Common apprenticeship and traineeship terms
The language of apprenticeships and traineeships can sometimes be a bit confusing. Below are explanations of some common terms you may encounter.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) | the policy framework that defines all qualifications that are recognised nationally in post-compulsory education. |
| Apprenticeship | a legally binding training arrangement between an employer and an apprentice that combines structured training with paid employment. Apprenticeships usually take four years to complete, with training taking place at both the workplace and with a supervising registered training organisation. |
| Block release | an apprentice or trainee attends the supervising registered training organisation to undertake training for a block of time (for example, full-time for three weeks). |
| Competency-based training | competency-based training places primary importance on what a person can do as a result of their training and experience. This means that the time required to complete a competency-based apprenticeship or traineeship is flexible. For time-based apprenticeships and traineeships, the training contract operates for a specified term. |
| Day release | the apprentice or trainee attends the supervising registered training organisation to undertake training on scheduled days (for example, one day a week over six months). |
| Australian apprenticeships Previously known as 'New Apprenticeships' |
the name the Commonwealth Government gave to apprenticeships and traineeships when competency-based training was introduced. In Queensland, 'Australian apprenticeships' are referred to as 'apprenticeships and traineeships'. |
| Part-time apprenticeships and traineeships | an apprentice or trainee works for a minimum of 15 hours per week, which includes the time spent training at work and with the supervising registered training organisation. These 15 hours per week must be averaged over each four week period for the duration of the apprenticeship or traineeship |
| Probation | a period of time at the start of an apprenticeship or traineeship that allows the employer and the apprentice or trainee to make sure they have made the right decision about entering into the apprenticeship or traineeship. |
| School-based apprenticeships and traineeships | allow secondary school students to achieve a Senior Certificate while they work and train in an industry area to achieve a nationally recognised qualification. |
| Supervising registered training organisation | a training organisation that is registered to provide training or recognition services and delivers training to apprentices and/or trainees as required by the training plan. When satisfied that an apprentice or trainee has completed all required training, the supervised registered training organisation issues the qualification or statement of attainment. |
| Traineeship | a structured training and paid employment arrangement that involves a contract between the employer and the trainee. Traineeships vary in length from 12 months to three years. |
| Training contract | a legally binding contract between the employer and the apprentice or trainee (or parent or guardian if the apprentice or trainee is under 18 years of age). |
| Training plan | outlines the training and assessment to be undertaken |
| Training record | records the progress and achievement of competencies by the apprentice or trainee as outlined in the training plan. |
| User Choice | the policies and funding mechanisms that allow employers and apprentices/trainees to choose which registered training organisation will provide training. Registered training organisations with a User Choice contract are funded by the Queensland Government to deliver training to eligible apprentices and trainees at a reduced cost. |
For more definitions of terms used in vocational education and training, see the glossary on this site.
Contact Apprenticeships info 1800 210 210 or Training Queensland 1300 369 935
This page was last updated at Friday, November 09, 2007
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