Engineering Fabrication Trade (Welding)
Apprenticeship and traineeship details
Please refer to the Declaration Policy for the requirements relating to apprenticeships and traineeships.
Please refer to the Norfolk Island Policy for apprenticeships and traineeships on Norfolk Island.
Type:
Apprenticeship
Job summary:
The apprentice will generally work with heavy gauge steel: cutting, shaping, assembling and welding.
Typically, they work for heavy engineering companies involved in the production, fabrication and development of items manufactured from plate materials, generally in steel of varying thickness but can be involved with non-ferrous materials. They may also be employed in the construction industry welding together steel components for major structures - buildings, bridges etc. Another application of the skill could involve the welding pressure vessels, hoppers, mining equipment, excavation buckets, large trailer bodies, smoke stacks, transformer containers, storage bins and large pipe work.
Other work may involve the welding of structural items such as: building supports, structural beams, gantries, crane carriages and jibs. The apprentice would normally be involved in the use of the following materials: Ibeam, angle iron, Usections, square, oblong or round section and some plastic material.
They would be expected to use specialist measuring equipment, a range of hand tools and work from detailed drawings.
Apprentices would be expected to use the following equipment: MIG, submerged arc, oxy and other welding equipment, oxy/gas cutting equipment (straight line, profile, multihead), rollers, metal forming and shaping machines, marking out tables, friction saws, grinders (hand and pedestal), air arc gouges and a range of portable hand tools. Involvement in this type of work would require an enclosed and well equipped workshop.
The apprentice will construct or repair metal products by joining parts using a variety of welding methods either manually or by machine. These parts are used to complete structures and equipment. Welders may specialize in certain types of welding, such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, structural construction welding or machinery and equipment repair welding.
Australian Standard Classification of Occupations:
SHEETMETAL TRADESPERSONS
Sub-industry:
SHEETMETAL WORKER (FIRST CLASS)
Restricted calling:
This is a
Restricted calling (Restricted
calling information)
- Full-time
- Part-time
- Casual NOT PERMITTED in Queensland
- School-based
The lodgment of a second training contract where one of the training contracts is full-time will be reviewed by the Department to determine if each of the parties to each training contract can meet their obligations. There must be a clear separation between the training and employment requirements for each training contract and must not be replicated through the one occupation only.
Minimum of 15 hours per week over each 4 week period throughout duration of apprenticeship/traineeship.
7.5 hours per week of paid employment. This may be averaged over a 3 month period.
Over the period of a year, the employer must provide at a minimum the equivalent of 375 hours (50 days).
Apprentices/trainees with a disability are entitled to work less than 15 hours per week when averaged over a 4 week cycle. They must be a holder of a disability pension and Pension concession card to be approved.
Apprentices identified as Elite/Professional Sportspersons are entitled to work less than 15 hours per week when averaged over a 4 week cycle. They must be the holder of an Elite Sportsperson Notification that has been endorsed by the authorised sporting body to be approved.
Other requirements for school-based:
School-based requirements
Students not enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12 may be eligible to enter a SAT provided there are exceptional circumstances warranting consideration and all other entry requirements are met, including being of an age where it is legal to undertake paid employment.
Before a student not in years 10, 11 or 12 commences a SAT, a business case supporting the arrangements must be provided to and approved by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).
Delivery of training to school-based apprentices
Limits have been imposed on the amount of institutional training which may be delivered to school-based apprentices, based on the nominal term of a full time training contract. The limit for this apprenticeship in a school-based mode is a maximum of 33.3% of the competencies.
Apprenticeship Probation/Duration Details:
All apprenticeships have a nominal term - this is the timeframe that is on the Apprenticeship training contract. Some apprenticeships also have an Expected Duration. The Expected Duration is the amount of time that it's reasonably expected someone could become competent and complete their Apprenticeship. Apprentice's Training Plans are developed using the Expected Duration timeframe rather than the contract's nominal term.
| Mode | Start Date | End Date | Probation Period (days) | Nominal Term (months) | Expected Duration (months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | 06/12/2021 | 90 | 48 | 48 |
Minimum education standard:
Nil
Minimum entry age:
The Child Employment Act states that the minimum age for apprentices and trainees is 13 years of age, unless otherwise stated.
Entry Requirements:
Students not enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12 may be eligible to enter a SAT.
As a general rule, only Australian citizens and New Zealand citizens who have entered Australia on a valid passport have unrestricted rights to employment in Australia.
Visa holders may engage in apprenticeships or traineeships provided their work rights allows this, based on information and advice provided by the Australian Government.
Supervision requirements
Please refer to the Declaration policy, table 15 for the requirements on supervision.
The holder of a Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) Structural metal fabrication and erection licence may supervise an apprentice in this calling.
Modified supervision arrangements available: NO
Employers are required to provide, or arrange to provide the facilities, range of work, supervision and training as detailed in the training plan.
Qualified person for apprenticeships
1. A person who has satisfactorily completed an apprenticeship in the apprentice's calling in Australia, and is the holder of a completion certificate issued under an Act, or
2. A person who holds a certificate of recognition issued under an Australian Act, certifying the person has the necessary skills and knowledge in the calling, or
3. An Australian tradesperson in the apprentice's calling, as defined under a specific industrial instrument, or
4. A New Zealand tradesperson in the apprentice's calling whose occupation may be recognised under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (Queensland) Act 2003, or
5. A person who holds a relevant qualification in the apprenticeship calling, or
6. A person individually, or persons collectively, who has/have documented competence (i.e. a testamur/qualification and associated record of results or a statement of attainment as recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework, achieved through an RPL or training pathway) in all the competencies the employer is required to provide training for under the apprentice's training plan.
And, where a worker is required to have a licence to practice the calling/occupation, the qualified person holds a current workers licence.
While there is no set ratio required for the number of supervisors to apprentices or trainees it is generally accepted for apprenticeships there is one supervisor to each apprentice, this may be relaxed as an apprentice gains skills and experience or where an apprentice commences with existing skills and experience.
Adequate supervision of apprentices and trainees cannot solely be provided from an offsite location by electronic means. Electronic means include, but are not limited to, telephones, radios and webcams.
The level of supervision will normally range between direct, general and broad as per the below guidelines:
- Direct - Close monitoring of work ensuring understanding and identifying potential risks and/or hazards
- General - Occasional monitoring to ensure progress is occurring
- Broad - Quality checking of completed tasks.
Licensing requirements - NIL
Status:
Phasing Out
Qld declaration date:
16/11/2021
Implementation date:
06/12/2021
Transitional arrangements:
Registered training organisations must refer to the
Australian Skills Quality Authority
General direction: Transition & teach-out
for transition and teach-out arrangements on superseded Training Packages and accredited courses.
Supervising registered training organisations are required to ensure the training plan
aligns with the most recent qualification.
This qualification is superseded by MEM31922 - Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade. Training and/or assessment to apprentices in MEM30319 CANNOT be conducted past 31 January 2025. Should training and/or assessment be required after 31 January 2025, apprentices MUST commence in, or be transitioned to, MEM31922.
The transition period extensions apply for students who have commenced training and/or assessment in their qualification on or before 17 December 2023, being the former transition end date. All students must either complete and receive certification or be transferred to replacement qualifications by the new transition end date.
When determining whether to register an apprentice/trainee in the superseded qualification or the new qualification, AASN providers and employers must ensure that where possible the latest training package qualification on the national register is delivered to apprentices and trainees. SRTO's must ensure they adhere to ASQA's General Direction - Learner Transition requirements. Dates supplied are for registration and amendment purposes only for training contracts maintained under the FET Act 2014.
Qualification details
Name:
Certificate III in Engineering - Fabrication Trade
Qualification code:
MEM30319
Qualification content:
Click here for more details
Training package:
MEM - Manufacturing and Engineering Training Package - MEM
Status:
Phasing Out
Queensland User Choice program funding details
The Queensland User Choice program funds Skills Assure suppliers (RTOs) for the provision
of services to eligible apprentices and trainees.
For more information, please visit
User Choice in Queensland.
Funded under the User Choice Program:
Yes
Full Price - Priority Population Groups:
$15,490.00
Queensland Government Contribution - All Other Students including SATs:
$15,490.00
Number of claimable units of competency/modules/points:
96
Priority:
1
Funding restrictions:
- Note that Queensland Government Contribution may be the same as Full Price, depending on qualification priority and thin market status
Funding not available for new commencements from:
17/12/2023
User Choice Training Catalogue Item:
22686
DELTA Qualification ID:
3958
Industry training group:
Engineering - General
Industrial relations details
Since 1 January 2010, all private sector employers and employees in Queensland, including apprentices and trainees,
have their wages and conditions of employment covered by the Fair Work Act 2009 and modern awards. This legislation
is administered by the Commonwealth Government Fair Work Ombudsman's office.
https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay/minimum-wages/apprentice-and-trainee-pay-rates.
Apprentices and trainees are considered employees and may receive entitlements the same as other employees such as:
annual leave, sick leave, public holidays, superannuation, workers compensation and allowances. Apprentices and trainees
must also receive a pay slip to cover full details of the pay for each pay period. Pay slips have to be given to an
employee (including apprentices and trainees) within 1 working day of pay day and be either in electronic form or paper hard copy.
Parties should make enquiries with the Fair Work Ombudsman on Ph: 13 13 94 or at
http://www.fairwork.gov.au
to determine the correct industrial instrument and entitlements.
When employment is ceasing the employer or the employee (apprentice/trainee) must provide the appropriate notice periods
as per the relevant award or registered workplace agreement. A notice period is the length of time that an employer or
employee (apprentice/trainee) has to give to end employment. Additional information about notice periods can be found
at: http://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/notice-and-final-pay.
Unfair dismissal is when an employee (apprentice/trainee) is dismissed from their job in a harsh, unjust or unreasonable
manner. Additional information about unfair dismissal can be found at:
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/ending-employment/unfair-dismissal.
Public sector and local government workers in Queensland remain under the state industrial relations system. Additional
information about wages and conditions of employment for employees (apprentices/trainees employed by state or local government)
can be found at: https://www.forgov.qld.gov.au/working-in-the-public-service/directives-awards-and-legislation/pay-awards-and-agreements.