The rules about training

You and your employer signed a training contract and a training plan. The training contract outlines your trade/qualification and all parties' responsibilities regarding your training.

Your employer:

• is responsible for making sure you receive trade relevant on-the-job instruction and supervision
• helps you select a registered training organisation (RTO) for your formal training
• confirms the apprentice/trainee has practical trade skills and is competent on the training plan
• must notify Training Services NSW if the apprentice or trainee is suspended or there are any problems
• must notify Training Services NSW if there are and changes to business details.

You, as the apprentice/trainee are required to

• attend work and perform the duties required of an employee
• attend all formal training and complete all the assignments
• talk to the employer or supervisor about training progress
• notify the employer of sickness on a work day or, a training day
• notify Training Services NSW of any problems, including changes to address, employment.

The Registered Training Organisation (RTO)/trainer/teacher:

• will track the apprenticeship or traineeship progress through the training plan.

The training plan tells you:

• where the training will occur
• who will deliver the training either; on the job or simulated at the training facility
• what has been signed off or agreed as trade competent
• an updated training plan should be sent to the apprentice/trainee and the employer every 6 months
• the training organisation must notify Training Services NSW within 28 days when the training plan is complete.

Your training plan

A training plan will have to be completed by the RTO shortly after you and your employer sign the apprenticeship/traineeship training contract. The RTO discusses the training needs of the employer and tailors the training plan to the employers business and your job. The RTO should also discuss if you have any current skills that may be recognised.

• you and your employer will be sent a signed copy of the training plan
• if you do not have a training plan ask your teacher/employer for a copy.

Your training plan provides information about your formal training, including:

• the formal qualification to be undertaken
• the commencement date of formal training
• the Units of Competency
• the schedule of when training and assessment will be conducted
• mode of training delivery i.e. classroom or onsite.

On-the-job and off-the-job training

Apprentices and trainees must do two types of training:

• 'on-the job' (learning all the practical trade skills at work)
• 'off-the-job' or 'formal' (usually classroom learning at a TAFE or another RTO but can be undertaken on the work premises).