Fact sheet 108: Part-time apprenticeships and traineeships
Version 9
20 June 2007
[PDF 58kb ]
Why were part-time apprenticeships and traineeships introduced?
What is the minimum criteria for entry to a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship?
Where an apprentice or trainee continues to work for the same employer, but changes the employment status from full-time to part-time (or vice versa), can they continue with their training contract?
Can an apprentice or trainee be engaged at the same time by more than one employer?
Can a part-time apprentice or trainee be employed on reduced working hours?
Why were part-time apprenticeships and traineeships introduced?
Historically, apprenticeships and traineeships were available only to people in a full-time employment capacity. Given the increased number of people employed on a part-time basis, the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts agreed to extend access of entry to apprenticeships and traineeships to people working part-time.
Employees engaged on a casual basis, as defined in the relevant industrial award, have no guaranteed pattern of work. These arrangements are not compatible with the requirements of a training contract. Therefore, casual workers and employees engaged by daily hire cannot be approved to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship.
What is the minimum criteria for entry to a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship?
- The training contract is for a defined term with the ordinary working hours-including on-the-job and off the job training - averaging not less than 15 hours per week over each four week period throughout the duration of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
- The apprentice or trainee has regular working hours and is rostered to work on a regular basis.
- The relevant industrial award, certified agreement, Australian workplace agreement, etc. permits part-time employment.
Part-time apprenticeships in the electrotechnology industry require approval prior to lodgement of the training contract for registration. Employers who wish to employ a part-time electrotechnology apprentice should contact the Queensland Utilities and Services Industry Advisory Board who will advise on the required process. Information on the policy for approving electrotechnology apprenticeships is available in the QUSITAB policy for part-time apprenticeships in Electrotechnology on the department's website [PDF 121kb]. See Fact sheet 170 Part-time apprenticeships in Electrotechnology for more information.
Where an apprentice or trainee continues to work for the same employer, but changes the employment status from full-time to part-time (or vice versa), can they continue with their training contract?
Yes. A Major amendment of registered training contract Form [PDF 89kb] is available on the department's website. The form should be completed and forwarded to the nearest departmental office. The parties will be advised when the application is approved or has been refused approval. If the application is approved, parties will be advised in writing of the re calculated end date and the need for their supervising registered training organisation to renegotiate the training plan.
Can an apprentice or trainee be engaged at the same time by more than one employer?
At any one time, it is possible for an apprentice or trainee to participate in more than one part-time training contract. However, the arrangement will need to be investigated by a departmental training consultant if the second part-time apprenticeship or traineeship is in the same occupation as the first.
The initial employer will need to provide written approval for the apprentice/trainee to enter into a training contract with another employer in the same occupation. The training consultant will be responsible for making recommendations regarding the liabilities of each party to the apprenticeship or traineeship, and giving written notice of liability to each.
Can a part-time apprentice or trainee be employed on reduced working hours?
Yes. If an employer is temporarily unable to provide work to employ a part-time apprentice or trainee for an average of 15 hours per week, the employer can make application seeking permission to stand down the apprentice or trainee, or employ them for less than the prescribed hours. Special arrangements have been approved for the abattoir sector of the meat industry in relation to stand down.
Contact Apprenticeships info 1800 210 210 or Training Queensland 1300 369 935
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