263 training contracts cancelled in 6 months

The VRQA cancelled 263 training contracts from July to December 2022. This was a result of regular VRQA Authorised Officer compliance investigations and a specific campaign investigating apprenticeships that commenced under the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) and Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy schemes. Common reasons for cancellation included:

  • the jobs and duties of apprentices and trainees did not match the qualifications they were studying 
  • poor supervision of apprentices or trainees. 

In one case, students undertaking the Certificate III in Competitive Systems and Practices, a traineeship designed to assist an organisation to apply lean manufacturing principles in the workplace, were instructed to work as concierge drivers. In another case, a building apprentice was being supervised by a co-worker without the experience or qualifications to do the job. 

Resources exist to help you avoid having your registration to employee an apprentice or trainee and training contracts cancelled.

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