Employer handbook
For apprenticeships and traineeships
TAFE Queensland is the best choice for employers
Thank you for partnering with TAFE Queensland, the state’s largest and most trusted training provider. For over 140 years, we’ve proudly supported students and employers to achieve their goals, develop real-world skills, and help Queensland thrive.
The benefits of partnering with TAFE Queensland:
• Proven experience - With 140 years of training experience, a TAFE Queensland qualification is trusted and valued by industry.
• Employer-approved training - As a multiple award-winning training provider with a 93.1% employer satisfaction rating, TAFE Queensland continues to deliver outstanding results for both students and employers.
As an employer of a TAFE Queensland trainee or apprentice, you play a vital role in shaping the next generation of skilled professionals. Your commitment to training and development opens doors to new opportunities, not just for your business, but for your industry and community. We’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re welcoming your first apprentice or expanding your workforce, our dedicated team is ready to provide the specialised support, industry contacts, and advice you need.
Thank you for choosing TAFE Queensland as your training partner. Together, we’re building a skilled, adaptable workforce for the future. Welcome again, we look forward to supporting your success.
• Flexible training solutions - We offer training to suit the needs of the employer, including workplace, drop-in days, block training, mobile van, day release and mixed mode of delivery.
• Industry-relevant skills - Our courses are contemporary, developed in consultation with industry and delivered by teachers with extensive hands-on experience.
• Support services - Our employers and students have access to a range of support services, from business mentoring for employers, to learning support, counselling and indigenous and disability support for students.
• World-class facilities - With more than $200 million invested in our specialist training facilities, our purpose-built training centres ensure apprentices and trainees receive hands-on training using the latest equipment, tools and practices.
Apprentice and trainee life cycle
Induction
Training with TAFE Queensland
TAFE Queensland will take you and your apprentice or trainee through everything you need to know about your partnership with us. As part of this journey, we’ll guide you through every essential step, including:
• collaboratively developing your apprentice or trainee’s training plan
• providing and maintaining a comprehensive record of the apprentice or trainee’s on-the-job training, signed off by the nominated qualified supervisor, and supplied to TAFE Queensland as required
• conducting an Employer Resource Assessment (ERA) to ensure you have the right tools, equipment, and supervision by qualified trades people for effective on-the-job training
• identifying any gaps to set you and your apprentice or trainee up for success.
Our goal is to make sure you feel confident and well-equipped in your role as an employer.
Once the training plan and the ERA has been established, you’ll then have the obligation to release your apprentice or trainee from work, paying them to attend off-the-job training and signing off achievements in their training record.
Employer verification
Completion
When your apprentice or trainee completes a unit of competency, you’ll be asked to confirm that the required on-the-job training has been completed by signing off in the training record provided by TAFE Queensland.
Once all training units outlined in your apprentice or trainee’s training plan are complete and verified, TAFE Queensland will work with you and the Department of Trade, Employment, and Training (DTET) to issue your qualification and process the required Completion paperwork for your apprentice or trainee.
They will receive the qualification from TAFE Queensland and the Completion Certificate from DTET.
We want to help you start strong. Our induction events and sessions will give you everything you need to feel confident, informed and ready for a successful training experience.
TAFE Queensland website
The TAFE Queensland website is your dedicated hub for Employer support, resources, and services. Here, you’ll find everything you need as an Employer, including:
• Small Business Solutions and tailored support
• micro-credentials and professional development opportunities
• training and induction bookings in an easy-to-read calendar
• apprentice and trainee progression reports and requirements against their Training Contract
• current training plans and outstanding tasks (for example, induction or workplace verification)
• contact detail updates and requests for support from TAFE Queensland staff
• handy links to industry news, funding changes, and other important information.
Whether you’re looking to track apprentice/ trainee progress, book training, or stay up to date with the latest opportunities, the Employer Portal has you covered. For more information visit: tafeqld.edu.au/employers
Induction information for Employers
You’ll soon participate in an induction session with a TAFE Queensland Induction Officer. During this session, you’ll be guided through your key responsibilities as an employer, including:
• developing your apprentice or trainee’s training plan
• completing the Employer Resources Assessment
• understanding your obligations under the Training Contract, such as releasing your apprentice or trainee for training, providing on-the-job learning, and verifying progress against the training record.
This induction is designed to ensure you have the knowledge, resources, and support you need for a successful experience with your apprentice or trainee. If you have any questions at any stage, our team is here to help.
Important information about apprenticeships and traineeships
Department of Trade, Employment, and Training website has a wide range of information and fact sheets on topics relating to the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Queensland.
These include information on how to:
• manage your apprentice or trainee
• support your apprentice or trainee
• resolve issues
• make changes to the Training Contract. These information sheets can be found here: business.qld.gov.au/running-business/ employing/hiring-recruitment/ apprentices-trainees/manage/support
In the eighteen years I’ve owned my business, I’ve probably signed up about twenty five to thirty apprentices and they’ve all attended TAFE Queensland.
- Giggles Hair Salon
Getting started
Apprenticeships are a smart way to recruit and train employees to meet the current and future needs of your business. You can customise the training, increase efficiency, boost your business financially, and contribute to lifelong learning in your workplace.
Training contract
You and your apprentice or trainee have already completed your training contract with your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider. This contract formalises your responsibilities and obligations as an employer with an apprenticeship or traineeship pathway scheme.
Further details regarding your training contract can be found here:
business.qld.gov.au/running-business/ employing/hiring-recruitment/apprenticestrainees
Training plan
During your induction, a TAFE Queensland Induction Officer will discuss your training plan. This will outline the training to be delivered to your apprentice or trainee, both by you as the Employer and TAFE Queensland.
The training plan also includes planned assessment arrangements and when TAFE Queensland will provide training. At induction, the training plan will be negotiated and agreed upon by you, the apprentice/trainee and TAFE Queensland. Further information regarding training plans can be found here:
qld.gov.au/education/apprenticeships/about/ training-supervision/document/plan
Training record
Your apprentice or trainee will need to maintain a training record showing all of the training activities you have completed, both on-the-job and off-the-job, throughout your apprenticeship or traineeship.
Your training record must be signed off by you, your apprentice or trainee, and TAFE Queensland to indicate that you have demonstrated each skill required for the apprenticeship or traineeship. Your apprentice or trainee’s training record should be reviewed and updated at least every three months. If their training record book is not up to date, it may affect their progress throughout their apprenticeship or traineeship.
Failure to progress
If at any time we have concerns that your apprentice or trainee’s training is not progressing as planned under their training plan, we will discuss our concerns with you and your trainee or apprentice to find a solution. If a solution is not reached, we may seek advice or further action through the Department of Trade, Employment, and Training (DTET).
Some of the reasons this process may be initiated include:
• You may have withdrawn a trainee or apprentice from attending training or didn’t release from work to complete your off-the-job training as planned
• you were unable to provide workplace training as planned
• your apprentice or trainee were deemed not competent in a unit of competency on their training plan
• they may have had excessive absences from work or training
• they do not complete assessment as required
• their training record is not kept up-to-date.
Looking for another experienced, job-ready apprentice? We’ll help you find the right fit for free. Our Find Your Apprentice service will match applicants who are keen to start an apprenticeship with industry employers.
i Register here
To register your interest, please visit: tafeqld.edu.au/find-your-apprentice
With 24/7 self-service access, the portal will give you all the information you need about your apprentice and/or trainee training in one place.
You’re in control to access the information you need
The portal will give you all the information you need about your apprentice and/or trainee training in one convenient location.
• Access current training plans and results.
• View student progression reports.
• See upcoming TAFE Queensland training bookings.
• View induction bookings and track outstanding tasks.
• Request contact from TAFE Queensland staff.
Improving your experience with TAFE Queensland
Designed with you in mind, the new TAFE Queensland Employer Portal is a game-changer and will make things easier when it comes to apprentices and trainees. You can sort out your apprentice and/or trainee training quickly and simply, leaving you more time to focus on what really matters — your business.
24/7 access on smartphone and desktop
With 24/7 self-service access, the portal will give you all the information you need about your apprentice and/or trainee training in one place, without the need for a phone call or email.
For more information about the portal and its features visit: tafeqld.edu.au/employers/employer-portal
Privacy
TAFE Queensland is committed to ensuring your personal information is safeguarded at all times. Your information is used only for the purposes for which it is collected and we do not provide information to third parties without your consent, unless required to do so legally.
For more information, you can view our privacy statement at:
tafeqld.edu.au/ privacy
According to Old Fernvale Bakery owner Lyn Rose, the best thing you could do is send your apprentices to TAFE Queensland.
Lyn Rose - Old Fernvale Bakery
At
TAFE
Queensland,
we value our relationship with our employers and provide extensive value-added services to guide them through their journey.
TAFE Careers Hub
Find the right people, faster. Hiring quality talent is getting harder (even with a hundred applications sitting in your inbox). It’s time consuming, costly and hard to know for certain who has the qualifications and hands-on experience to be industry-ready when you need them.
TAFE Careers Hub makes it easier to hire without the hassle by connecting you with our job-ready graduates; trained by industry for industry.
You’ll save time with:
• targeted job listings and broadcasts that reach the right talent
• candidate matching that does the hard work for you
• virtual careers events and profile boosting to get in front of emerging talent
• in-built applicant tracking for more efficient hiring and candidate experience
• talent sourcing and pipelining from the one place (casuals, trainees, apprentices and qualified grads)
• real-time job performance metrics, so you know when to dial up or dial down recruitment activity.
Not to mention, reassurance that any applications submitted via TAFE Careers Hub are bona fide TAFE Queensland students and alumni (no more dealing with randoms).
For more information visit: tafeqld.edu.au/tafe-careers-hub
Small business solutions
Our Small Business Solutions team can give employers the one-on-one support they need to help drive a successful business.
• Mentoring services
• Business workshops
• Workforce development planning
• Business health check
• Training needs analysis
Customised training solutions
TAFE Queensland works with employers to develop tailored training packages, including skill sets, short courses and certified qualifications, to meet their unique training needs.
Apprentice and trainee recruitment service
TAFE Queensland offers a free Find Your Apprentice service, connecting employers with enthusiastic people who want to start an apprenticeship or traineeship, from our extensive pool of pre-apprenticeship Certificate I and II graduates.
Skills recognition specialists
TAFE Queensland has a range of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and gap training programs which provide individuals with the opportunity to receive credits for the skills gained through formal and nonformal learning undertaken, previous work experience or volunteer work.
Apprentice and Trainee training on-boarding process
01. The ANP conducts the sign-up. The contract must be signed within 14 days of the start of the apprenticeship/ traineeship.
05. The ANP lodges the Training Contract with DET for registration once the SRTO notification form is accepted.
02.
As part of the training contract, make sure you select TAFE Queensland as your Supervising Registered Training Organisation (SRTO). The ANP will forward an SRTO notification form.
06. SRTO contacts the employer and apprentice/ trainee/ SAT for induction confirmation.
09. The SRTO and employer provide training, supervision and assessment to the apprentice/ trainee in accordance with the Training Plan.
• Employer releases apprentice/trainee to attend training and assessment as required
• Employer reviews and updates Training Record at reasonable intervals - minimum of every three months
• Apprentice/ trainee undertakes training and assessment as required and retains Training Record
• Apprentice/trainee updates and maintains the Training Record at all times throughout their training.
• The mandatory Employer Resource Assessment (ERA) review is a joint requirement set by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training for the Employer and Training Provider. It ensures the range of work provided to the apprentice/trainee remains aligned with the training plan and that the qualified supervisor’s details are up to date. Additionally, the training record review confirms that the apprentice/trainee regularly documents their on-the-job experience and has it validated by their supervisor, leading to the successful completion of their apprenticeship/traineeship.
The review will take less than a few minutes and can be completed on any device and accessed through the link sent via email from TAFE Queensland every quarter.
12. The completion process begins when the apprentice/ trainee has completed all units of competency required under the Training Plan.
13. The SRTO confirms completion with the employer and apprentice/ trainee, agreeing that all workplace training required under the Training Plan has been completed.
03. SRTO accepts or rejects the request to be the SRTO.
04.
07. SRTO conducts the Employer Resource Assessment, confirming that the employer can provide or arrange to provide the facilities/ equipment and supervision for training across the range of work.
10. Employer confirms on-the-job verification.
14.
Once all parties agree that the training and assessment is complete, the SRTO:
• issues the qualification
• signs a completion agreement
• forwards the completion agreement to DET (and Electrical Safety Office licence body, if required).
ANP must receive the contract from the employer within 28 days of the start of the apprenticeship/ traineeship.
08. The SRTO negotiates and develops the Training Plan in consultation with the employer and apprentice/trainee once the SRTO is satisfied that the employer can provide training arrangements and supervision. The SRTO provides a copy of the Training Plan to all parties.
11. SRTO contacts the employer and apprentice/ trainee/ SAT throughout the training period:
• monitors progress against the Training Plan
• monitors the Training Record
• updates the Employer Resource Assessment
• liaises with the employer regarding progress of workplace training.
i Legend
SRTO: Supervising Registered Training Organisation
ANP: Apprenticeship Network Provider
RTO: Registered Training Organisation
DET: Department of Education and Training
SAT: School-based Apprentice or Trainee
Flexible training options
TAFE Queensland offers a range of training options designed to support you and your business. We work with employers to be as flexible as possible in meeting business needs, while ensuring all training aligns with the requirements of the qualification. Delivery modes may vary depending on the trade and campus. Contact us to discuss your unique training needs and how we can tailor a solution that works for your business.
Workplace
Students are trained and assessed by our workplace training officers in their own workplace.
Drop-in days
Students can drop in to a TAFE Queensland facility at any time to train with a teacher without needing to schedule it in advance.
Block training
Training is delivered in study blocks of one to six weeks at one of our state-of-the-art training facilities.
Mobile van
We bring the tools and equipment to you in our mobile training van.
Day release
Training is scheduled one day a week at one of TAFE Queensland’s training facilities.
Mixed mode
Combine on-campus learning with online elements, some blocks, some day release, or anything in between.
Online
Studying online also lets you have more control of your learning by allowing you to better manage your workload and set your own deadlines than traditional study.
Student support services
Sometimes you may need some extra support along your apprenticeship or traineeship journey. We’re here to help, with student support services available to all of our students.
Mental health and wellbeing
Looking after our mental health is just as important as maintaining our physical health. Being in a strong mental health space will benefit your study experience. Building your resilience and having strategies to cope with life changes will not only assist you in your studies, but will be beneficial in your future work environment.
For more information and to access any of our support services, please visit: tafeqld.edu.au/student-support
Counselling
If you need someone to talk to about problems that may be affecting your training and progress, our experienced and friendly counsellors are here to help. You might need help with issues such as time or stress management, personal issues, or crosscultural and special needs. Counselling is confidential and free of charge.
Indigenous student support
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student, we have support officers who can provide culturally appropriate information and assistance.
For more information and to access any of our support services, please visit: tafeqld.edu.au/studentsupport
AccessAbility support
At TAFE Queensland, we are committed to making everyone’s experience enjoyable and worthwhile. If you have a disability (including dyslexia or other learning challenges) and need help, we can provide practical assistance, support, and advice. Our AccessAbility Support team will work with you to develop an individual support plan. This may include:
• communicating with teachers on your behalf when required
• loaning you assistive technology
• providing mentors, sign language interpreters, readers, and scribes
• coordinating alternative assessment arrangements.
As an apprentice or trainee, you may have access to both tutorial and mentoring support through the Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS) program. We can work with you, your employer, and your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider to apply for and organise this support.
Emergency support
If you’re worried you may harm yourself or someone else, or need emergency help for someone else in this situation:
Please call 000
Student support
For more information on student support services visit: tafeqld.edu.au/ student-support
TIACS
0488 846 988 | tiacs.org
8am-10pm Mon-Fri - If you would like to speak to a mental health counsellor free of charge reach out to TIACS
Mates in Construction 1300 642 111 | matesinconstruction.org.au
24/7 MATES Helpline
1800Respect
1800 737 732 | 1800respect.org.au National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service
NAWIC - National Association of Women In Construction 1800 767 977 | nawic.com.au
QLife
1800 184 527 | qlife.org.au National LGBTI Telephone Counselling and Information line
Mensline 1300 789 978 | mensline.org.au Telephone and online counselling
Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma 07 3391 6677 | qpastt.org.au
Lifeline 13 11 14 | lifeline.org.au
24/7 Crisis Support
Reach Out | reachout.com Online mental health support for Young People
Head to Health | headtohealth.gov.au
Digital mental health resources from trusted service providers
TAFE Queensland takes pride in providing quality training for apprentices and trainees with industry-standard tools and facilities.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT HAS NO PLACE IN MY WORKPLACE.
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