1 2006, Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, the Honourable Gary Hardgrave MP, announced the scheme formerly known as ‘New Apprenticeships’ would now be known as ‘Australian Apprenticeships’.

What is an Australian Apprenticeship?

Australian Apprenticeships consist of a flexible combination of practical work and structured training, and lead to nationally recognised qualifications.

Benefits of Australian Apprenticeships

Everyone benefits from Australian Apprenticeships.

While employers of Australian apprentices are supported through government incentives, apprentices themselves develop skills and knowledge that improve their capacity to provide quality support. And people with a disability benefit from the support of workers who are more competent and better equipped to meet their needs.

Benefits include:

Accessing financial incentives to achieve professional development
Increased staff retention and motivation
Integrating learning and development into organisational development frameworks
Work Cover exemptions for Australian staff
Staff receive a Nationally Recognised qualification upon successful completion
Increase in quality of support services
Assistance from Australian Apprenticeships Centres

Which qualification?

Since 1999, there has been a significant increase in enrolments for Certificate III and Certificate IV in Community Services (Disability Work). In 2004, there were a total of 4298 enrolments in Victoria.

The full range of available Disability Qualifications for Australian Apprenticeships is:

Certificate II in Community Services
Certificate III in Disability Work
Certificate IV in Disability Work

What an Australian Apprenticeship Centre

Australian Apprenticeship Centres are administrative bodies that act as the interface between government and employers, in regards to Australian Apprenticeship enrolments and incentive payments.

The Australian Apprenticeship Centre is a free service which:

supports you and the Australian apprentice
advises on government regulations, guidelines and incentives
handles all administration related to incentive payments
advices on responsibilities and obligations when entering into a Training Contract between employer and apprenticeship (see below)
provides training program advice

To find an Australian Apprenticeship Centres visit:
/www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search/aacsearch.asp

What are Training Contracts?

A Training Contract is a formal Training Agreement between an employer and the Australian Apprentice. It sets out legal obligations including the need to provide training, specifies the qualification to be achieved by your Australian Apprentice and explains their obligations to you.

Training contracts are registered with your State and Territory Training Authority.

User choice

The employer/agency decides:

which Australian Apprenticeship Centre to use www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/search/aacsearch.asp
which Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to use, and
whether the training provided is
- on-the-job, where the RTO comes to you
- classroom based
- or a combination of both

Eligibility

To check eligibility for an Australian Apprenticeship please contact an Australian Apprentice Centre.

Financial incentives

Examples of incentives

Commencement and completion incentives of at least $4000 for Certificate III and IV level qualifications paid to eligible employers.
From 1 January 2007, incentives for higher technical skills of $4,000 for targeted Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications, particularly in engineering fields.
Innovation Incentive provides an additional $1,100 incentive paid on commencement in an identified occupation.
Assistance to Australian Apprentices with Disabilities provides wage assistance to eligible employers and additional funding to support the off-the-job training to eligible apprentices.
Australian School-based Apprenticeships Incentive.
Mature Aged Worker Incentive

For further and up to date information on all the financial incentives available to employers in relation to Australian Apprenticeships, visit:

www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/employer/incentives.asp

Traineeship presentation resources

Read the major presentations from the FIELD-VECCI Traineeship Presentation held in Melbourne on November 20, 2003.