Existing Worker Traineeship

Existing Worker Trainee
The key principle of apprenticeships and traineeships is that of learning and developing skills through a combination of hands-on experience and formal training.

The primary responsibility for providing apprentices and trainees with relevant instruction and practical experience rests with the employer.

This is supplemented by formal training delivered by an RTO. Apprentices and trainees who successfully complete their formal training will receive a nationally recognised qualification from their RTO.

Existing Worker Traineeship
A traineeship for employees classified as existing workers (see above) in which the training costs are met by the employer. NSW Government financial incentives do not apply to existing worker traineeships although the employer may still attract Commonwealth Government incentive payments which can be used by the employer to offset training costs.

Formal Training for Existing Worker Trainees
An existing worker trainee undertakes the same formal training program and is eligible to receive the same qualification as a new entrant trainee in the same traineeship vocation. As for new entrant traineeships, there must be an RTO nominated to provide the training and assess the trainee, and the RTO must be registered by VETAB (or another State or Territory registering body) to issue the appropriate qualification.

Because, in many cases, existing worker trainees have extensive industry experience, the RTO may decide to deliver the training, conduct assessments and gather evidence of the trainee's competence in different ways from those used for apprentices or new entrant trainees.

DET does not pay the training costs for existing worker trainees. Therefore it is up to the employer to negotiate a price with the RTO for the training and assessment services it will provide. Employers of existing worker trainees are effectively entering into a private contract with their RTO (over and above the training contract with their trainees).

The amount the employer pays the RTO to provide training to an existing worker trainee may be offset by Commonwealth employers' incentive payments. The nominated AAC can provide information about the employer's eligibility for Commonwealth incentives and the value of any incentives that might apply. AACs can also provide advice about how to select an RTO.