Probation

As part of your apprenticeship or traineeship, you will have a probation period at the start to work with your employer and decide whether to commit to the rest of the apprenticeship or traineeship.

Duration

Probationary periods are usually:

• 90 days for apprenticeships
• 30–90 days for traineeships.

They are included as part of the 'total nominal term' of the training contract and apply from the start date of the apprenticeship or traineeship.

They can be extended up to 6 months.

When they apply

They apply to apprenticeships and traineeships that are:

• full-time
• part-time
• school-based
• recommenced (where you cancel your training contract and restart with a new employer).

They don't apply to transferred apprenticeships and traineeships (where you transfer your training contract to another employer).

Different types of probation

Apprentices and trainees have 2 probation periods:

1. probation related to the apprenticeship or traineeship – 1–3 months
2. probation related to general employment – 3–6 months.

Find out more about general employment probation.

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Completing probation

Once probation has ended you are contracted to work and train with your employer until the end of the training contract.

Extending probation

If you need more time to assess the compatibility and suitability of the apprenticeship or traineeship, you and your employer can apply to extend your probation.

You can't extend it more than 6 months past the start date of the apprenticeship or traineeship.

Steps to extend probation

1. Apply at least 14 days before the end of probation to your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider.
2. Complete Form ATF-036 Extension of probationary period of a registered training contract (PDF).
3. Provide reason(s) for the extension and a revised end date for probation.
4. The decision will be made within 7 days and you'll be notified in writing.

Resigning during probation

Whether a training contract has been signed or not, you can end your apprenticeship or traineeship any time during the probation.

Steps to resign during probation

1. Notify your employer in writing.
2. Notify them of the end date, making sure it is no later than the end date of the probationary period.
3. Notify your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider, or us, via Apprenticeships Info, within 7 days of the apprenticeship or traineeship ending.

Note: Ending the apprenticeship or traineeship is separate from ending employment. Contact Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 to discuss ending the employment during probation.