Training Plan

The Training Plan Proposal details the vocation, qualification title and qualification level to be undertaken by the apprentice or trainee, the mode of training delivery and other preliminary training information. The signed Training Plan Proposal confirms acceptance by the RTO of its nomination by the parties to deliver the training. In signing the Training Plan Proposal, the RTO also confirms that it has the nominated qualification on its scope of registration, and gives an undertaking to develop the Training Plan within 12 weeks of approval of the Training Contract. Download the Training Plan Proposal proforma (PDF 230.5KB).

The Training Plan Proposal is developed by the employer, apprentice/trainee and nominated RTO, with the help of their Apprenticeship Network Provider, at the commencement of an apprenticeship or traineeship. This is the first step in the development of the training relationship between the employer, apprentice or trainee and the RTO. A copy should be provided to the employer and the apprentice/trainee, together with a copy of the Training Contract.

The Training Plan Proposal will not be necessary in instances where Training Services NSW requires a Training Plan to be developed at the outset and lodged with the Training Contract. These instances include applications for school based apprenticeships and traineeships, and applications for selected apprenticeship and traineeship vocations.

The Training Plan Proposal, together with the Training Contract, is electronically lodged with Training Services NSW by the employer’s Apprenticeship Network Provider. The Training Plan Proposal and Training Contract are assessed by Training Services NSW, and the parties are advised regarding approval or dismissal of the application. The RTO is notified of all approved apprenticeships and traineeships for which it is the nominated training provider through IVETS, the Training Services NSW database.

The Training Plan provides details of the formal training and assessment to be undertaken as part of an apprenticeship or traineeship. Information captured in the Training Plan includes:

• essential employer, learner and RTO details for the apprenticeship/traineeship;
• units of competency (training) to be undertaken, and how, when and by whom training and assessment will be delivered/undertaken;
• training materials, resources, facilities and supervision arrangements that will support the training; and
• an addendum, used to capture additional information required for school based apprenticeships and traineeships.

The Training Plan must:

• comply with the requirements of the Vocational Training Order
• specify Units of Competency that meet Training Package requirements for the issue of the appropriate qualification
• comply with Training Package requirements relating to training delivery and assessment
• be customised to the nature of the employer’s business
• be used to record the support of the work supervisor, on behalf of the employer, for the RTO competency assessments
• support and reflect the apprentice or trainee’s workplace activities; and
• be used for the duration of the training contract and updated as necessary to reflect the current status of training.

The Training Plan is signed by the RTO, employer, and the apprentice or trainee. A copy of the Training Plan, including any agreed changes, must be provided to the employer and apprentice/trainee by the RTO. Download the mandatory Training Plan proforma.

General

The Training Plan must be developed within 12 weeks from the date on which the apprenticeship or traineeship has been approved, unless determined by Training Services NSW or specified in the Commissioner’s Information Bulletin.

School Based Apprenticeships/Traineeships

In the case of school based apprenticeships and traineeships, and apprenticeships and traineeships in specific vocations as determined by Training Services NSW, the Training Plan must be developed and lodged with Training Services NSW together with the Training Contract as part of the application to establish the apprenticeship or traineeship.

The Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act requires a Training Plan to be developed for all apprenticeships and traineeships. The Training Plan must be developed as required under these Guidelines and in the format approved by the Commissioner for Vocational Training. Download the mandatory Training Plan proforma [Pdf (PDF 1.81MB)] [Word (DOCX 199.26KB)].

2.4.1  Who develops the Training Plan?

The Training Plan is developed by the RTO in consultation with the employer and apprentice/trainee. For school based apprenticeships/traineeships, the school representative should also be involved. See Section 2.4.3 for further information regarding School Based Apprenticeships.

2.4.2 How is the Training Plan Developed?

Generally, the Training Plan will be developed after an apprenticeship or traineeship has been established and approved.

When developing the Training Plan, the RTO must be satisfied that the employer has the necessary range of work, equipment, and facilities to support delivery of the nominated training. This may involve the RTO visiting the workplace to meet with both the employer and apprentice/trainee, develop the Training Plan, and view available facilities. Or, if the employer (and their facilities) are known to the RTO, the Training Plan may be developed with the parties virtually or over the phone.

Practicalities such as distance (e.g. employer’s workplace is significant distance from RTO location) and access (eg. COVID) may also impact how a Training Plan is developed. Reasonable alternatives to visiting the workplace should be applied.

The RTO will discuss with the employer and apprentice/trainee, and record in the Training Plan, the units of competency to be undertaken, the sequence in which they will be delivered, and how, when, where and by whom training and assessment will be delivered.

In a case where the employer may not be in a position to provide the on the job training for a particular unit of competency, the RTO, in consultation with the employer must outline alternative arrangements agreed to, to support the on the job component of the required training against that unit. They will also discuss and record training resources that will be provided to support both the apprentice/trainee and the employer.

For school based apprenticeships/traineeships, the Training Plan is developed prior to, or as soon as possible after commencement of the training. It is lodged with the Training Contract.

2.4.3  School Based Apprenticeships RTO 1 & RTO 2 - Role and Responsibilities

In some cases there may be two RTOs involved in the delivery of training for a School Based Apprenticeship (SBA). The following are details of which RTO is responsible for the development and maintenance of the training plan and delivery of training for each stage (school and post school) of these SBA training arrangements.

Developing and updating the Training Plan

RTO 1 must:

• Develop the full Training Plan in consultation with RTO 2
• Ensure that the workplace has the necessary facilities, range of work and supervision to support delivery of the apprenticeship
• Meet RTO obligations under the A&T Act, including updating the Training Plan and providing a current copy to parties at least every six months
• Provide an updated and completed Training Plan to RTO 2 on completion of formal training for the school based component.
• Liaise with RTO 2 to ensure the seamless transition into post school apprenticeship formal training

RTO 2 must:

• Liaise with RTO 1 on the development of the full Training Plan
• Secure an enrolment for post school formal training following completion of Stage1/school based component
• Meet RTO obligations under the A&T Act following completion of the school based component, including updating the Training Plan and providing a current copy to parties at least every six months

Training

RTO 1 is responsible for:

• Delivering formal training for the school based component of school based apprenticeship:
• at the correct AQF level and in accordance with unit of competency (UoC) assessment requirements and relevant vocational training order for the nominated apprenticeship
• in accordance with the approved NESA syllabus/course for the relevant school based apprenticeship pathway.

NOTE: Whilst the UoC has to be delivered at the correct AQF level, there is no requirement for RTO 1 to hold the qualification on scope if the UoC from a lower level qualification in the same vocation is the same as the higher qualification.

• Completing delivery of school based component of formal training by the end of Term 3 of the HSC year
• Providing timely evidence to RTO 2 to facilitate credit transfer. This evidence should ideally be provided shortly after Term 3 Year 12 and include the UoC agreed during development of the Training Plan.

RTO 2 is responsible for:

• Commencing delivery of post school formal training at the beginning of Term 1 of the year following the HSC
• Awarding the qualification.

2.4.4  Hosting Arrangements

Where an employer such as a Group Training Organisation (GTO) will be placing apprentices or trainees with a host employer, the RTO must develop the Training Plan in consultation with the GTO and, where appropriate, with the first host employer. They should also discuss any proposed arrangements for hosting the apprentice or trainee with other host employers who may provide a different range of training opportunities. When confirming achievement of competence the RTO must obtain the confirmation and support of the GTO being the legal employer of the apprentice or trainee.

Copies of the Training Plan, including any updates/variations are provided by the RTO. They must be kept by the RTO the employer and apprentice/trainee. In the case of school based apprenticeships/traineeships, a copy must also be kept by the school representative.

The employer’s copy of the Training Plan should be kept in the workplace. When Training Services NSW training officers conduct workplace monitoring visits they will ask to see a copy of the current Training Plan.

The Training Plan must be prepared and lodged with Training Services NSW, together with a Training Contract, in support of applications for school based apprenticeships and traineeships, and with applications for apprenticeships and traineeships in specific vocations or in circumstances as determined from time to time by Training Services NSW.

Training Services NSW may ask an RTO to provide a copy of a Training Plan for any apprentice or trainee at any time from 12 weeks after approval of the training contract.

The Training Plan (and Training Contract) may be varied at any time with the agreement of all parties. However, there are some changes that are subject to approval by Training Services NSW and for which an application must be submitted. These include:

• change of vocation or qualification
• change of registered training organisation
• change of mode of delivery
• competency based completion
• extension of term

Endorsement of Individual Units of Competency

The employer representative (or workplace supervisor) is required to confirm the apprentice’s or trainee’s competence by signing against the relevant unit on the Training Plan. This must occur before an RTO can deem that a learner is competent in that unit of competency.

Exception:

Some workplaces require apprentices and trainees to hold a white card before they can access the workplace. To obtain a white card, apprentices and trainees must complete one of the units of competency (UoC) listed below:

• CPCCWHS2001 – Apply WHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry,
• CPCCOHS2001A – Apply OHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry,
• CPCPCM2043 – Carry Out WHS Requirements, and
• UEENEEE101A – Apply Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, Codes and Practices in the Workplace.

Whilst these units of competency may be completed outside of an apprenticeship or traineeship, often they form part of the apprenticeship and traineeship, and are included in the Training Plan. To reduce delays in the apprentice or trainee being able to access the workplace, RTOs are NOT required to obtain employer confirmation before deeming the learner competent in these specific units of competency.

Note: Employer endorsement of competency for the listed UoC’s must be obtained at the next most feasible opportunity. This may be at the same time as the next batch of UoCs on the training plan are signed off by the employer.

Endorsement of Vocational Competency

In recognition of the RTO and employer collaborative approach to the training and achievement of competency, the apprentice or trainee is not to be deemed competent in the vocation by the RTO, and issued a certificate, until the employer has confirmed competency in the whole vocation, please refer to Part 6 of the Policy and Procedure Training Plan - Completing the Plan.

For further information regarding individual fields within the Training Plan or how to complete/maintain the Training Plan, see Policy & Procedure Completing the Training Plan.