Your training community

Your traineeship or apprenticeship may start with a conversation between you and an employer.

Your employer must be registered in the same trade or declared vocation your apprenticeship or traineeship is in. Registration is important because it is proof that your employer is aware of their rights and obligations relating to you.

Search the Register of Approved Employers - Apprenticeships and Traineeships on the South Australian Skills Commission website to view registered employers in your preferred industry, or to find out if the employer you’ve chosen is registered.

If your chosen employer has agreed to take you on board but is not registered, you can ask them to complete a Self-Registration online.

Your traineeship or apprenticeship may start with a conversation between you and a Group Training Organisation (GTO).

A Group Training Organisation gives you the opportunity to work somewhere without that place needing to directly employ you. This is often called a host arrangement and it means you are employed by the GTO and contracted out to a business.

This can be a great, low-stress option for you because:

• your GTO will find a host employer for you
• if you need to change host employers during your traineeship or apprenticeship, your GTO can organise a new host employer for you and
• sometimes a field of work or particular occupation means you’ll need to work with multiple hosts during your training — again, your GTO can sort this all out for you

All trainees and apprentices need to register with an Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP).

Your ANP will work with you and your employer to coordinate and lodge your completed training contract with Skills SA.

Your ANP will also provide you with general guidance and advice from before you start your apprenticeship or traineeship until you’ve completed it including:

• explaining rights and obligations to you and your employer
• supporting you in selecting an appropriate qualification and training provider
• screening, testing, and job-matching to ensure that you are well suited to your chosen trade or vocation before you start
• administering incentive payments to your employer (if eligible)
• administering income support payments to you (if eligible)

ANPs in South Australia

There are two ANPs contracted to work in South Australia:

• MAS National - 1300 627 628
  
• MEGT – 136 348
  

ANPs are sometimes referred to as Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN).

Your training provider is responsible for delivering your course (the off-the-job training component of your training).

You will choose which training provider you want to use. This is formally called a nomination. The nominated training provider you select will get 30 days (from the date your training contract is lodged) to accept your request.

Once they’ve accepted your request, your training provider has 28 days to work with you and your employer to create a training plan that suits your training contract.

Your training provider will then review your training plan every six months to make sure that the skills you’re learning match the needs of your qualification.

Your training provider will take into consideration any changes to you or your employer's circumstances that could be making it difficult to develop the skills you need and will provide you with relevant support to update your training plan.

Training providers are sometimes referred to formally as Nominated Training Organisations (NTOs) or Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

No matter where you are in your training journey, support is available. You can either work with your training provider to include support as part of your training plan, or reach out to Success and Wellbeing Services or Student Services.

If you’re finding it difficult to continue with your traineeship or apprenticeship, support is available to empower you to achieve your long-term career goals.

Because your future matters.

Whether you’re with TAFE SA or a private training provider, you can access free support for issues affecting your training.

The South Australian Skills Commission is there to assist you with a complaint, mediation, advocacy and dispute resolution during your training.

This can cover:

• complaints
• fees and refunds
• changes to your course enrolment or employment
• course or provider transfer
• your training plan
• your progress during your course, or any issues that may impact it
• what you should expect under your training contract while at work
• what you should expect while undertaking study in a nationally recognised qualification

What you can do if you have a concern or complaint with any aspect of your apprenticeship or traineeship.

Before you contact the Skills Commission, it is very important to have made a genuine attempt to work with the other parties involved to resolve the matter. This is the first thing they will consider.