How to complete an employer resource assessment

The employer resource assessment (ERA) helps you check that an employer is able to provide the required facilities, range of work and supervision for their apprentice or trainee to develop the on-the-job knowledge and skills required to support the units of competency listed in their training plan.

An ERA must be completed, or an existing ERA must be updated, at the same time as the training plan is developed for an apprentice or trainee. The ERA is then regularly reviewed throughout the apprenticeship or traineeship.

The supervising registered training organisation (SRTO) representative assessing the employment arrangements when completing or updating the ERA should have an understanding of the qualification requirements and how they align to workplace tasks and facilities.

• Learn more about your ERA responsibilities.
• Read the guide for SRTOs to completing the ERA.

When to complete an ERA

The SRTO will usually visit the workplace where the apprentice or trainee will be located to complete the ERA.

If remoteness or accessibility is an issue, other methods may be used, such as conversations with the employer either via:

• phone
• email
• other online communications (e.g. Skype).

You must be satisfied you have obtained sufficient information to determine any gaps in the required training resources and keep all evidence of the communication method(s) used.

For a workplace:

• with 1 apprentice or trainee, complete 1 ERA and update this ERA if other apprentices or trainees commence in the same workplace in the same qualification
• with more than 1 apprentice or trainee in the same qualification, complete 1 ERA for all apprentices or trainees and update this ERA if more apprentices or trainees commence in the same workplace in the same qualification
• with multiple apprentices or trainees in different qualifications, complete an ERA for each qualification and update these ERAs if other apprentices or trainees commence in the same workplace in any of these qualifications.

Note: For a workplace where there is more than 1 apprentice or trainee in the same qualification but with different SRTOs, each of the SRTOs much complete an ERA for their own apprentice or trainee. Ensure you factor in ALL the apprentices or trainees in the same qualification in the workplace into supervision considerations.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) Work Skills Traineeships

There is no requirement for an SRTO to complete an ERA for trainees undertaking a SQW Work Skills Traineeship—these traineeships are entry-level providing the trainee with an introduction to a specific industry. As there is no requirement to complete an ERA, the workplace supervisor isn't required to meet the definition of a qualified person.

ERA formats

Complete an ERA by using:

• our ERA templates, developed based on previously identified areas with specific requirements, and qualifications with approved modified supervision arrangements in place
• or
• your own ERA templates (as long as they include all the information we need, which can be found on our templates).

Learn more about modified supervision arrangements.

When to review or update an ERA

You should review or update an ERA:

• regularly (at least every 3 months), which aligns with the requirement to review the training record and enables you to monitor the arrangements to ensure training is being conducted and the apprentice or trainee is progressing
• when the training plan changes or ends (including a change to a unit of competency, or the apprentice or trainee leaves the workplace or completes the training contract)
• when there is a change in supervisor
• when there is a change in the employer's facilities or range of work
• when a new apprentice or trainee commences at the workplace in the same qualification as other existing apprentices or trainees.

Review exceptions for GTOs and PEOs

ERAs don't have to be reviewed every 3 months for apprentices and trainees employed by group training organisations (GTOs) or principal employer organisations (PEOs).

For GTOs and PEOs, complete the ERA for the first host employer only. This also applies to apprentices and trainees who have permanently transferred to a GTO or PEO.

Example reviewing scenarios

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Example 1 Apprenticeship has no issues

1. Workplace commences an apprentice electrician.
2. The SRTO completes an ERA when negotiating the training plan and retains a copy of the ERA on the workplace file.
3. The SRTO reviews the employer's capacity when updating the training record and/or when monitoring the arrangements to ensure training is being conducted and the apprentice is progressing.
4. The SRTO keeps notes regarding workplace contact for audit purposes.
5. The apprentice completes the apprenticeship.

Example 2 Original supervisor has left workplace

1. Workplace commences an apprentice.
2. The SRTO completes an ERA when negotiating the training plan and retains a copy of the ERA on the workplace file.
3. The SRTO reviews the employer's capacity when updating the training record and/or when monitoring the arrangements to ensure training is being conducted and the apprentice is progressing.
4. The SRTO keeps notes regarding workplace contact for audit purposes.
5. During a regular workplace contact, the SRTO identifies the apprentice's supervisor has left.
6. The SRTO reviews the new arrangements to ensure they are suitable and updates the existing workplace ERA.
7. The apprentice completes the apprenticeship.

Example 3 Additional apprentice commences in the same qualification AND original supervisor has left the workplace

1. Workplace commences an apprentice carpenter.
2. The SRTO completes an ERA when negotiating the training plan and retains a copy of the ERA on the workplace file.
3. The SRTO reviews the employer's capacity when updating the training record and/or when monitoring the arrangements to ensure training is being conducted and the apprentice is progressing.
4. The SRTO keeps notes regarding workplace contact for audit purposes.
5. The SRTO receives notification of a new apprentice carpenter commencement.
6. The SRTO negotiates a training plan for the new apprentice and updates the existing workplace ERA confirming suitable arrangements are in place.
7. During a regular workplace contact, the SRTO identifies the apprentice's supervisor has left.
8. The SRTO reviews the new arrangements to ensure they are suitable and updates the existing workplace ERA.
9. The first apprentice completes the apprenticeship.
10. The second apprentice completes the apprenticeship.

Example 4 Additional apprentice or trainee commences in a different qualification

1. Workplace commences an apprentice plumber.
2. The SRTO completes an ERA when negotiating the training plan and retains a copy of the ERA on the workplace file.
3. The SRTO reviews the employer's capacity when updating the training record and/or when monitoring the arrangements to ensure training is being conducted and the apprentice is progressing.
4. The SRTO keeps notes regarding workplace contact for audit purposes.
5. The SRTO receives notification of a new trainee commencement in a business traineeship.
6. The SRTO negotiates a training plan for the new trainee and completes a new ERA confirming suitable arrangements are in place for the new qualification.
7. The apprentice plumber completes the apprenticeship.
8. The business trainee completes the traineeship.