News

Part-time apprenticeships

Part-time apprenticeships are now available for the first time in New South Wales, in hairdressing.

Hairdressing is the first industry to endorse part-time trade training and the Vocational Training Order encompassing the new apprenticeship arrangements took effect on 28 October 2011. Part-time apprenticeships complement full-time and school based training arrangements.

Features of part-time apprenticeships are as follows.

Nominal term

The nominal term for a part time apprenticeship will be the nominal term specified in the Vocational Training Order multiplied by 1.5. This formula will also be applied when:

• converting a full-time apprenticeship to a part-time apprenticeship and
• re-establishing an apprenticeship on a part-time basis where the balance of the relevant nominal term must be multiplied by 1.5.

Nominal hours

Part-time apprentices must be given at least 21 hours of paid employment per week. The hours of employment are to include any time required to complete training and assessment by a registered training organisation as specified in the relevant training plan. These hours can be averaged over a four week period.

When the registered training organisation is in recess, the 21 hours per week can be weighed in favour of on-the-job training. If and when formal training is delivered by block release, the 21 hours can be weighted in favour of the off-the-job training.

For more information, refer Commissioners Information Bulletin 512.