Activity test for Youth Allowance (YA) trainees 010-06080000

A YA trainee is defined as a person who is taking part in a course of study that is not an approved course for ABSTUDY, Austudy, Pensioner Education Scheme (PES) or YA (student).

YA part-time trainees are considered job seekers. They may have their study approved as an approved activity under the activity test.

A customer who is a full-time Australian Apprentice (apprentice or trainee) may be entitled to YA, ABSTUDY or Austudy. These customers are not required to meet the activity test. However, their Commonwealth registration number must remain current.

A trainee or apprentice is not eligible for JobSeeker Payment (JSP), YA or Austudy when all of the following apply. They:

• do not meet the definition of a fulltime Australian Apprentice
• are employed on a full-time basis under an industrial instrument and
• have a training agreement (such as traineeship) with a training authority of a State or Territory

This is because they cannot satisfy the activity test.

Part-time YA trainees may satisfy the activity test by combining job search with other activities. These may include but are not limited to short courses, English learning programs or a combination of approved activities.

Some trainees will only be required to look for part-time or temporary work while undertaking training.

If a trainee is participating in full-time approved activities, they are deemed to satisfy the activity test for the duration of the activity.

Education and training courses are those courses that are offered by any training provider, whether public or private, which are beneficial to a customer's prospects of seeking, obtaining and retaining employment.

Services Australia delegates at APS Level 3 and above level can approve these courses as 'approved activities' for individual job seekers.

When making an unfavourable decision, speak to the customer:

• explain the decision
• give them a chance to provide more information, and
• advise their review and appeal rights