By combining paid on-the-job training with formal study, your apprentice or trainee can be trained up in a way that will best meet the needs of your business.

The purpose of this page is to help small-to-medium businesses operating in the Greater Geelong region learn more about apprenticeships and traineeships and how to attract candidates. We've also developed a list of useful contacts, which includes local services that can help you.

Benefits of hiring an apprentice or trainee

• Support a young person in your community by providing valuable experience and skills
• Bring new skills and knowledge into your business
• Avoid skills shortages
• Access government funding, incentives and rebates
• Train staff to suit your needs
• Support local growth and reduce unemployment
• Retention of skilled workers
• Development of a diverse workforce

Finding an apprentice or trainee

While there are many different ways to take on an apprentice or trainee, here are some suggested steps to get you started:

Step 1: Find out whether you're RecruitReady

If you’re comfortable using online tools, you might want to use the RecruitReady Diagnostic. It will help you find out whether your business is ready to employ an apprentice or trainee. As part of the process, you can elect to have an industry consultant ring you or visit your workplace.

Step 2: Find a prospective trainee or apprentice

Your first point of contact about an apprenticeship or traineeship in Greater Geelong should be an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider. They can:

• help you find an apprentice or trainee suitable for your business
• assist with the training contract
• provide advice on financial incentives that might be available for your business
• provide advice and support during the training period.

Other options for finding an apprentice or trainee include word of mouth, advertising online, contacting training organisations or using our useful contacts list. However, you’ll still need to work with an Apprenticeship Network Provider when finalising the details of the employment arrangement.

Step 3: Sign an agreement

A training contract is a legally binding agreement between you, the trainee or apprentice and their training provider. If they are under 18, it must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Training contracts are important because they describe everyone's rights and responsibilities as part of the apprenticeship or traineeship. Your Apprenticeship Network provider will be able to take you through this process.

Apprentices and trainees will also need a training plan. This is slightly different to the contract as it describes the mix of on-the-job and formal study the apprentice or trainee will follow. It is also negotiated between you, the trainee or apprentice and their training provider.

Managing your apprentice or trainee

Your responsibilities

Apprentices and trainees have the same rights as other employees, such as the right to a safe workplace, proper training and sick leave. However, as an employer you’ll have some responsibilities that are different to other employees. These include:

• being supportive of the study needs of the apprentice or trainee
• making sure all information you provide to apprentices is clear and easy-to-understand
• highlighting what is expected according to your workplace policies, procedures and practices
• making time to give proper instruction and hands-on training
• checking in regularly, providing regular feedback and encouraging your apprentice or trainee to ask questions.

If something goes wrong

Your apprentice or trainee has access to lots of support. If your apprentice or trainee is struggling for any reason, you should encourage them to get in contact with their training provider, their Apprenticeship Network provider or other support services.