Use probation period
A probationary period in the training contract allows you and your apprentice or trainee to work together before deciding if you both wish to continue the apprenticeship or traineeship. The probationary period is the time when you should decide if you have made the right choice of apprentice or trainee. During this time, you should assess your apprentice's or trainee's work ethic, reliability and potential to succeed in the chosen apprenticeship or traineeship.
Probation begins at the commencement of the apprenticeship or traineeship. The standard probationary period is 90 days for an apprentice and 30 days for a trainee.
During probation, you must sign the training contract and negotiate the training plan with your apprentice or trainee and your chosen supervising registered training organisation. The training plan outlines the type of training the apprentice or trainee needs to undertake, who will deliver that training, when and where training will take place, and when and how that training will be assessed. This will assist you to manage your apprentice's or trainee's training program and work rotation.
If you need more time to decide whether you want to continue with the apprenticeship or traineeship, you can extend the probation period by contacting the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts on 1300 369 935 before the end of the probationary period.
Once probation is completed, you and your apprentice or trainee are contracted to each other for the length of the training contract. If either of you wishes to cancel the apprenticeship or traineeship after the end of the probationary period, you will need to contact the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts.
For more information, read the Department of Education, Training and the Arts fact sheet on probationary periods.
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