Employing an Apprentice Checklist | NECA

Employing an Apprentice Checklist

1. Register to Employee and train Apprentices or Trainees

To employ and train apprentices and trainees you need to be registered.

  • Download and complete the New employer registration application form available here.
  • Send it to Traineeship and Apprenticeship Services (TAS) via the address, email or fax number on the form.
  • Once you have been approved your name will appear on the Training and Skills Register which lists employers registered to undertake training contracts with apprentices and trainees under the South Australian Skills Act (SAS Act). 

 

2. Find an Apprentice

If you do not have an Apprentice in mind, MEGT offer a free jobs board which can be found here.

Alternatively, you can contact our Group Training Organisation NECA Careers & Apprenticeships (NCA) on (08) 8272 0799 to see if the group training model is the right fit for you. 

 

3. Find an Apprenticeship Network Provider

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network Providers are contracted by the Australian Government to provide free Australian Apprenticeships support services to apprentices and employers.

Apprenticeship Network Providers, such as MEGT, assist with the following:

a.             Training Contract sign up

b.             Assess and advise on Government Incentives and facilitate payments

c.             Explain rights, obligations and responsibilities to the employer and apprentice

d.             Monitor process throughout the apprenticeship

 

The full details of Apprenticeship Network Providers can be found here

For a full list of the Government incentives that may be available when taking on an Apprentice, click here. There may also be other state government incentives available to you as well as CITB funding, so contact your Apprenticeship Network Provider or NECA for more information.

 

4. Ensure Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Enrolment

All apprentices must be enrolled in an RTO such as TAFE SA or PEER within 3 months of them commencing the training contract.

As an employer you are responsible for the cost associated with trade school and are also required to pay your apprentice for their time at trade school. This does not apply where a failed subject needs to be repeated.

 

5. Provide Adequate Supervision

As a minimum, 1st and 2nd year apprentices need a ratio of 1 supervisor (who is suitably licenced) to 1 apprentice. Additional conditions specific to electrical apprentices can be found on NECA’s Guidelines for Supervision of Apprentices.

As an employer you must:

  • ensure the supervision is carried out by a person registered to carry out the work in question without supervision;
  • consider the kind of electrical work being undertaken, especially with regard to whether live parts are being worked on or are in the vicinity of the work area;
  • have regard to the level of competence of the person to be supervised; and
  • ensure that, where apprentices are working in the vicinity of live parts, a registered electrical worker is in close proximity to, is in sight of and can communicate directly with the apprentices/trainees.

 

6. Check for a Restricted Electrical Worker’s Registration

Apprentices need to register for and obtain a restricted worker’s licence through Consumer Business Services (CBS) at www.cbs.sa.gov.au. Any licencing costs are included in the apprentices all-purpose hourly rate so therefore must be paid by the apprentice.

 

7. Calculate Correct Wage Rates

Check the latest NECA Wage Bulletin for applicable rates, allowances and conditions for your Apprentice. The Wage Bulletin is updated each June/July with the new financial rates (and more frequently when legislative changes occur).

 

8. Follow the Steps for Starting a New Employee

In addition to the above, there are a number of things which must be undertaken when taking on an employee. This includes registering for Return to Work SA, Portable Long Service Leave and setting up Superannuation and PAYG. NECA has a page titled Steps for Starting a New Employee which sets out all the steps taken when engaging a new employee with a print friendly resource attached.

If you do not have a HR Manual or any employee management systems in place, NECA also have available a variety of NECA.HR products to suit businesses of sizes with their employee related needs.

 

9. Take advantage of the Probationary Period

All Apprenticeship training contracts will have a probationary period built into them (generally 3 months). This time allows you and your apprentice to work together and assess the potential to succeed before deciding whether you both wish to continue with the training.

After the probationary period, you and your apprentice or trainee are contracted to each other for the length of the training contract, so it is integral you monitor their organisational fit during this time.

 

More Information

For further information, contact the NECA SA/NT office on (08) 8272 2966 and speak with our Workplace Relations Advisor, Dain Venning.

Alternatively, if you are looking to take on apprentice without the risk of employing them, contact NECA Careers & Apprenticeships who can place an apprentice with your company for the length of period you desire. For further information, visit the NCA website or call (08) 8272 0799. 

 

The contact details for the service providers mentioned throughout have been provided below for your benefit.

MEGT – Apprentice Network Provider

Ph: 136 348

W: www.megt.com.au

 

TAFE SA - Registered Training Organisation

Ph: 1800 882 661

W: www.tafesa.edu.au

 

PEER - Registered Training Organisation

Ph: (08) 8348 1200

W: www.peer.com.au