The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW has spoken with Training NSW and the NSW Industry Training Advisory Bodies (ITAB) with respect to the impracticable logistics surrounding the changes to the traineeship workplace requirements. Training NSW and the NSW ITAB have now provided clarification around their traineeship changes.
As of June 2018 the NSW Department of Industry released new information regarding Children's Services Traineeships. The changes are only applicable to school-based trainee’s (eg. Under 18’s but over 16 years). The Community Services and Health ITAB advise that to work in Early Childhood Education and Care, persons must be 16 years or over and meet all the legislative requirements which include the Working with Children Check.
The changes are as follows:
In the workplace, the school-based trainee;
- is not employed as primary contact staff member
- may be included in any staff to child ratio calculation, refer to "Children (Education and Care Services) Supplementary Provisions Regulation 2012 Part 52(3)".
- is not left alone with children at any time
- is not left to close up the facility or be responsible for opening the service
- is not to undertake duties outside those directly related to working with children. For example, the trainee is not to undertake other kitchen hand, clerical or general cleaning duties
- is to be supervised by an appropriate Children's Services worker at all times. The trainee must work to an appropriately qualified mentor/supervisor on site at all times they are in the workplace.
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care (or earlier equivalent qualification) is the minimum mentor or supervisor qualification
- is not to be left alone and/or unsupervised whilst caring for children
Other requirements to consider:
The potential school-based trainee must be;
- interviewed by school, registered training organisation and Training Services NSW personnel prior to undertaking the pathway.
- understand clearly the work involved, the time commitment required, the lack of Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) outcome and the suitability of the student to the Early Childhood Education and Care sector
- family or guardian consent is gained after full and clear sharing of the same information
- employment must be in a licensed environment
- the employer is made aware of their responsibilities and the special requirements of employing a school based trainee.
- the potential school-based trainee is interviewed by the potential employer to ensure all employment processes, expectations and relationships are clearly understood and met and that the trainee will work effectively with the team.
- The employer is required to have a risk management policy and procedures guideline in place for staff which includes for staff under 18 years of age.
- The school-based traineeship is to be monitored by Training Services NSW.
- Young people under the age of 18 years working in child related employment are exempt from the requirement for a Working With Children Check (WWCC). However, once they turn 18, people working with children (including trainees and students undertaking a work placement) must have a WWCC clearance number. Individuals seeking child-related employment can apply for a WWCC online for any employee/trainee/student aged 17 years 9 months or older. For further information go to http://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/Working-with-children/working-with-children-check.
You can find more information regarding traineeships at
- https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/
- https://www.training.nsw.gov.au/forms_documents/apprenticeships_traineeships/apprenticeship_traineeship_act_proclaimed_2018.pdf
Information sourced from
Commissioner's Information Bulletin 673
Community Services – Traineeships