About the Apprenticeships and Traineeships Directorate
Apprenticeships and Traineeships is one of four Directorates that fall within the State Training Services (STS) portfolio of the NSW Department of Education and Training. State Training Services’ Directorates coordinate a range of programs and initiatives which build the skills base of the NSW workforce and regulate apprenticeships and traineeships and the quality of the training system in NSW.
The Directorate:
- regulates and administers the apprenticeship and traineeship system in New South Wales under the provisions of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001
- delivers a range of support services to ensure that apprenticeships and traineeships are of high quality and target industry skill needs of individuals in consultation with industry
- promotes and coordinates the NSW Training Awards.
The Directorate is located on level 12 at 1 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst and comprises three units:
- Information and Risk Management
- Training Services
- Vocational Training Tribunal.
The Information and Risk Management Unit (IRMU) manages the Integrated Vocational Education and Training Systems (IVETS) database and related applications, which includes providing training and help desk support to system users, managing data quality and acceptance testing. IRMU also:
- coordinates the development and maintenance of STS integrated vocational education and training applications
- manages and administers State Training Services information and risk management framework
- provides data and statistical reports to internal and external stakeholders.
The Training Services Unit (TSU) co-ordinates the activities of, and supports, more than 200 field and administrative staff based in the Department’s 11 State Training Centres (STCs). This includes to:
- train field staff (Training Advisors, VET Advisors) and administrative (Clerks, Clerical Officers)
- allocate physical and financial resources
- develop policies, procedures and monitoring tools to aid staff in their monitoring role
- allocate workloads to Centres
- provide legal and technical advice and information on issues raised by staff.
TSU’s other core functions are to:
- aid the establishment of electronic processes to streamline the process of establishing national training contracts
- produce publications on apprenticeships and traineeships
- provide information for various Departmental web sites.
The Vocational Training Tribunal Unit (VTTU) provides an executive service for the dispute resolution and regulatory procedures of the Vocational Training Tribunal and Appeal Panel. VTTU also:
- manages the trade recognition process
- determines apprenticeship/traineeship regulatory matters
- issues Vocational Training Orders to establish NSW traineeships and apprenticeships
- publishes Commissioner's Information Bulletins
- coordinates the New Apprenticeships Centres’ Forum
- manages the apprenticeship and traineeship website - /