FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS

If I am part of a Priority Population Group, what subsidy level am I entitled to? Priority Population Groups (PPG) are those declared on the national Apprenticeship or Traineeship Contract, such as individuals of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, individuals from a non-English speaking background and individuals with a disability, impairment or long term condition. Individuals belonging to a PPG receive funding at the priority one level, this applies to full time, part time and school based training contracts.

If I am undertaking a priority two or three qualification, will the changes mean I have to pay student contribution fees? No, under the user choice policy all SATs remain exempt from the student contribution fees (also known as tuition fees) regardless of the priority level of the qualification.

I have an existing training contract, will the changes mean the Government contribution will be reduced after 1/7/2013? No, the changes will only be for training contracts which commence after the 1/7/2013. In instances where a training contract commenced prior to 1/7/2013 was subsequently cancelled, and then a new training contract was established with a new employer in the same qualification, the Government contribution towards the cost of the qualification will remain at 100% for the remaining training to be undertaken.

Where can I find a Queensland Skills Shortage list to identify priority one qualifications? The user choice priorities are determined from national and state data, together with industry input. The Queensland priorities are detailed in the User Choice Qualification and price list. To access the full list of funded qualifications and the associated priority level refer to: full-price-list.xls This list is constantly changing so it is important to refer to the above website as required. The list can be sorted by priority level and then saved if required. Sorting by priority one will allow the identification of the qualifications which are deemed to be a priority in Queensland and as such are eligible for priority one level funding. The funding priorities under the User Choice 2010 – 2015 program are reviewed annually.

If from 1 July 2013 the qualification I wish to undertake no longer attracts the 100% Government contribution, who pays the balance? The User Choice Government contribution represents the level of public funding the Government will contribute towards the total cost of training for apprentices and trainees. The funding priority accorded to the qualification determines the level of public funds contributed to training regardless of whether the qualification is an Apprenticeship or Traineeship. As outlined previously, the funding priorities are: Priority One (100 per cent subsidised) Priority Two (75 per cent subsidised) Priority Three (50 per cent subsidised)

If from 1 July 2013 the qualification you wish to undertake now only attracts a 75% or 50% Government contribution because they are Priority Two or Priority Three qualifications respectively, this does not automatically mean there will be an additional cost to you as a student. As indicated by the name “user choice”, the user chooses the training provider they want from the list of pre-qualified suppliers. The employer, the apprentice/trainee and/or their parents, can negotiate with training providers to ensure the apprentice/trainee and the employer get the quality and standard of service they require. Where there is an additional cost charged by a training provider, it may be dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to the following: The way the training is delivered e.g. online, in the workplace, at the school, via workbooks, at the training providers premises The level of support provided by the training provider The frequency of workplace visits

If the Government’s contribution of public funding does not meet the full cost of training offered by the training provider, then additional contributions may be negotiated. As employers of SATs receive additional incentives from the federal Government when employing a SAT, the employer may wish to utilise a portion of this funding towards the final cost required by the training provider if it is in excess of the Government contribution.

THE USER CHOICE 2010 – 2015 PROGRAM Information for schools Apprentices and trainees can only receive one government contribution for a User Choice funded qualification at any single point in time i.e. a student is not funded to undertake two school –based traineeships at the same time. A maximum of two government contributions will be funded per participant. This includes apprenticeships or traineeships undertaken whilst the young person is at school and after they leave school. School based apprenticeships and traineeships are considered a priority for the state. This means school based - apprentices and trainees undertaking a Priority Two or Priority Three qualification will be 100 per cent subsidised. A second qualification is funded only if it is: A priority One qualification, or A higher priority than the first qualification.

Scenario 1 A student commences and completes a Certificate II in Hospitality (Priority Three qualification) as a school- based trainee. The student leaves school and then decides to undertake a Certificate II in hairdressing (Priority Three qualification). Will the student be funded for their second qualification? No. The second qualification is not a higher priority. This student will be funded for a second qualification if they select a qualification that is either a Priority One or Priority Two qualification.

Scenario 2 A student commences a school – based traineeship, Certificate II in Sport and Recreation (Priority Three qualification), at the beginning of Year 11. The student completes this traineeship and then decides to undertake a Certificate III in Community Services Work (Priority Two qualification) whilst in Year 12. Will the student be funded for their second qualification? Yes. The student will be funded for the second qualification as it is a higher priority than the first qualification. The student will not be eligible for any more funding under the User Choice program, so it is important that the second qualification provides a transition to the workforce after school.

Scenario 3 A student has a school-based traineeship with the Department of Heath undertaking a Certificate II in Business (Priority Three qualification). The student also works part-time at a local fast-food outlet. The fast-food outlet suggests that the student sign up for a school-based traineeship, Certificate II in Retail (Priority Three qualification). Will the student be funded for the second qualification? No. Apprentices and trainees can only receive one Government contribution for a User Choice funded qualification at any single point in time. The student can sign up for the second school-based traineeship but the RTO will not be able to claim payment from the Department of Education, Training and Employment for training provided. Even if the student undertakes the certificate II in Retail after they complete the Certificate II in Business, they will not receive funding as the second qualification is not a higher priority than the first.

Scenario 4 A student completes a school-based traineeship, Certificate II in Business (Priority Three qualification). The employer offers the student the opportunity to undertake a school-based traineeship at the next level, Certificate III in Business (Priority Three qualification). Will the student be funded for the second qualification? No. As the second qualification is only at the same priority level as the first, it will not be funded. A second qualification is only funded if it is a Priority One qualification or if it is a higher priority than the first qualification undertaken.

Scenario 5 A student completes a Certificate II in Retail (Priority Three qualification) and then commences a Certificate III in Roof Tiling (Priority One qualification) as a school-based apprentice. The student then cancels their Training Contract and instead decides to undertake a Certificate III in carpentry (Priority One) as a school-based apprentice. Will they be funded for the second qualification? Yes. The second qualification was not completed, so therefore it does not form part of the contribution count.

Scenario 6 A student completes a Certificate II in Telecommunications Cabling (Priority One qualification) and then commences a Certificate II in Telecommunications Technology (Priority One qualification) as a school- based or post school trainee. The student then decides to undertake a Certificate III in Broadband and Wireless Networks Technology (Priority One) as an apprentice. Will they be funded for the third qualification? No. The third qualification will not be funded because two qualifications have already been funded.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS To ensure the integrity of the school based traineeship system there are strict provisions for the completion of a school based traineeship. There must be an appropriate employment component completed prior to the completion of the school based training contract. Comments in 2013 for school based trainees are required to work a minimum of 50 days per 12 month period, and 50 days is the minimum number of days required before a school based traineeship may be completed. Commencements prior 2013 are required to complete 48 days.

Example 1: Completion in 6 months A training contract may be completed provided: all required off the job training is completed, and 50 paid working days have been completed, and the parties agree the trainee is competent. Commencement:01/01/2013 Completion:10/07/2013 Duration:6 months 10 days Minimum days of employment required to complete = 50 days

Example 2: Completion in 18 months A training contract may be completed provided: all required off the job training is completed, and 75 paid working days have been completed (50 days for the first 12 months and pro rata for the remainder), and the parties agree the trainee is competent. Commencement: 01/01/2013 Completion: 02/07/2014 Duration: 18 months 2 days Minimum days of employment required to complete = 75 days

WHERE DO I FIND QUALIFICATION INFORMATION AND TRAINING ORGANISATIONS THAT DELIVER CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS? This site can give the following information: Job summary Length of apprenticeship/traineeship Qualification details Whether or not the qualification is funded How much funding for qualification Priority

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS