How Group Training Organisations can help

What's a Group Training Organisation? 

A group training organisation (GTO):  

• employs apprentices or trainees  
• places apprentices or trainees with a host employer. 

The host employer gives the apprentice or trainee:  

• work 
• on-the-job training.

The GTOs manage paying of wages and overseeing entitlements. They also assist with training. 

GTOs can be registered or un-registered, operate for profit, or not-for-profit. They may also be labour hire companies.

GTOs are encouraged to register with the department to be promoted as a quality GTO.  Registered GTOs have been assessed against the National Standards for Group Training Organisations.

In addition, registered GTOs are able to access government programs and incentives. See Register as a group training organisation (GTO). 

At any time you can search for a registered GTO at Australian Apprenticeships or view a list of NSW registered GTOs. 

If you're hiring an apprentice or trainee for the first time, also see Steps to hiring an apprentice or trainee.

Benefits to employers 

GTOs support the apprenticeship and traineeship system in Australia by providing: 

• employment for apprentices and trainees  
• new pathways to apprenticeships and traineeships  
• help to employers with limited capacity to take on an apprentice or trainee. For example, small and specialised employers or those that can’t employ them for the full Training Contract period. 

GTOs can: 

• Organise formal training for apprentices and trainees. 
• Monitor both on-the-job and formal training for apprentices and trainees. This way they can ensure high quality and relevant training in a safe environment. 
• Take care of all wages, on costs and employment records. This leaves the host employer free to run their business. 

GTO role and responsibilities

• The GTO is the legal employer of the apprentice or trainee. This means the GTO looks after:  
  • Obligations as an employer of an apprentice or trainee (as defined by Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001).  
  • Recruiting each apprentice or trainee. See Recruitment page.
  • Making sure they are suitable for placement with a host employer.  
  • Arranging the placement with the host employer. Making sure the learner starts within the terms of the Training Contract 
  • Ensuring that the details of the first host are in the Training Contract.  
  • Arranging the formal training with a registered training organisation for each apprentice/trainee. This includes working with the RTO and host employer to develop and renew the training plan.  
  • Checking each potential employer is suitable to host an apprentice/trainee and ensuring they understand their responsibilities as part of this arrangement. 
  • Monitoring and providing support to both the apprentice/trainee and host employer. 
  • Paying wages, allowances, superannuation, insurance and other employee entitlements.  
  • Completing all associated paperwork.  
     

Host Employer role and responsibilities  

The host employer looks after:  

• providing employment and on-the-job training for the apprentice/trainee. It must be consistent with the apprentice/trainees’ Training Plan.  
• providing appropriately qualified supervision. It must be at a level reflective of the apprentice/trainee’s level of experience.  
• providing a safe work environment free from bullying and harassment.  
• releasing the apprentice/trainee from work during working hours to attend/undertake formal training and assessment.  
• participating and contributing to the workplace assessment of the apprentice/ trainee.  
• telling the GTO if there's any issues with the performance or attendance of the apprentice/trainee. 

 
Find a GTO for your business 

If you’d like to host an apprentice or trainee through a GTO,  

Search GTOs in your area. 

Contacts 

For further information or advice regarding accessing a group training organisation, or apprenticeships and traineeships generally, contact your local Training Services centre on 13 28 11.