Our Process

Straight forward sign-ups

We have been supporting businesses recruit and retain apprentices and trainees for a long time. Our team of experts know how to navigate the process here in WA, and across the nation, to make sure your apprentice or trainee is equipped and ready for work.

Before you sign-up, we’ll make sure:
• Your apprentice or trainee is enrolled in a suitable qualification
• You are working with a fitting training provider to attain locally skilled workers

Step 1: Research, decide prepare

It is essential to do some research and make some fundamental decisions before you start. We recommend using this checklist to prepare:
• Do you understand the award and the minimum terms and conditions for employing an apprentice or trainee?
• Decide on the employment status – full-time or part-time?
• Work out the correct rates of pay and entitlements.
• Decide on the hours and roster.
• Get familiar with the correct payslip and record-keeping obligations.
• Review your workplace health and safety and workers’ compensation.
• Choose a training provider.

Our FAQ is a good place to start

Step 2: Initial assessment

The team at ASA will ask a set of simple questions of you and your apprentice/trainee candidate, over the phone.

We’ll make sure that all parties can deliver on their responsibilities and understand that they will be entering into a legal contract.

Step 3: Cooling off

There is a 24-hour cooling-off period after the initial assessment, which provides a buffer for all parties to fully consider the requirements of the national training contract.

Once you and your apprentice or trainee are happy to continue, ASA will book in a sign-up appointment.

Step 4: Sign-up to the National Training Contract

Our consultant will come out to meet with you and will:
• Help to complete the National Training Contract
• Sight the required evidence
• Confirm required information, including your nominated training provider, supervisory arrangements and ensuring the chosen qualification aligns with the intended occupational outcome.

Step 5: Lodgement of the contract with the Apprenticeship Office

We’ll take care of this for you. The Apprenticeship Office, operated by the Department of Training and Workforce Development, will assess the training contract, consider the qualification’s appropriateness to the occupational outcome, and ensure appropriate supervisory arrangements are in place. Once the contract is assessed and deemed appropriate, it is approved.

If there are any issues, the Apprenticeship Office will contact you for more information.

Meanwhile, ASA will undertake a formal eligibility assessment for your federal incentive entitlements. We will send out a letter via email that outlines the federal incentives that you are eligible for, the amounts and when they are due to be claimed and expire.

Step 6: Approval and commencement

The Apprenticeship Office notifies ASA and the training provider when the contract is approved, and will then be in contact to set up a Training Plan for the apprentice or trainee.

In WA, the training provider has a maximum period of six weeks to set up the Training Plan and notify the Apprenticeship Office that it is agreed with you.

We will set up a Claims and Contact Schedule to let you know exactly when to submit your claims. We will contact you via email when your claims are due and when they must be submitted by to avoid any amounts expiring.

Throughout the term of the Training Contract, ASA will be in contact with you and your apprentices and trainees to check in that all is progressing well. We will also make mentoring recommendations and referrals, if needed, along the way.

Lastly, we will give you access to our employer portal, Apprenticeships Direct. This will give you access to information on where all your contracts and claims are up to and provide you with data insights on your training investments.

Additional information about pre-sign-up can be found here.

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