VRQA bans 5 businesses from employing apprentices and trainees

We revoked the approval of 5 employers to employ apprentices and trainees in Victoria during March and April 2024.

We acted immediately to ban a building company after WorkSafe Victoria reported that an apprentice had fallen from a height.

Other banned employers include:

• a leisure centre operator that failed to provide an appropriate scope of work or release trainees for training
• an electrical services contractor and a building company that did not provide appropriate wages or entitlements
• a plumbing company that failed to release apprentices for training.

VRQA have a clear responsibility to minimise or eliminate harm, or the risk of harm, to apprentices and trainees. We will not hesitate to act against employers who fail to comply with regulations.

A reminder that employers must:

• provide proper supervision by a suitably qualified or experienced person
• assign apprentices and trainees skilled work and training that relates to the qualification
• maintain a training plan that records progress
• release the apprentice or trainee to attend training at their registered training organisation.

You can learn more about our responsibilities and powers in the Apprenticeships and traineeships compliance and enforcement framework.

If you are an apprentice or trainee and concerned about your safety or training opportunities, we can offer advice and, if necessary, send Authorised Officers to your workplace.

Contact us

Call 1300 722 603 (10:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday)

Email vrqa.apprenticeships@education.vic.gov.au

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