Find important information about wages, allowances, changes to your training contract and satisfactory completion of your contract.

Wages

Apprentice and trainee wages are mostly set by an industry award.  Different industries have different awards – over 100 of them. 

Search a current list of modern award rates on the Fairwork Australia website.  Find your industry and see what you should be getting paid. 

If you’re employed in the SA Public Sector, search industry awards on the SA Industrial Relations website.

If you’re not sure which award you come under, ask your employer or look at your training contract.

Travel and accommodation allowances

If you have to travel more than 150km to get to and from your closest approved training provider, the State Government may contribute towards a portion of your travel and accommodation costs.  You will be eligible if you:

  • have a current training contract registered in South Australia
  • are eligible for government funded training (with a government contracted training provider)
  • travel a round trip distance in excess of 150km between your normal place of residence and your closest contracted training provider in South Australia
  • live within a non-metropolitan area of South Australia.

View the guidelines on travel and accommodation allowances (PDF).

Claim for reimbursement using the Application for travel and accommodation allowances form (WORD doc). Send it to dfeest.tas@sa.gov.au or to PO Box 320, Adelaide SA 5000.

Living away from home allowances

If you have to live away from home to do your apprenticeship you may be eligible for an allowance.  Your Australian Apprenticeships Centre can provide information about eligibility.

To find your nearest Australian Apprenticeships Centre, type your postcode into the Australian Apprenticeships Centre Search or call 13 38 73.

Tools for trade allowances

Some apprenticeships are entitled to tools for trade allowances paid by the Commonwealth Government.  Your Australian Apprenticeships Centre can advise on allowances for your trade. 

To find your nearest Australian Apprenticeships Centre, type your postcode into the Australian Apprenticeships Centre Search or call 13 38 73.

Changing your training contract

If you wish to make any changes at all you must:
  • make sure your employer agrees to the change
  • and apply to make the change to Traineeship and Apprenticeship Services (TAS) by using an appropriate form.

If you and your employer agree and you’re ready to apply for changes, see changing your apprenticeship or traineeship.

If you can’t agree on a change or you feel pressured to make a change, there are processes in place to help both you and your employer, see resolving issues.

Probationary periods

A probationary period is built into every training contract as a way of allowing apprentices, trainees and their employers to withdraw from the contract if it’s not working for them.  Probationary periods are generally as follows:

Term of Training Contract  Probationary period
 12 months  1 month
 13-24 months  2 months
 More than 24 months  3 months

Note, probationary periods cannot be extended.

How do you withdraw during the probationary period?

You must notify your employer in writing of your intention to withdraw.

Your employer must then notify TAS of the termination in writing within seven days. 

For a withdrawal form, see changing your apprenticeship and traineeship. 

Satisfactory completion of your training contract

Training contracts are very important documents, especially for apprentices and doubly so for apprentices in licensed trades like plumbing or carpentry.

An apprentice cannot get a trade certificate (and then a licence) unless they have done everything that is laid down in the contract.

How can a training contract be completed or finalised?

  • when all the parties agree that competency in the workplace has been achieved
  • the training organisation has certified that the qualifications specified in the training contract has been successfully completed

You can aid your likelihood of successfully completing by:

  • doing all the on-job and off-job training stated in the contract
  • staying with the employer who is listed in the contract
  • working with the training provider who is listed in the contract.
Trainees and apprentices should understand they cannot just walk away from their training contract.  If they do, they could be breaking a legal agreement. 

For more information contact Traineeship and Apprenticeship Services .