FAQ

GENERAL QUESTIONS 

At what age can I Ieave school or start an apprenticeship or traineeship?

The school leaving age varies depending on your state or territory. Refer to the school leaving age in the Career Pathways section under ‘Training in schools' of the pathway. Students are able to commence a school based apprenticeship, which enables you to work whilst still gaining your high school qualification. Once you have finished Year 12 you can continue your traineeship or apprenticeship on a full-time basis with your employer.

From what age am I able to work on a mine site?

Most states and territories legally require a young person to be at least 18 years old before they will be allowed to work on a mine site.

What can I do between leaving school and turning 18 years old that will stand me in better stead to find a job on a mine site, in a quarry or on a civil construction site?

By continuing your studies and completing a Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure Work Preparation as well as gaining valuable skills and experience in a related field.

I would like to work as a dump truck operator. How can I get my ticket?

Most plant operators, in this case a dump truck operator, will be recruited to work in a civil infrastructure environment and the resources industry by being employed as a labourer initially and gaining the skills, experience and trust of the employer before being given the opportunity of working on a large piece of machinery and being trained to gain a ticket. Most states and territories will expect the training to occur on the job and then hours of experience gained prior to a ticket being issued.

APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS

Am I eligible to start an Apprenticeship or Traineeship?

To find out if you are eligible to start an Apprenticeship or Traineeship you will need to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Centre (Eligibility for apprenticeship or traineeship) in your state or territory.

How can I find a job as an apprentice or trainee?

Use the Australian Apprenticeships Job Pathways (Job Pathways link) website to search for ideas about apprenticeships or traineeships that may interest you. You can then contact an Australian Apprenticeship Centre in your region, search advertised job vacancies (in newspapers, job search websites) or directly contact employers in the sector you would like to work or contact your local Group Training Organisation. Job Service Providers (visit Australian JobSearch) and career advisers will be able to assist.

I am not an Australian resident or citizen. Can I apply for an Australian Apprenticeship?

Eligibility for Australian Apprenticeship is determined by an Australian Apprenticeship Centre. They are contracted by the Australian Government to provide support to those seeking information on Australian Apprenticeships. You can search for an Australian Apprenticeship Centre by visiting (Apprenticeship centre locations). 
NOTE:Those holding prior qualifications must also check with an Australian Apprenticeship Centre as some qualifications gained in Australia may influence eligibility. General Australian employment and visa information can be obtained from the Australian Department of Immigration. Website Department of Immigration

I am an adult and would like to start an apprenticeship. Can I do an apprenticeship as an adult and where do I start?

Apprenticeships and traineeships are open to anyone of working age who meets other eligibility such as citizenship, etc. If you have existing skills and experience that relates to a qualification that you want to complete, you may undergo a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment that helps determine your training need in order for you to complete the qualification. Refer to the skills recognition tool in our 'Changing industry' section.

What are pre-apprenticeships or pre-vocational courses? How do I get to do a pre-apprenticeship or pre-vocational course?

Pre-vocational and pre-apprenticeship courses help you develop skills to get a job, or prepare you to become an apprentice or trainee. Completing a relevant pre-vocational or pre-apprenticeship course not only allows you to see what working in a particular job is like, but it may also reduce the term of an apprenticeship or trainee ship if you decide to continue your training.

Our employee already has qualifications. Can they still get an apprenticeship/trainee ship?

There are eligibility requirements including some limitations on prior qualifications (for example, having qualifications in the same field of work for which you wish to undertake an apprenticeship/traineeship). To check, please contact an Australian Apprenticeships Centre near you.

I have lost or misplaced my trade papers/certificate. How can I get a copy of them even if I did the trade over 10 years ago?

To obtain your trade papers or certificate contact the State Training Authority in the State or Territory where you did your apprenticeship/traineeship:

• NSW - Department of Education & Communities
• ACT - Australian Apprenticeships 
• QLD - Dept of Education and Training
• NT - Training in the NT 
• WA - Training Accreditation Council
• SA - Traineeship and Apprenticeship Services
• VIC - Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority
• TAS Tasmanian Qualifications Authority

I have finished my trade schooling. Can I apply for an early completion?

Policy on Early Completion may vary from State to State. Contact the Australian Apprenticeships Centre who ‘signed you up’ to discuss this and ask them for an ‘Early Completion Form’. If you are unable to recall which Apprenticeships Centre has your file contact the National Australian Apprenticeship Client Support line on 1300 367 847.

I have some concerns/problems with my employer about wages, hours of work, supervision etc. What should I do?

Contact your State/Territory Training Authority on the contact phone numbers listed above.

How do I go about employing an apprentice/trainee?

Contact an Australian Apprenticeships Centre. Australian Apprenticeships Centres will coordinate the necessary paperwork and administrate the payments of Government incentives throughout the term of the Australian Apprenticeship.

I need to contact the Australian Apprenticeships Centre who ‘signed up my staff member’ as an apprentice/trainee but I cannot remember their details.

Contact the National Australian Apprenticeship Client Support line on 1300 367 847.

EMPLOYER QUESTIONS

Is SkillsDMC a training provider?

No, SkillsDMC is one of 10 national industry skills councils who supports enterprises to determine their skilling and training needs. We are able to advise enterprises on training providers who are registered in their state or territory and have the scope of registration to deliver the training in the qualification/s needed.

What is the role of SkillsDMC staff in the regions?

SkillsDMC have industry liaison in each state and territory in Australia. The main function they perform is to:

• Assist enterprises with their workforce analysis and planning needs
• Support training providers to raise the quality of training delivered in our sectors
• Provide advice on the RII09 training package to state government departments, associations, training providers and enterprises Feedback any continuous improvements of training package
• Develop and implement state related projects
• Feed state specific intelligence back to the national office
• Support national initiatives at state level

RII09 TRAINING PACKAGE QUESTIONS

The following questions relates to the implementation of the National Standard for Licensing Persons Performing High Risk Work 2006 (The Standard). These questions are focused specifically for the following units of competency contained within the CPC08 Training Package:

• CPCCLDG3001A License to perform dogging
• CPCCLRG3001A License to perform rigging – basic level
• CPCCLSF20011A License to erect, alter and dismantle scaffolding basic level

If a current ticket holder wishes to apply (not only wishes but has to soon) for a new licence/ticket, do they need to enrol with a registered training organisation (RTO) who have the above units of competency already on their scope of registration?

Yes. Background: If a RTO registered in a particular state wishes to add a qualification or unit of competency to their scope of registration, they apply to the state or territory Quality Directorate who undertakes a desk based or site audit to evaluate whether the Registered Training Organisation has the capacity and resources to deliver and assess this qualification.

In a licensing situation and more specifically for this situation with the above units, do Registered Training Organisations have to apply to the OH&S regulator to be an approved Registered Training Organisation to deliver and assess this qualification or is it simply enough to go through the normal Registered Training Organisation extension to scope process?

Apply for extension to scope through the normal avenue but you must have a registered assessor to conduct the assessment using the approved assessment tools. Assessors are registered through the State Safety Regulator.

Has the safety regulator designed a mandated assessment tool which must be used by a Registered Training Organisation and the registered assessor to issue the Statement of Attainment for any high risk units of competency containing the license?

The assessment resources are National. A registered assessor is provided with the tools and process through their training with the safety regulator. A Registered Training Organisation will issue the Statement of Attainment and the registered assessor would issue the 'ticket'. The assessor then provides the required reporting documentation to the safety regulator. This has been the process for forklift operators for some time.

Are registered assessors affiliated to a Registered Training Organisation going to continue to be the only ones who can assess high risk units of competency that integrate the licensing requirements or will any assessor who holds the sufficient qualifications, industry and vocational competence under AQTF 2010 for the unit going to be allowed to assess these units?

The Registered Assessors must work with a Registered Training Organisation. An assessment conducted independently of an Registered Training Organisation will not be compliant with the High Risk Work requirements. To conduct assessment in the high risk units an assessor must be registered with their state or territory Safety Authority. The assessor requirements mentioned above (sufficient qualifications, industry and vocational competence under AQTF 2010 for the unit) will need to be met to apply to become a registered assessor. Most state or territories Safety Authorities run Assessor Workshops to train registered assessors.

What is the easiest way to relate (map) MNCG1001A, MNCG1009A, MNCG1008A and MNCG1002A to the units of competency in RII09?

SkillsDMC have a mapping document on our website that maps the MNC units to the RII09 units of competency. This indicates direct mapping from the one unit of competency to the new one i.e. in the RII09 training package.