Australian Apprenticeships operate on the basis of a formal agreement between an employer and the Australian Apprentice. The agreement protects the interests of both parties. It details the qualification to be achieved by your Australian Apprentice and outlines the obligation of you, as the employer, to provide training and the obligations of your employee. Training Agreements are registered with the State Training Authority.

Training options - User Choice

All Australian Apprenticeships contain a training component that can be on-the-job, off-the-job or a combination of both. The off-the-job training is delivered by a registered training provider who delivers accredited training. The formal training is fully funded by the Victorian government (excluding existing workers).

You select the private or public training provider which allows you to negotiate the timing, location and nature of the training. This is referred to as 'User Choice' training and makes it easier in a number of ways:

• employers are able to negotiate with training providers on aspects of the timing, location and mode of delivery, and about the trainer/facilitator who conducts the assessment
• as training packages become available employers may be able to negotiate aspects of the training with regard to selection and sequencing of units of competence
• employers are able to negotiate purchase of additional training over and above what is publicly funded.
• employers who operate in more than one State/Territory may be able to choose one provider that can meet all their training needs