Probationary periods
Each apprenticeship and traineeship has a set probationary period under the training contract.
This gives you time to:
- work together with your apprentice or trainee
- assess their work ethic, reliability and potential to succeed in the apprenticeship or traineeship
- decide whether to commit to the rest of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Duration
Probationary periods are usually:
- 90 days for apprenticeships
- 30–90 days for traineeships
They are included as part of the 'total nominal term' of the training contract.
They apply from the start date of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
They apply to full-time, part-time and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
Different types of probation
The probationary period of the training contract may differ from the employment probationary period which is contained in a modern award or industrial agreement.
Completing the probationary period
Once the probationary period has ended you and your apprentice or trainee are contracted to each other until the end of the training contract.
Make changes to the probationary period
- Last reviewed: 16 Aug 2022
- Last updated: 7 Nov 2022