Apprentice and trainee role and responsibilities
Work
Working hours
Depending on your type of apprenticeship or traineeship, you are responsible for working:
- at least 7.5 hours per week as a school-based apprentice or trainee
- at least 15 hours per week as a part-time apprentice or trainee
- about 38 hours per week as a full-time apprentice or trainee.
Learn more about working hours.
Work behaviour
While at work, you are responsible for:
- following your employer's (lawful) instructions
- obeying all health and safety rules (including dress and equipment)
- obeying all code of conduct rules.
Read more about misconduct and discipline below.
Training and assessment
You are responsible for:
- signing your training contract, along with your employer
- choosing a training organisation, along with your employer
- attending training delivered by your training organisation (as outlined in your training plan)
- carrying out your workplace training (as outlined in your training plan)
- keeping your training record up to date and showing it periodically to your employer and training organisation when asked
- paying student contribution fees to your training organisation (the employer may pay these for you) – not required if you are school-based.
Note: It is up to you to be aware of how undertaking vocational education and training (VET) options may affect future funded training opportunities (especially if you start your training while still in school).
Reporting
Absences
Report work absences to your employer and any training and assessment absences to both your training organisation and employer.
Training delays
If you are falling behind in your training, talk to your training organisation and employer about ways you can get back on track.
Losing your job or your employer closes down
If you've lost your job or your employer closes down, and you haven't signed an application to cancel, transfer or complete your training contract, you must report this.
Report it to your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider, or us, the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, either verbally, or in writing using Form ATF-043.
Unfair dismissal action
If you are claiming unfair dismissal against your employer, report this to your AASN provider, or us immediately.
We will not cancel your apprenticeship or traineeship until this process has finished.
Unresolved disagreements about competency
If you can't resolve disputes with your training organisation about completing your units of competency, report this to your AASN provider, or us.
Giving notice
You must give notice to your employer and AASN provider if:
- you want to quit your job (because you have signed an employment contract)
- and/or
- you want to quit your training (because you have signed a training contract).
School-based apprentices and trainees
Understand the extra responsibilities that you have as a school-based apprentice or trainee.
Misconduct and discipline
If you don't carry out your responsibilities, listed above, you may be engaging in misconduct.
Examples of misconduct include:
- failing to carry out a reasonable and lawful instruction (as per your training contract)
- being absent from work without approval
- not working towards your qualification (as per your training contract)
- not participating in training (as listed in your training plan)
- not keeping a training record or failing to produce it when asked.
Depending on the situation, we may discipline you with a reprimand or a fine.