An employee can only be paid as a trainee if they are completing a registered traineeship recognised in the state or territory where they are working. An employee cannot be paid as a trainee simply because they are new, learning on-the-job, or on probation.
Existing employees can start an apprenticeship or traineeship with their current employer. The apprenticeship or traineeship will still need to be registered with the relevant state or territory training authority.
Some modern awards provide different rates of pay for existing employees who start an apprenticeship or traineeship while working for an employer. For example, they may be entitled to continue receiving the rate of pay they received before starting the apprenticeship or traineeship. Check your modern award or Contact us for advice.
Once an employee has finished their apprenticeship or traineeship they are entitled to the relevant adult or junior rate for their classification in their modern award based on their age, qualifications and skills. You can use Finding the right pay tools to help you determine the correct rate of pay for a newly qualified employee.
Apprentices and trainees are entitled to personal leave and annual leave in accordance with the National Employment Standards (NES) and their modern award in the same way as other employees. More information about leave entitlements is available in the Leave section.
In some situations, school-based trainees may receive an additional loading instead of paid annual leave, personal leave, and public holidays. Check your modern award or Contact us for further information.
Apprentices and trainees are generally entitled to the same conditions and entitlements as other employees unless their modern award provides different entitlements for apprentices or trainees. This includes penalty rates for work on evenings, weekends, and public holidays, overtime rates, and other entitlements such as allowances and breaks.
Full-time and part-time trainees are entitled to be paid for any time spent attending training or assessments associated with their training contract.
School-based trainees do not receive payment for attending training. They receive their hourly rate for all ordinary hours worked on-the job.
State and territory training authorities determine who is responsible for paying for the costs of training for an apprentice or trainee. Some modern awards can also require the employer to cover the cost of training.
Often, the employer will pay for all or part of the cost of training, even where they are not required to. In some situations, the training costs will be fully subsidised, and neither the employer nor the employee will have to pay for the training. For more information contact your state or territory training authority.