Changes in place from 1 July 2021, introduce new, simpler processes and clear responsibilities for apprentices and trainees. These FAQs explain what this means for you.
How has the skills system been improved for new apprentices and trainees?
We’re taking important steps to make South Australia’s skills system modern and accessible to everyone.
We aim to offer you clear direction on the skills needed for the future and support to get you there.
Under the new system we are:
- clarifying responsibilities for everyone involved
- making it simpler and easier to get started
- protecting apprentices and trainees from ‘prohibited employers’
- updating supervision requirements to reflect the variation in risks and
- retaining the free complaint handling, advocacy and dispute resolution services available to help you if things are not going smoothly.
I’m an apprentice or trainee, who signed a training contract before 1 July 2021, does this impact me?
Your training contract still applies. If your employer needs to take any action to comply with the new Regulations and Standards, the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science will have notified them.
If you have any disagreements with your employer that you are not able to resolve, there continues to be support available to help you through your apprenticeship or traineeship.
The complaint handling, advocacy and dispute resolution services available to you through the South Australian Skills Commission, are designed to support you to address concerns so you can continue completing your training.
If you have a complaint about your experience in the skills system and cannot resolve a dispute with your employer or training organisation, please call the South Australian Skills Commission 1800 006 488.
I’m about to sign a training contract as a new apprentice or trainee, what support is available to me?
For information about training contracts, call the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science Infoline on 1800 673 097.
This is where you can seek advice about:
- obligations for employers, apprentices, trainees and training organisations
- supervision requirements
- safety.
The free complaint handling, advocacy and dispute resolution services available to you through the South Australian Skills Commission, are designed to support you to address concerns so you can comfortably continue completing your training (once you are signed up to a training contract).
If you cannot resolve a dispute with your employer or training organisation, please call the South Australian Skills Commission for advice 1800 006 488.
How do I know if my employer is providing the right level of supervision?
The Department for Industry, Innovation and Science Infoline 1800 673 097 can assist in clarifying the level of supervision relevant to your trade or vocation.
Alternatively, refer to the Traineeship and Apprenticeship Pathways (TAP) Schedule (from 1 July 2021). The new Supervision Standard (Standard fact sheet 5 – coming soon), explains how a high, medium or low risk rating has been applied to trades and vocations, and provides the supervision ratio which applies based on these ratings. It also outlines when you should have direct, indirect, or remote supervision, which is based on your capability on the job.
What happens if I want to transfer to a different employer, part-way through my training contract?
If you want to transfer to another employer, part-way through your training contract, a transfer fee may apply.
The fee applies to employers who take-on an apprentice or trainee part-way through their training contract to recognise the investment your previous employer has made in your training.
The fee is paid by the new employer to the original employer. Apprentices or trainees are not responsible for this fee.