Apprentice Connect Australia Providers 010-01030080

Apprentice Connect Australia Providers are contracted by the Australian Government to provide support services for Australian Apprenticeships and provide information to employers and anyone seeking to undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship. This includes young people who are still at school or participating in full-time study, or job seekers. Apprentice Connect Australia Providers are not recruitment or placement services but may work with Workforce Australia where appropriate.

There is no eligibility criteria for accessing the services of Apprentice Connect Australia Providers. Providers are obliged to assist anyone seeking information on apprenticeships or traineeships under the Australian Apprenticeships scheme.

There is no age requirement for participation in an Australian Apprenticeship. An Australian Apprentice has to meet a number of defining characteristics.

These characteristics include:

• being a signatory to a registered, validated, Training Agreement
• being involved in paid work and structured training
• undertaking a training program that leads to a nationally recognised qualification

People undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship may be able to receive Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY as an apprentice.

Apprentice Connect Australia Provider services include:

• providing information about Australian Apprenticeships options to employers, Australian Apprentices and any other interested people
• promoting and marketing Australian Apprenticeships
• administration of Australian Apprenticeships support services (including determining eligibility for Commonwealth incentives and allowances, lodging Training Agreements with State/Territory Training Authorities and processing payments on behalf of the Commonwealth for example, Wage top-up scheme)
• working with State and Territory Training Authorities to provide a one stop integrated support service for employers and Australian Apprentices
• establishing relationships with Workforce Australia, Registered Training Organisations, schools etc.

Services Australia provides a referral service to Australian Apprenticeships for customers or employers needing more information about Australian Apprenticeships. Australian Apprenticeships are not contracted to provide a recruitment or placement service but work with Workforce Australia where appropriate.

Job seekers can also use the equipment in the job search facilities area to search for an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider and/or job vacancies.

An Australian Apprentice may be entitled to ABSTUDY, Austudy or Youth Allowance as an apprentice.