Connecting people and building futures.
Group Training Organisations
vs
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
GoldenWest Values
Integrity | Respect for each other and those we deal with | Loyalty | Honesty
ROMA | DALBY | TOOWOOMBA | CHARLEVILLE | EMERALD | LONGREACH
1300 650 775
| www.goldenwest.org.au
GTOSTD 1:09/August 2014: GTO vs ACC
Information for Employers
What is the difference between a
Group Training Organisation
and an Australian Apprenticeship Centre?
THERE ARE VAST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF
GROUP TRAINING ORGANISATIONS AND AUSTRALIAN APPRENTICESHIP CENTRES.
Australian Apprenticeship Centres are fully funded by the
Australian government.
Most Group Training Organisations receive some funding
from the State and Federal governments under a Joint
Funding Agreement. This funding only covers a small part of
the organisations operational expenses and Group Training
Organisations do not depend entirely on government funding
to survive.
This funding is appreciated, however, we would encourage
both levels of government to consider providing additional
assistance to these vital organisations which provide a
service on a non-profit basis to the community and contribute
a brighter future for our apprentices, trainees and the
communities in which we work.
What is a Group Training Organisation?
GoldenWest Apprenticeships is a Group Training
Organisation (GTO) and as such we act as the Group
Employer of Apprentices and Trainees. Our contracted
employees – apprentices and trainees – are placed with Host
Employer businesses who can provide on-the-job expertise
and training for all or part of the apprentice and trainee’s
training requirements. The Vocational Education Training
(VET) framework provides the balance of the apprentice
and trainee’s formal training through Registered Training
Organisations (RTOs) such as TAFE.
GTOs operate under the Federal government’s formal
framework of the National Standards for Group Training
Organisations administered through the State and
TerritoriesTraining Authorities (STAs). The Queensland
authority is the Department of Education, Training and
Employment (DETE).
GTOs are required to comply with the National Standards for
Group Training Organisations which ensures that all dealings
with the Host Employers and Apprentices are professional,
ethical, entirely transparent and outcome focused.
GoldenWest Apprenticeships
GTO’s are required to operate under strict and effective
Corporate Governance policies to ensure GTOs Board of
Directors and Management adhere to an auditable Code of
Conduct.
What is an Australian Apprenticeship Centre?
An Australian Apprenticeship Centre (ACC) is contracted
and fully funded by the Australian Government to administer
training contracts, incentive payments and personal benefits to
Apprentices and Trainees.
They are required to market, promote and provide information
on Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships in their
local areas, work to provide integrated services with
State and Territory Training Authorities and to establish
effective relationships with Commonwealth contracted job
network providers, GTOs, RTOs, schools and community
organisations.
An ACC will:
• Lodge training contracts for apprentices and trainees with
DETE for Registration.
• Some ACC’s may notify your preferred Registered Training
Organisation (RTO) that a new apprentice has commenced
employment with your business and requires a training plan
to be prepared, nothing further.
• Conduct a series of visits to the work site of new
apprentices to confirm the employee is still working for the
employer to justify payment of Commonwealth Incentives.
That is all an ACC is required to do.
Under the current system, some ACCs also operate as GTOs.
In Queensland these include:
MEGT (Australia) Limited
Busy-at-Work Apprenticeship Services
MREAL Limited
Sarina Russo Apprenticeships
GTO vs ACC Information
GWA-STD-01.09
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Benefits of hiring an Apprentice or Trainee
through a Group Training Organisation
GTOs are completely outcome focused and provide a service to their Apprentices
and Trainees and their Host Employers that is unequalled.
Training & Employment Coordinator
identifies apprentice/trainee vacancy
Vacancy is advertising through standard
employment media outlets.
Applicants are sourced using GWA’s own
resources and networks.
Applicants have screening interview, Literacy
& Numeracy testing and reference checks.
Did the applicant pass the screening process?
NO
All GTO costs are FULLY Tax Deductible! All fees paid to
GoldenWest Apprenticeships are fully tax deductible.
GoldenWest Apprenticeships
Applicant progresses to aptitude testing
Did applicant pass aptitude testing?
NO
Unsuccessful applicants
advised in writing.
YES
Applicant progresses to Formal Interview
in conjunction with Host Employer
Position offered to Applicant.
Formal offer made. Proceed to Commencement.
GTO vs ACC Information
GWA-STD-01.09
Unsuccessful applicants
advised in writing.
YES
What if your business circumstances change?
Should your business circumstances change and you find
yourself in a situation where you no longer have the volume
or type of work the apprentice or trainee needs to meet their
training requirements, a Host Employer can arrange with
GoldenWest to hand the employee back and GoldenWest
will do everything possible to relocate them to another Host
Employer to enable them to complete their training and gain a
qualification.
GWA Online Management System
Government Employment Website Jobsearch
Seek Online (if appropriate)
Other Online JobBoards as appropriate
• A full-cycle recruitment service for Host Employers FREE
of charge. This includes advertising the vacancy, screening
and testing of applicants, shortlisting, arranging interviews
through to the Contractual arrangements, commencement
and induction.
• A thorough administration support service including
completion and lodgment of the Training Contract as well
as notification of training commencement to the RTO.
• A dedicated Training & Employment Coordinator who
will mentor the apprentice or trainee and provide support
throughout the full training program.
• Payroll services including all Australian Tax Office payment
and record keeping requirements.
• Superannuation services to all apprentices and trainees.
• Workcover requirements – all claims are dealt with
promptly and have no impact on your individual companies
Workcover situation. Trained Workplace Rehabilitation
Officers are available to lend assistance where required.
• Regular monitoring of work performance of apprentices
and trainees through 6-weekly work site visits by assigned
Training & Employment Coordinators.
• On-going liaison with the SRTO to ensure all training is
delivered within guidelines and employees maximise their
opportunity to gain a vocational qualification.
The GoldenWest Recruitment Process
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GoldenWest provides:
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Taking on an Apprentice or Trainee Checklist
Pre Placement
GoldenWest
Provide assistance to find the right candidate for the position

Advertising the vacancy in local newspapers and online for no charge

Provide advice on what Commonwealth Incentives are claimable for the individual apprentices or trainee and when these are
paid/rebated
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Short listing of applicants to match your selection criteria
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Literacy and Numeracy Assessments of applicants
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Mechanical aptitude assessment for applicants in related trade qualifications
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Arranging interview with shortlisted applicants
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Sending out letters to unsuccessful applicants
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Provide advice on the most appropriate qualification for the intended candidate
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Provide advice to host employer on all costs associated including wages.
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On Commencement
ACC
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GoldenWest
ACC
Complete Training Contract and obtain signatures from all parties
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Provide a thorough employee induction
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Provide an industry specific Workplace Health and Safety Induction and assessment
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Liaison with SRTO for the preparation of the Training Plan
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Lodgment of Training Contract and SRTO Declaration
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GoldenWest
ACC
Post Placement
SRTO follow-up to ensure Training Plan has been prepared and TRB has been issued
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Regular 6 weekly work site visits to monitor employee performance and progress
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Provide on-going support in a ‘pastoral care’ capacity to the apprentice/trainee duration of the apprenticeship and/or traineeship
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Provide advice and assist eligible with Commonwealth and/or State government claims
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Liaise with SRTO to ensure apprentice or trainee has learning materials
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Liaise with SRTO to ensure apprentice or trainee is ‘on track’ in accordance with the Training Plan, working on their books and
handing in assignments when due
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Make all arrangements for apprentices to attend college block training and send written advice of attendance dates etc to
apprentices and host employer
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Assist host employer and apprentice/trainee in sorting out any issues (internally or externally) that may have an adverse impact
on a successful outcome for either party
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Arrange for apprentices to receive tool allowance and in consultation with host employer, access tools appropriate to the needs
of the apprentice
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Pay/Rebate if eligible Commonwealth Incentives in accordance with Commonwealth guidelines or GTO Incentives rebate policy
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Liaise with SRTO when apprentice or trainee is due to complete and lodge necessary documentation with relevant authorities
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Prompt processing of all Workcover claims if necessary
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Provision of a trained Workplace Rehabilitation Officer to ensure injured workers return to the workplace as soon as possible.
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Additional Services
GoldenWest
Relocate apprentice or trainee to another workplace if Host Employer hands back
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Provide access to subsidised supplementary training for Stage 3 and 4 apprentices to further enhance training opportunities
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If the apprentice or trainee requires additional time to complete their qualification, all necessary documentation is completed and
lodged with DETE.
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Workplace free from unfair dismissal legislation
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ACC
Building a brighter future through training.
Telephone for more information or visit our website
1300 650 775
| www.goldenwest.org.au
GoldenWest Apprenticeships
GTO vs ACC Information
GWA-STD-01.09
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