Effective supervision
Your daily interactions offer opportunities to address your apprentice’s needs, enforce policies and procedures, instil safe working practices, tackle issues, boost productivity, and enhance workplace satisfaction.
Adequate supervision hinges on several factors:
- Risk Level of Tasks: Tailor supervision is based on the risk level associated with different tasks.
- Learner’s Profile: Consider her age, skills, knowledge, experience, language barriers, cultural differences, or physical limitations.
- Technology or Machinery Changes: Adapt supervision concerning new or updated technology or machinery usage.
A pivotal aspect of your role involves bridging the gap between her formal studies and practical workplace applications. Offer hands-on training, ensuring she comprehends equipment safety and covers tasks outlined in the Training Plan.
Addressing concerns:
Understanding that apprentices receive training wages due to formal study commitments, facilitate her attendance at formal training or study sessions for at least three hours per week during paid work hours.
Ongoing engagement is crucial post-apprenticeship initiation. Conduct regular meetings to assess your apprentice’s progress against the Training Plan and ensure ample opportunities for applying newfound skills at work.
Regular interactions with the Registered Training Organization (RTO) become necessary to provide assessment evidence, stay updated on formal training, endorse competencies, and schedule additional workplace training sessions.
Facilitating a strong workplace induction
A robust induction sets the tone for her journey. An effective induction process communicates expectations, accelerates proficiency, and reduces turnover.
Your induction checklist should cover the following:
Company overview
Introduce your business, its values, and your apprentices’s role in the broader context.
Job description
Explain her specific job role and responsibilities.
Establish ground rules
Address workplace policies regarding phone use, attire, behaviour, bullying, drugs, communication protocols for absence, and tardiness.
Employment terms
Outline her employment terms, including Training Contract, pay, leave provisions, work hours, overtime, and breaks.
Workplace tour
Familiarize her with the workspace and introduce key staff members.
Training plan discussion
Review the Training Plan, schedule progress meetings, and set achievable goals.
Grievance procedures
Inform about grievance channels and support mechanisms.
Safety training
Schedule Workplace Health and Safety sessions. Consider pairing her with a former apprentice for support.
Upholding duty of care and safety
A critical aspect is safeguarding her wellbeing. Duty of care responsibilities are amplified for younger learners to prevent workplace injuries.
Your responsibilities entail:
- Ensuring a safe work environment and proper use, storage, and maintenance of machinery and equipment.
- Providing necessary personal protective gear and ensuring its usage.
- Explaining safe work practices, hazards, and emergency protocols.
- Providing adequate training, instruction, and supervision.
- Educating supervisors on their responsibilities toward young learners.
- Shielding your apprentice from inappropriate behaviours, explicit content, or hazardous situations.
Fostering an inclusive learning environment
Recognising diverse learning styles is pivotal. Understanding your apprentice’s visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learning preferences can aid in tailoring training for adequate comprehension and skill-building. By aligning your training methods with your apprentice’s learning style, you facilitate a more efficient and engaging learning experience for her, ensuring her development aligns with her unique learning preferences.
Useful links
Training Services NSW Coaching and supervising apprentices or trainees
Training Services NSW Free workshops: Supervising your apprentice or trainee
Training Services NSW Free workshops: Supervising your apprentice or trainee video series
Training Services NSW Supervising your apprentice or trainee guide
Fair Work Ombudsman Employing young workers
Fair Work Ombudsman Guide to taking on an apprentice
SafeWork NSW Host employer in a labour hire arrangement