Probationary Periods for Apprenticeships and Traineeships - A Vocational Training Guideline

Issued: 31 January 2002

Note: Guidelines have been carried forward under the transitional provisions of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act, 2001.

Pursuant to Section 4 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001, the following guideline is issued in relation to recognised trades and traineeship vocations in NSW.

The guideline shall apply where Vocational Training orders do not specify a probationary period.

For purposes of Section 11 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001, the probationary period for an apprenticeship or traineeship shall be:

1. The probationary period specified in the relevant industrial award; or
2. Where the award has no specified probationary period, a probationary period related to the nominal term of training specified in the relevant Vocational Training Order is as follows:
• For a nominal term of 1 year or less, the probationary period shall be 1 month
• For a nominal term of 2 years or less, the probationary period shall be 2 months
• For a nominal term of more than 2 years, the probationary period shall be 3 months

Ken Boston
Managing Director of TAFE NSW
Director-General of Education and Training