Help is only a phone call away for apprentices and trainees in need of support thanks to the new Apprenticeships Victoria Helpdesk.
Minister for Skills and TAFE Gayle Tierney last week launched the Apprentice Helpdesk, a free service that provides advice and support, including information about wages and entitlements, training contracts, rights and responsibilities, and health and wellbeing at work.
Staffed by trained apprentice case support officers, the helpdesk can also help apprentices and trainees report serious issues including bullying and harassment to the right regulator or authority.
The helpdesk is a two-year pilot being delivered as part of a $9 million investment package to improve fairness, safety and mental health for apprentices and trainees, supporting them to complete their qualification so they can get a great start to their career.
This central service will make starting and completing an apprenticeship easier to navigate for almost 74,000 apprentices, as well as their employers.
Establishing the helpdesk is one of the initiatives being implemented by the Labor Government in response to the recommendations from the Apprenticeships Taskforce. The taskforce’s final report, released in October 2024, provides 16 recommendations to improve support, safety and fairness for apprentices and trainees.
Other reforms include streamlining collaboration between agencies, providing more education and support for employers, making workplaces more inclusive for women, advocating for higher apprentice wages, and improving the pipeline of trade TAFE teachers.
The Apprentice Helpdesk is available from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Contact 1300 311 820 or apprenticehelpdesk@djsir.vic.gov.au.
