An apprenticeship is a system of structured on-the-job training with an employer and off-the-job training with a Registered Training Organisation accessed through a contract of training.

Registered Training Organisation (RTO) means a training organisation registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority, the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority or the Western Australia’s Training and Accreditation Council.

Time spent by an apprentice, in attending any training and assessment associated with the training contract is to be regarded as time worked for the employer for the purposes of calculating the apprentice’s wages.

No apprentice will, except in an emergency, work or be required to work overtime at times which would prevent their attendance at the RTO.

All fees charged by an RTO and the cost of all prescribed textbooks for the apprenticeship, which are paid by an apprentice, shall be reimbursed by the employer within six months of commencement of the apprenticeship or within three months of the commencement of training provided by the RTO, whichever is the later, unless there is unsatisfactory progress.

An employer may meet its obligations under this clause by paying any fees and/or costs of textbooks directly to the RTO.

Where an apprentice is required to attend block release training and requires an overnight stay, the employer must pay for the excess reasonable travel costs incurred by the apprentice in the course of travelling to and from such training.

Excess reasonable travel costs includes transportation, accommodation and reasonable expenses incurred while travelling, including meals.

Where a person was employed by an employer immediately prior to becoming an adult apprentice with that employer, such person will not suffer a reduction in the ordinary time hourly rate of pay by virtue of entering into the contract of training.

Apprentices will only receive the allowances when they attend work and any rostered day off.

Apprentices will not be paid the allowance for days they attend an RTO for training and assessment.

School-based apprentices progress through the relevant wage scale at the rate of 12 months progression for each two years of employment as an apprentice.

The apprentice wage scales are based on a standard full-time apprenticeship or stages of competency-based progression.

If an apprentice converts from school-based to full-time, the successful completion of competencies and all time spent as a full-time apprentice will count for the purposes of progression through the relevant wage scale.