The conditions of employment for Australian Apprentices are the same as for other employees working in similar occupations. This includes hours of work, overtime, holidays, sick leave, superannuation and other penalty provisions.

Additional working conditions for Australian Apprentices require you to ensure they have:

• every opportunity to learn the skills and acquire the knowledge of their trade or traineeship
• access to structured on and/or off-the-job training
• paid time off work to attend training when necessary
• a safe working environment.

It is your responsibility to inform your Australian Apprentice of the employment conditions under which they will be working.

Employment conditions that are required by law include:

Wages and awards

All Australian Apprentices must be employed under an appropriate award or approved workplace agreement. You are required by law to have a copy of this award or agreement.

Your Australian Apprentices must receive a pay slip that includes details such as the period of employment to which the pay relates, the hours worked (including overtime), gross pay, tax deducted, other deductions and net pay.

Other obligations

Your Australian Apprentice is eligible to receive the same entitlements as your full-time employees such as:

• Leave (sick leave, annual leave, parental leave, bereavement leave)
• Allowances (tool allowance, uniform or laundry allowance, travel allowance) as set out in the relevant legislation, industrial award or workplace agreement
• Employer superannuation contributions.

State Legislation

Australian Apprentices are also covered by state or territory legislation such as anti-discrimination laws and Occupational Health and Safety laws in the workplace.

Fair treatment

Australian Apprentices should be treated the same as any other employee and be able to take action if they feel they have been bullied, harassed, discriminated against or their safety has been jeopardised.

Probationary period

The probationary period stipulated in the Australian Apprenticeship/Traineeship Training Contract allows you to assess your Australian Apprentice before taking them on permanently.

Age

The minimum age for an Australian Apprenticeship is 15. There is no upper age limit. Participation in school-based traineeships requires the consent of the parent and the school.

Number of Australian Apprentices

There is no limit to the number of Australian Apprentices you can employ, as long as you provide adequate supervision and training for each Australian Apprentice. In some Australian Apprenticeships this may require a fixed ratio of supervisor to Australian Apprentices.

Workers' compensation

Apprentices and trainees are entitled to workers' compensation. The NSW state government offers exemptions on workers’ compensation for Australian Apprentices under certain conditions.

For more information on employment conditions contact your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre or your State or Territory training authority.