Preparation

Investing time in a thorough workplace induction will help you get the most from your apprentice or trainee. It will make them feel well-informed, welcomed and equipped to do their job.

Workplace supervision is not only obligatory in an apprenticeship or traineeship but also critical in determining its success. Effective supervision leads to a safer and more productive workforce as well as increasing the chances of your apprentice or trainee completing their apprenticeship or traineeship.

This guide outlines what to include in your workplace induction including explanations of working conditions and entitlements, responsibilities and administrative procedures. It also includes your workplace obligations for supervision.

Induct your new apprentice or trainee

Investing time in a thorough induction will help you get the most from your apprentice or trainee. It will also help ensure that your employee feels well-informed, welcomed and equipped to do their job.

Your apprentice's or trainee's induction is carried out:

during the probationary period
by their workplace supervisor and your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider.

Watch the video about carrying out an induction for your new apprentice or trainee.

Having a new apprentice or trainee start in your workplace is an exciting time for everyone.
The first thing you and your apprentice or trainee should do is complete a thorough and comprehensive induction.
This will not only help you get the most from your apprentice or trainee, but it’s also the best way to ensure they start their new career in the safest, most well-informed way possible.
The apprentice or trainee’s induction must be carried out during their probationary period by their workplace supervisor and your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (Provider).

So what needs to be covered in a proper induction?
Well, here’s a handy checklist of what should always be included as your apprentice or trainee is inducted into your workplace:
- an overview of the business
- a tour of the workplace and introductions to other employees
- an explanation of your apprentice or trainee’s role and responsibilities
- expectations of all parties – employer, supervisor, apprentice or trainee, Provider, and the supervising registered training organisation delivering the training
- an explanation of working conditions including wages, working hours, start and finish times, dress code, breaks, leave and other entitlements
- workplace health and safety protocols, including fire and evacuation procedures
- everyone’s responsibility and obligations under the training contract
- administrative procedures
- who and where to go to if there's a problem.
Covering every one of these points properly will ensure your apprentice or trainee is fully prepared for the job ahead.
Remember, making your new employee feel welcome and part of the team is the first step in building a positive and productive work environment.
Visit our website to find out more at www.business.qld.gov.au.
Supporting Queensland small businesses.

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An induction should include:

an overview of the business
a tour of the workplace and introductions to other employees
an explanation of your apprentice's or trainee's role and responsibilities
expectations of all parties – employer, supervisor, apprentice or trainee, Apprentice Connect Australia Provider, supervising registered training organisation (SRTO)
an explanation of working conditions including wages, working hours, start and finish times, dress code, breaks, leave and other entitlements
workplace health and safety protocols, including fire and evacuation procedures
the responsibilities and obligations under the training contract
administrative procedures
who to go to if there is a problem.

Supervise your apprentice or trainee

When you take on an apprentice or trainee, you are obliged to provide a workplace supervisor, who:

is appropriately qualified to supervise at the right level
is designated to train the apprentice or trainee
is employed in the same workplace
has equal or similar working hours to your apprentice or trainee.

If you are an employer in the electrical industry, read important information about supervising your electrical apprentices.

What is a qualified supervisor

Your supervising registered training organisation will determine if the supervisor is appropriately qualified.

TAFE Queensland offers 3 free online micro-credentials, sponsored by the Queensland Government, to help supervisors of apprentices and trainees mentor and provide apprentices and trainees with safe workplaces.

An appropriately qualified workplace supervisor for an apprentice is:
1. a person who has satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship in the apprentice's calling in Australia, and is the holder of a completion certificate issued under an Act
2. or
3. a person who holds a certificate of recognition issued under an Australian Act, certifying the person has the necessary skills and knowledge in the calling
4. or
5. an Australian tradesperson in the apprentice's calling, as defined under a specific industrial instrument
6. or
7. a New Zealand tradesperson in the apprentice's calling whose occupation may be recognised under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003
8. or
9. a person who holds a relevant qualification in the apprenticeship calling
10. or
11. a person individually, or persons collectively, who has/have documented competence (i.e. a testamur/qualification and associated record of results or a statement of attainment as recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, achieved through an RPL or training pathway) in all the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the apprentice's training plan.
and where a worker is required to have a licence to practice the calling/occupation, the qualified person holds a current workers licence.
An appropriately qualified workplace supervisor for a trainee is:
1. a person who has satisfactorily completed a traineeship in the trainee's calling in Australia, and is the holder of a completion certificate issued under an Act
2. or
3. a person who holds a certificate of recognition issued under an Act, certifying the person has the necessary skills and knowledge in the calling
4. or
5. a tradesperson in the trainee's calling, as defined under a specific industrial instrument
6. or
7. a person who holds a relevant qualification in the traineeship calling
8. or
9. a person individually, or persons collectively, who has/have documented competence (achieved through an RPL or training pathway) or demonstrated competence in all the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the trainee's training plan. (Note: cannot be a person or persons currently undertaking the same traineeship)
10. or
11. a person undertaking a traineeship, at a higher level than the trainee's, whose traineeship incorporates supervisory or coordinating skills and who has documented competence (achieved through an RPL or training pathway) in at least 1 of the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the trainee's training plan and who is supervised by a person who qualifies under (1) and/or (4) and/or (5).
and where a worker is required to have a licence to practice the calling/occupation, the qualified person holds a current workers licence.
This micro-credential is an online course to help you supervise electrical apprentices safely and meet compliance requirements.
You will learn practical leadership skills and simple ways to supervise apprentices at work.
The course follows the Safe working and supervision guide for electrical apprentices course. It is suitable for new and experienced supervising electrical tradespeople.
Topics covered include:
- supervision overview
- supervision requirements
- working safely and responding to emergencies
- supporting electrical apprentices in the workplace.

As well as being compulsory, supervisors also play a central role in the success or failure of an apprenticeship or traineeship.

A capable supervisor:

sets clear expectations
makes their apprentice or trainee feel supported
delivers high quality training and mentoring (which compensates for low training wages)
demonstrates rapport and understanding.

In turn, effective supervision of apprentices and trainees leads to:

more productive workplaces
higher quality output and services
more employees who can work independently
employees who can do a broader range of tasks
greater likelihood of apprentice or trainee completing their apprenticeship or traineeship.

As well as adequate supervision, you must also provide appropriate facilities, range of work and training.

Supervising your apprentice or trainee

As an employer of an apprentice or trainee, you must ensure appropriate and qualified supervision of the apprentice or trainee during their apprenticeship or traineeship.

Learn more about supervision and what makes a good supervisor.

Having a new apprentice or trainee start in your workplace is an exciting time for everyone.
There are a number of things that you can do to prepare for their arrival, so that they feel welcome and ready to start their new career.
Here, we'll give you some tips for supervising your new apprentice or trainee.
As this may be their first job, or they could be starting out in a new industry, properly supervising your apprentice or trainee right from the first day will lead to a safer workplace and more productive worker.
Remember that workplace supervision is not only obligatory, it’s also the best way to ensure they successfully complete their apprenticeship or traineeship.
Before your apprentice or trainee starts, you will need to consider who will be supervising them in the workplace.
So what makes a good supervisor?
Well firstly, they should be someone who is appropriately qualified to supervise at the right level and is properly designated to train the apprentice or trainee. They also need to be employed in the same workplace with equal or similar working hours to your apprentice or trainee.
The supervisor you choose should also make the apprentice or trainee feel supported and set clear expectations. They will need to not only deliver high quality training and mentoring, but also build rapport and demonstrate understanding.
Ensuring your apprentice or trainee is properly supervised will benefit your business in countless ways, creating a more productive workplace with more employees who can work independently, on a broader range of tasks, and at a higher level of quality and output.
It’s all about starting off on the right foot, and helping you and your business grow.
Visit our website to find out more at www.business.qld.gov.au.
Supporting Queensland small businesses.

Watch

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