Benefits and options – apprenticeships & traineeships

The benefits of group training for your business

Group training lets your business employ an apprentice or trainee while a group training organisation (GTO) handles recruitment, payroll, entitlements and training-provider liaison. A GTO is the legal employer who places apprentices and trainees with host businesses like yours. Novaskill has delivered group training across the Hunter, Newcastle and Northern Rivers regions of NSW since 1980, so you get the skilled people you need without the administrative load.

Employing an apprentice or trainee is a smart investment in the future of your business, and it can deliver real benefits to your bottom line. Apprentices and trainees help guarantee the future skills needs of your industry. Some skilled occupations take years to learn and can only be mastered through practical, hands-on training paired with classroom-based theory, which is exactly what apprenticeships and traineeships offer.

A host employer mentoring a Novaskill apprentice on the job

Key facts: group training with Novaskill

  • Novaskill was established in 1980 and supports employers across the Hunter, Newcastle and Northern Rivers regions of NSW.
  • An apprenticeship or traineeship combines paid employment with nationally recognised training developed by industry.
  • Full-time apprentices and trainees work and train an average of 38 hours per week.
  • Part-time apprentices and trainees work and train no less than 15 to 21 hours per week, depending on the qualification.
  • More than 1,000 nationally recognised qualifications are available to match your business needs.
  • Novaskill provider code: 6996.

Trained to your needs

Staff will be trained to meet your specific business needs.

Financial incentives

A range of financial incentives and assistance may apply.

You choose the training

You choose the training provider and how, when and where training is delivered.

Nationally recognised

Training achieves nationally recognised qualifications developed by industry.

Over 1,000 qualifications

More than 1,000 qualifications available to match your requirements.

How flexible is an apprenticeship or traineeship?

An apprenticeship or traineeship is highly flexible and can be shaped around your business and your apprentice. An Australian Apprentice can be a student or school-leaver, a person re-entering the workforce, or an adult worker changing careers. Combining paid work with structured training, they can be full-time, part-time or school-based, and you can negotiate the off-the-job training around timing, location and the nature of the training to suit your business. To see how Novaskill manages the day-to-day detail for you, read about how Novaskill helps your business thrive and what group training is.

Apprenticeship or traineeship: what is the difference?

An apprenticeship trains a person in a traditional trade, while a traineeship trains a person in a vocational (non-trade) area. Both combine paid employment with nationally recognised training and lead to a qualification developed by industry. The table below compares the two for employers in the Hunter, Newcastle and Northern Rivers regions of NSW.

  Apprenticeship Traineeship
Type of work A traditional trade, for example chef, mechanic, plumber or builder. A vocational area, for example office administration, IT or tourism.
On completion You employ a qualified tradesperson. The trainee holds a qualification in their chosen field.
Training Nationally recognised training combining hands-on work with classroom theory. Nationally recognised training combining hands-on work with classroom theory.

Should an apprentice or trainee be full-time or part-time?

Both full-time and part-time arrangements provide continuous, ongoing employment, so the right choice depends on your workload and your apprentice or trainee. The table below sets out the weekly commitment for each option.

  Full-time Part-time
Hours per week An average of 38 hours of combined work and training. No less than 15 to 21 hours, depending on the qualification.
Employment Ongoing, continuous employment. Ongoing, continuous employment.
Best suited to Businesses ready for a full weekly commitment. Businesses with a lighter or shared workload.

Can I employ a student who is still at school?

Yes. School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SATs) let Year 11 and Year 12 students work for your business as paid employees while gaining a nationally recognised VET qualification alongside their HSC. VET means vocational education and training, and the HSC is the NSW Higher School Certificate. An SAT works on the job for roughly one day each week through Year 11 and Year 12, then begins full-time work as a second-year apprentice or trainee from the January after they finish school. Once they start, your investment in an apprentice is supported by Novaskill at every step, and our guidance on supervising your apprentice or trainee helps you set them up to succeed.

Frequently asked questions about group training for employers

A group training organisation (GTO) is the legal employer of an apprentice or trainee and places them with host businesses. Novaskill, established in 1980, acts as the GTO, so your business hosts the apprentice while Novaskill manages employment, payroll and entitlements.

With group training you pay an agreed hourly charge to Novaskill that covers the apprentice’s wages and on-costs, and a range of government financial incentives and assistance may apply. For current rates and eligible incentives, contact Novaskill. [NEEDS: confirm fee structure and current employer incentives.]

A full-time apprentice or trainee works and trains an average of 38 hours per week. A part-time apprentice or trainee works and trains no less than 15 to 21 hours per week, depending on the qualification. Both arrangements provide ongoing, continuous employment.

Novaskill supports employers across the Hunter, Newcastle and Northern Rivers regions of NSW. As a registered training organisation (RTO) and group training organisation established in 1980, Novaskill delivers nationally recognised training and group training employment in these communities.

A dedicated Novaskill field officer is on call for any support you or your apprentice may need. Novaskill manages recruitment, WHS training, employment contracts and training-provider liaison, so you can focus on the work while we handle the administration.

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