Advice and Instructions

Establishment of a Traineeship Which Includes an Area of Trade Related Work

Issued: 21 December 2001

Section 25 of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 prohibits the employment of a person under the age of 21 in a recognised trade vocation unless that person is an apprentice or a qualified tradesperson in that trade.

The section does not apply to a person in a recognised traineeship vocation that is or forms part of a recognised trade.

Where an employer and a trainee apply to establish a traineeship in a recognised traineeship vocation which includes an area of trade related work, the training contract should be approved (subject to meeting the usual approval requirements), even though there is an apprenticeship in a recognised trade vocation in the same area.

Note: Where the employer and trainees propose to establish a traineeship in preference to an apprenticeship, it is a DET requirement that a signed training contract be lodged before the probationary period for that traineeship has expired.