Jargon buster

Once you start looking into apprenticeships and traineeships, you’ll probably come across a heap of words you haven’t heard before – technical terms, job titles, organisations and programs. You’ll definitely hear about a lot of places with letters for names.

We’ve put this list together to help you decode these terms and figure out what they mean for your journey as an apprentice or trainee. Read through this resource when you get stuck or use the search bar to look for content on each term.

AEN (Apprenticeship Employment Network): The AEN represents not-for-profit group training organisations (GTOs) across Victoria. Through its members, AEN employs more than 6000 apprentices and trainees across many different industry sectors.
Apprentice Connect Australia Provider: All apprenticeships and traineeships must be registered with an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider within 14 days of employment. These service providers manage contract signing, run incentive programs and can offer support to current and potential apprentices and trainees.
AIF (Apprenticeship Innovation Fund): The AIF $8 million fund backing new approaches to the apprenticeship and traineeship model, undertaken in partnership with industry and unions. The fund includes a specific stream to support innovative projects encouraging more women into apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship: A learning pathway combining formal study with paid employment. Apprenticeships mostly provide training in a skilled trade, such as building and construction, hairdressing, cooking, electrical and automotive. They can take anywhere from 3.5 to 4 years.
Apprentice Helpdesk: The Apprentice Helpdesk is a free support service available to apprentices, trainees, and employers. It provides accurate, up-to-date advice to assist with enquiries related to apprenticeships and traineeships. You can contact the Helpdesk via phone, email or web form. For more information see: Apprentice Helpdesk
Apprenticeships Victoria (AV): AV is a division within the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR). They represent a partnership between the Victorian Government, major project employers and the TAFE and training system to oversee and coordinate the employment and training of apprentices and trainees.

Approved training schemes: are determined by the VRQA and specify which qualifications are available as apprenticeships and traineeships in Victoria. Each scheme includes terms and conditions such as the nominal duration of an apprenticeship or traineeship, probationary periods and minimum hours for employment and training. See the list of approved training schemes.
ASO (Apprenticeships Support Officer): ASOs help registered apprentices – and their employers – get the most out of the apprenticeship system, with free and confidential support and advice. They’re part of a Victorian Government initiative to keep more apprentices in jobs and help more people complete their training.
Certificate: Many apprentices and trainees work towards a certificate-level qualification. Certificates are great for starting a new career or upskilling with more specialised skills.
Competencies: Apprentices and trainees must demonstrate certain competencies throughout their training. This means showing you can do specific tasks with the required amount of skill in formal assessments with your TAFE or other RTO and on the job.
Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (ETRA): The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 is the legislation that underpins a broad range of education and training activities in Victoria – including the regulation of apprenticeships and traineeships.
Fair Work Ombudsman: Oversees, Australian workplace laws set by the Fair Work Commission. Apprentices, trainees and employers can find information on pay rates, conditions and entitlements at the Fair Work Ombudsman.
Free TAFE initiative: The Victorian Government fully covers tuition fees for students eligible for the Free TAFE program. Free TAFE does not apply to apprenticeships but does apply to some traineeships and to a range of pre-apprenticeship courses.
GTO (group training organisation): A GTO employs apprentices and trainees, then places them with host employers. The GTO organises training contracts and arranges all training needed for the apprenticeships or traineeships. GTO are recognised by the VRQA as meeting the standards for a labour hire provider that specialises in looking after apprentices and trainees. Visit the VRQA to find recognised GTOs.
Head Start: Head Start is a flexible approach to apprenticeships and traineeships for school students. Designed in consultation with industry, it allows students to spend more time doing valuable, paid, on-the-job training and off the job training while completing their VCE, VCE Vocational Major (VM) or Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) at school.
NES (National Employment Standards): Minimum employment standards for all employees. Employers need to give all employees (including apprentices or trainees) a copy of the NES and make sure their business complies with these standards.
Off-the-job training: The formal study and assessment requirement of an apprenticeship or traineeship. This takes place at a TAFE or other registered training organisation (RTO).
On-the-job training: Supervised skills development for apprentices and trainees in the workplace. This structured learning must include hands-on experience in a wide range of relevant tasks. The employer also has a role in approving the formal assessment outcomes as being demonstrated in the workplace.
Pre-apprenticeship: Pre-apprenticeships are entry-level training that can set participants up as great candidates for future apprenticeships. They are usually Certificate II qualifications and can include literacy and numeracy skills and basic industry learning relevant to the apprenticeship.
RTO (registered training organisation): A RTO is a provider and assessor of nationally recognised vocational education and training qualifications. To deliver this training the organisation must be approved by the national regulator – the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) or if operating in Victoria may be registered with the VRQA. There are a range of RTOs including technical and further education (TAFE) which are public institutions, private providers, professional or industry associations, some schools and universities as well as not-for-profit community-based education providers.
SBAT (school-based apprenticeships and traineeships): SBATs are open to senior secondary students. They combine school attendance with a minimum of 13 hours a week undertaking the apprenticeships or traineeship.
SJC (Skills and Jobs Centre): Based in TAFEs across Victoria, SJCs help people with career advice, job searching and choosing courses – including apprenticeships and traineeships. You don’t have to be a student to visit an SJC – anyone can go along to get free help and advice.
TAFE (technical and further education): A public training institute offering practical vocational education.
Trade paper: Trade paper certificates are awarded by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) to people who’ve successfully completed their formal training through an apprenticeship.
Traineeship: A learning pathway that combines formal study with paid employment. Traineeships mostly provide training in a vocational area, such as business administration, childcare, IT systems or retail. Depending on the level of the qualification and the nature of the traineeship they can take anywhere from 9 months to 4 years.
Training contract: A legally binding agreement signed by the employer and the apprentice or trainee (and a parent or guardian if applicable), in accordance with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (ETRA) and other regulatory requirements. It must be completed with the assistance of an Apprenticeships Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) who should provide advice and information about the employment and training arrangement. They will also lodge the contract with the VRQA for their approval and registration.
Training plan: The plan for training and assessment to be delivered by the RTO. It describes what training is to be undertaken and outlines how, when and where that training will be delivered. It also includes how assessments will occur (including where the employer is asked to confirm that competency has been achieved) and when the apprentice or trainee is deemed competent. It is developed by the RTO in conjunction with the apprentice/trainee and their employer. The training plan is a living document, requiring review and updating on a regular basis and should reflect the current status of the apprentice or trainee’s training.
VCE / VCE VM / VPC: The VCE is the certificate of education that most Victorian students study for in Years 11 and 12. The VCE VM and VPC are senior secondary certificates of education designed around real world, workplace and practical skills. For more information, see: Compare the VCE, VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate
VET (vocational education and training): Training delivered by a TAFE or private RTO to provide students with practical skills and
knowledge in a vocational area. Apprentices and trainees undertake a VET qualification specified as an apprenticeship or traineeship in an approved training scheme.
Victorian Skills Gateway: Victorian Skills Gateway is an online portal listing Victorian TAFE and training opportunities. Use the search function to find the right course for apprenticeships or traineeships.
VRQA (Victorian Registration & Qualifications Authority): Regulates education and training in Victoria. VRQA registers apprentices and trainees, approves their employers and makes sure all parties meet their obligations.
WorkSafe Victoria: WorkSafe Victoria is a workplace health and safety regulator for Victoria.

Updated 26 March 2026