Victorian Traineeship Program

Traineeships are employment arrangements where the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments support and encourage the training of new employees.

Each state and territory determines the areas it will support as traineeships, and in many cases will subsidise the training costs. Some states and ACT offer generous payroll tax advantages for trainees.

The Commonwealth Government supports the program by offering employer incentives for employers engaging and successfully completing apprentices and trainees.

With so many different levels of government involved – traineeships can seem complicated, but they don’t need to be. The College specialises in traineeship delivery so feel free to call us and get your questions answered.

Apprenticeship Network Providers (previously called Australian Apprenticeship Centres) determine the eligibility of employees for traineeships. The following information is a guide to how the traineeship system works:

1. The type of work must be declared a traineeship in the state that you wish to employ the trainee.

This government website shows the Traineeships Declared, but the College is happy to work this out for you. 

2. The employee you wish to register in a traineeship must be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident.

They can also be a New Zealand passport holder who has been resident in Australia for more than six months,

Some states will allow visa holders where the specific visa allows employment and traineeships (including Special Category Visa 444 which allows New Zealand Citizens to work and study in Australia for an unlimited period).

3. The employee cannot already hold a formal qualification (but see the many exceptions to this rule below).

 See the NSW Traineeship rules  including for New Zealand Citizens.

Contact us to arrange specific advice from an Apprenticeship Network Provider or refer to http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au.

In NSW the Vocational Training Orders that declare a Traineeship are published on the Training Services NSW site.

The employee cannot already hold a formal qualification but there are many exceptions to this rule.

It is best to let an Australian Network Provider consider the specific qualifications held by any potential trainees, as there are many exceptions and rules. In general:

• A Certificate I level does not affect eligibility.
• Completed qualifications at Certificate II to IV level attained more than seven years ago, that led to a different occupational outcome than the current Traineeship, do not affect eligibility for payments.
• Qualifications completed while the Trainee was at school will not affect payments as long as the traineeship is in either a different occupational outcome or is a higher level qualification.
• Past registration in an apprenticeship or traineeship that was not completed normally will not affect eligibility, but may impact employer incentives.

To be registered as a New Entrant trainee, a  new employee must be registered as a Trainee within three months of commencing work or within 12 months for part-time employees.

Employer incentives apply to New Entrant trainees. Details are shown later.

Payroll Tax exemptions or rebates might also apply. Please call us if you would like to know more.

For some states the training costs for many New Entrant traineeships is subsidised. Refer to each state for rules and qualifications subsidised.

Employees registered as trainees who have been employed longer than the time frames for New Entrant status are called Existing Worker trainees.

Existing employees can be registered as trainees. The benefits or reasons to do this vary from state to state:

• Existing Worker traineeships in College qualification areas do NOT attract Employer incentives in any state.
• Payroll Tax rebates and exemptions do NOT apply to Existing Worker traineeships.
• In the ACT, the training costs for some existing worker traineeships is subsidised). Refer to each state for rules and qualifications subsidised.
• Registration as an Existing Worker Traineeship prohibits the training to be subsidised under other available subsidised training programs offered by the various states.

Traineeships are suitable for all employees, however some State and Territories do have minimum age requirements for Traineeships. Our course materials are based on work place skills, so no matter how old your employees are, they will still benefit from the course.

Quick Summary: The Australian Apprenticeship Incentive Guidelines have changed

Always check here for the most up to date guidance!

Currently, for Traineeships that commenced after 1 July 2022:

$1 750 at 6 months from “date of commencement” and $1 750 at the six month mark after the effective date of the first date.

For Traineeships that commenced prior to 30 June 2022:

$4 000 per FT new entrant trainee; $1 500 per PT new entrant trainee

For new Full time trainees of $1 500 is claimable at the six month mark of their traineeship, and $ 2 500 at completion.

For new Part time trainees the $1 500 is claimable at completion of the traineeship.

How are incentives managed?

Incentives are subject to traineeship eligibility criteria, waiting periods and time limits being met. Your Apprenticeship Support Network provider will assess your trainees eligibility for incentives.

The information provided on this page is for general information only and should not be relied upon because it is subject to change and may not reflect your exact circumstances. 

This information is subject to change, always refer to  http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/ for current information.

Current as of July 2022

NSW, QLD and ACT offer an exemption and/or rebate on the wages of New Entrant trainees.

If you are paying or liable to pay Payroll Tax – this can be a significant saving amounting to thousands of dollars.

Current details on Payroll Tax Rebates and downloadable brochures are available in the Payroll Tax section below.

The cost of the training provided by the College may be subsidised by your State or Territory Government.

Each State and Territory determines which courses it will subsidise, and to what extent. Our courses pages will provide an accurate price or estimate.

All require an employer contribution (NSW is currently offering a Fee-Free Traineeship program).

ACT and WA also subsidise the costs for some Existing Worker traineeships.

Taking on a trainee can be a step forward for many businesses to train and grow their key staff for the future. It provides an opportunity for an extra set of hands that is motivated and keen to learn.

Under the Traineeship Training Contract the employer must provide a workplace environment that supports the trainee's learning, and allows approximately 3 hours per week towards learning activities.

Employers enrolling their employees as students are responsible to:

• Provide appropriate on-the-job training, support and supervision
• Ensure their employees have access to the full range of work that is required on-the-job to complete the assessment tasks
• Notify the College if there are any matters affecting their ability to complete the qualification due to work related barriers
• Comply with Traineeship requirements if applicable.
• Sign all Workplace Verification Checklists, Assessment Submissions and Training Plans.

As a supervisor you will act as a role model and coach for the trainee. 

The trainee will look to you for guidance and help in learning to do their job.

You also have responsibilities to talk to ACCM College about the trainee's progress.

ACCM College provides you the on-line ability to see their progress 24/7.

Trainees also have obligations under a traineeship arrangement.

The key obligations that affect their formal qualification are:

• Regular and active participation in training
• Seeking help when it is needed
• Making contact with ACCM College as required to undertake skills assessments
• Following ACCM College Policies
• Submitting your original work in assessments
• Participating in any workplace training provided by your employer or ACCM College.
• Attending any training or progress meetings with ACCM College.
• Notifying your employer and ACCM College if you are having any difficulties completing the tasks or workbooks.
• Notifying ACCM College if you leave your employer during the term of a traineeship.
• Meeting the ACCM College Student Participation Standards

Rates of pay are a matter for your relevant Award or the National Training Wage. The Department of Fair Work could assist you if you are unsure.

The College is a Registered Training Organisation meeting the Standards for Registered Training Organisations. Our National Provider number is 1441.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the government agency that supervises and approves the licencing of Registered Training Organisations.

Our Registration Certificate shows that the College is registered to deliver nationally accredited training until 17 January 2030 

Read about how we achieved the maximum registration period and what that means.

Wow – another year and awesome results in the National Quality Indicators!

RTOs are required to collect surveys from students and employers. The survey questions are fixed so that comparisons can be made between RTOs, and from year to year. These are called the National Quality Indicators. And we not only get great results – we have done so consistently. 

Look at the consistent history of excellent results in our latest 2022 Quality Indicator Annual Summary Report.

It's great to see this feedback from NSW.

2021 is the most recent full year data that has been released (as of December 2022).

This independent data reflects the efforts of NSW Training Services collecting post-qualification data on student outcomes.

We were delighted to be proven a leading provider in our peer group and across all NSW providers.

Click here to the data for yourself - NSW VET Student Outcomes 

ACCM College has a wide range of long term and loyal clients who appreciate the industry expertise, flexibility and quality of the work that we do to deliver traineeships and training to their staff.  

We excel at understanding the specific needs of each client and so are able to get equally outstanding reviews from employers in different sectors.

Don’t take our word for it - see the many Client Success Stories for more information.

Each year the quality of the training and traineeships delivered by the College is acknowledged through the recognition of our high achieving students in the Department of Education Trainee of the Year awards.

In every year we have had multiple students, across different study categories, be recognised; and in turn recognise the help and support of their College Student Adviser. Look at these amazing success stories.

Each vocational course has different workplace needs. We simply confirm that you have in place what is needed and agree on solutions for any issues identified. 

Each trainee has unique needs. We start by getting them to provide us with information so that we can discuss how best we can support them. This also ensures that they are aware of their obligations.

This involves determining the best subjects to suit your work environment. The assessments for each subject are timetabled to be achieved so that the formal component of the traineeship is completed as quickly as possible – allowing the remaining time to be dedicated on further developing workplace skills.

Trainees have immediate access to high quality learning resources that they can access 24/7. This puts them in full control to best use the times at work that are most suitable for their studies. The materials are designed to allow them to do small parts at a time – so they give best flexibility for a work environment.

We ask Trainees to make regular contact with us – but we are also pro-active in contacting them.

Trainees simply give us a phone call when they need help with the learning materials or they can book times in advance.

Many assessments are structured to require Trainee interaction with the College by phone so that we know they are making progress on specific subjects.

We recognise that many employers may not be readily available on the phone, so we have created the Employer Dashboard to ensure you have up to date information about your trainee's progress.

This also ensures that you are fully aware of any progress issues that may impact completion (and completion incentive payment) and have the opportunity to address.

From time to time there are issues with a trainees progress. You will be advised both informally and formally to ensure that you are aware of the situation, and that all parties are doing what they can to resolve the problem.

In some instances we are required to advise the relevant state Department of Education if there are trainee progress issues. This will only happen after we have tried to resolve the problem directly with you. 

Your Trainee will be required to get employer agreement that they meet the workplace requirements of each subject. Please ensure that within your workplace, anyone who may be asked to do this by the Trainee has your approval.

Once all required subjects have been completed your Trainee is eligible for the award of their qualification and Competency Completion.

Workplace agreement of Competency Completion and the return of a Signed Copy of the Training Plan is required. We will email these to you.

Please be aware that Competency Completion may affect the rates of pay for any trainees on the National Training Wage. It will also trigger eligibility to any employer completion incentives and at the same time cease any eligibility to payroll tax exemptions or rebates.

The College will report to the relevant Department of Education that the trainee has completed the formal requirements.

In some states this automatically triggers Competency Completion. In others you will receive a letter (that you must reply to) if you wish to delay Competency Completion.

ACCM College helps you succeed in your studies by giving you the support of a dedicated team of Student Advisers with real life industry experience. You will have one dedicated Student Adviser who will personally manage your program; and the benefit of a team around them to provide expert assistance in all subject areas.

Students actively comment about the supportiveness of their Student Advisers, in particular their skills at passing on their knowledge and making even the hardest subject easy to understand.

Our step by step course materials have been written by our own industry experts to give learners the most relevant and useful information needed.

The online resources provide industry insight and understanding by simplifying industry jargon and concepts, and focusing on current real world business practices.

We pride ourselves on providing high quality learner resources that set our learners up for success.

ACCM College students have the opportunity to give us immediate subject feedback and feedback to the assessor upon submission, so we always have the opportunity to get even better.

All of the course materials are accessed and completed online, allowing learners to complete subjects at a time and place that suits.

WebclassM login details are provided via email within an hour of enrolling

Using WebclassM learners can:

• Access online learning and assessment materials 24/7
• Submit assessments, view Assessment results and Assessor feedback
• Update contact details

There are no stressful exams.

Our assessments are thorough, but are self-paced and help is only a phone call or email away.

Activities that you are asked to do are practical and based on real life workplace experiences and needs.

You will have a Study Timetable and we will help you keep to it so that you end up with the qualification that you deserve as quickly as is feasible.

ACCM College is proactive about being in touch. When you apply to enrol our Service One team will call you immediately and guide you through to finish the enrolment process. They will also contact you weekly for the first 6 weeks to ensure you are on track and comfortable with online learning.

After your onboarding has been completed a Student Adviser will make contact to introduce themselves as your main point of contact and assistance with your ongoing study.

You will continue to receive regular phone calls, emails and SMS to check your progress and offer help. If we see you getting behind we will increase our efforts to contact you to ensure you are getting the help you need.

Study online – not alone; and be supported every step of the way!

ACCM does not have strict semester dates, giving you the ability to decide when you want to start your study program.

Once your enrolment is approved your personal login details will give you access to your course materials 24/7 and allowing you the flexibility to choose when and where you study.

You can also see your personal Study Timetable and have clear goals of when your subjects are to be completed.