Group Training Organisations (GTOs) support the Australian Apprenticeship system by providing employment for Australian Apprentices. GTOs employ Australian Apprentices under a training contract and place them with host employers.
An Australian Apprentice may move from one host employer to another throughout the term of their training contract. This ensures continuity of employment and enhanced quality and range of training experience for the apprentice, and also provides benefits for businesses that may otherwise be unable to employ an apprentice.
All ACT employers that seek to identify as a GTO must be registered in the ACT.
GTOs must demonstrate compliance with the National Standards for Group Training Organisations which then allows the GTO to be listed on the GTO National Register and use the GTO National Standards and branding.
Registered GTOs are able to:
- promote themselves as a quality GTO
- use the national GTO logo
- access Commonwealth, State and Territory government programs and incentives.
GTOs must demonstrate compliance with the National Standards for Group Training Organisations which then allows the GTO to be listed on the GTO National Register and use the GTO National Standards and branding.
You may apply to register a GTO by completing an Application to Register a Group Training Organisation in the ACT (DOC 41KB) and submitting a completed ACT Group Training Organisation Registration Compliance Assessment Report - Version 1.2 (DOC 179KB) or (PDF 448KB).
For detailed information about the registration process refer to the ACT Group Training Organisations Registration Guide - Version 2.0 (DOC 177KB) or (PDF 355KB).
What are the roles and responsibilities of a GTO?
When a GTO is the legal employer of an Australian Apprentice the GTO is responsible for:
- placement of the Australian Apprentice
- selection and recruitment of Australian Apprentices
- management and payment of wages, allowances, superannuation, workers compensation and other employment benefits
- management of the quality and continuity of training, both on and off-the-job
- provision of additional care and ongoing support necessary for the apprentice to successfully complete their training contract
- monitoring the apprentice’s progress against their training plan.
All Australian Apprenticeship administration is managed by the GTO.
What are the roles and responsibilities of the employer?
A host employer is the organisation that hosts an Australian Apprentice employed by a GTO under a written host employer agreement. The host employer provides supervision and on-the-job training and pays the GTO for the Australian Apprentice’s services.
The host employer agreement specifies the responsibilities of each party in relation to the Australian Apprentice's training and the charge out rate payable including:
- the host employer’s responsibilities in training and supporting the Australian Apprentice while in their workplace
- the host employer’s obligations to maintain a safe workplace
- the requirement for host employer to work cooperatively with the GTO and registered training organisation.
ACT Labour Hire Licensing Scheme
On 27 May 2021, the ACT Government introduced a new licensing scheme for labour hire providers. Group Training Organisations (GTOs) are included in this scheme and required to obtain a licence to supply labour hire services in the ACT. This licence is in addition to GTO registration through Skills Canberra.
WorkSafe ACT is responsible for administering the labour hire licensing scheme. For more information, please visit WorkSafe ACT website.
