Employers

Are you looking to take on an apprentice towards an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) or Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME) outcome?

An Australian Apprenticeship is a learning pathway combining workplace on the job training and formal training with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that will take your apprentice/trainee through to an AME or LAME outcome.

Aviation Australia is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) with funding approval across various states to deliver training to apprentices and trainees in qualifications including:

Leads to Category A Licence outcome:

  • Certificate II in Aircraft Line Maintenance – MEA20518

Leads to Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) outcome:

  • Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Avionics) – MEA40618
  • Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Mechanical) – MEA40718
  • Certificate IV in Aeroskills (Structures) – MEA41322

Leads to Category B Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME) outcome:

  • Diploma of Aeroskills (Avionics) – MEA50118 *
  • Diploma of Aeroskills (Mechanical) – MEA50219 *

* Diploma includes additional CASA Licence outcome for eligible trainees

Other qualifications available:

  • Certificate III in Aircraft Surface Finishing – MEA30118

How to get started

This could be someone you know, an existing staff member or someone you have recruited using an agency / Group Training Organisation or Employment Services provider.

Need help finding someone suitable?
Aviation Australia can also advertise your vacancy with our current and graduated students, who have already undertaken some basic training. If you would like some assistance, please contact us at [email protected].

Unsure which qualification?
Contact us to discuss the qualification options available to ensure that you are completing the right training required for a AME / LAME outcome.

Once you have recruited your new apprentice/trainee – you need to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider to organise sign up. This needs to be done within 14 days of the apprentice/trainee commencing employment.

The AASN will organise a time to visit your workplace to sign the Training Contract to discuss a range of incentives and support available. At this time, you can nominate Aviation Australia as the Supervising Registered Training Organisation (SRTO) that your apprentice/trainee will complete their qualification with.

Once the Training Contract has been registered, Aviation Australia will be advised by the AASN. We will then contact you to discuss the off-the-job training requirements – which will include developing a Training Plan specific to your business needs.

Once you have the Training Contract in place and your SRTO is notified, an ‘Induction’ will be completed with all involved parties. This will include:

Employer Resource Assessment – to identify the workplace has the required facilities to support the on-the-job training components

Training Plan – listing the required Units of Competency to achieve the outcome (AME/LAME)

As an employer, you will need to supervise and manage your apprentice/trainee through the duration of their apprenticeship. The supervisor will need the skills and expertise to teach the apprentice/trainee for the on-the-job training components that are required for the qualification. Depending on the experience of the apprentice/trainee – they may need to complete training with the SRTO, to meet the requirements of the qualification.

Apprenticeships and Traineeships are focused on competency-based training – where an apprentice or trainee is trained and signed off through a range of methods:

Online Training
Online training may be required for selected qualification/s. If required, a login will be provided to our Learning Management System with access to the required course/s to be completed.

Theory Training
Theory training comprises of face to face training via block release at an Aviation Australia campus. Theory training is also accessible via remote synchronous delivery which enables real-time access for remotely located students to the instructor led training. The training schedule is based on available classes for the required modules.

Theory Exams (CASR Part 66)
Aviation Australia’s CASR Part 66 examinations are available for Certificate IV and Diploma apprentices/trainees to sit at various locations around Australia.

Practical Training
Practical training is conducted in the workplace and logged in a Journal of Experience (JOE) – formerly known as a ‘Schedule of Experience’ (SOE). The JOE documents the tasks and evidence of competency. The JOE is signed by the supervising Licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and maintained throughout the apprenticeship/traineeship.

Once all parties (employer, apprentice/trainee and Aviation Australia) agree that all training and assessment has been successfully completed as required under the Training Plan – then the apprenticeship/traineeship can be deemed as complete. Aviation Australia will notify the appropriate department of the completion of an apprenticeship/traineeship.

For Diploma level, where all CASA licencing requirements are met (including time in industry); Aviation Australia will submit the required documentation to CASA for the issue of an initial Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Licence. The trainee must then apply to CASA for the Licence; forwarding the required documentation for the application.

Support for Employers

There are a range of incentives available from the Australian Government to assist employers to employ and support apprentices and trainees.

These include:

  • Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements
  • Supporting Apprentices and Trainees (wage subsidy)
  • Australian Apprentice Wage Subsidy

Your Australia Apprenticeship Support Network provider (AASN) can also provide you with advice.

Support for Apprentices/Trainees

Incentives are also available to apprentices/trainees to help support their training.

This includes benefit from programs such as:

  • Living Away from Home Allowance
  • Trade Support Loans

Your Australia Apprenticeship Support Network provider (AASN) can also provide you with advice.

Modular Licensing Pathway

Welcome to a new era of flexibility. In the coming months, students will be able access an alternative pathway to get an aircraft engineer’s license. The introduction of the Modular licensing pathway will allow students to get a Part 66 Modular license (with limitations) sooner and gradually increase the scope of your license as you gain more experience and pass the applicable examinations.

But what does that mean for you as an employer?

For more information including funding, choose your state below:

Queensland

Victoria

Western Australia

South Australia

Northern Territory

Tasmania

NSW & ACT

Roles and responsibilities

  • deliver training and provide (or arrange to provide) the facilities, range of work and supervision as specified in the Training Plan,
  • negotiate a Training Plan with the apprentice/trainee and the registered training organisation,
  • pay the wages and provide the appropriate entitlements to the apprentice/trainee,
  • at reasonable intervals (of not more than 3 months) check that the training record (Journal of Experience) has been updated by the apprentice,
  • allow the apprentice/trainee to participate in off-the-job training as required to complete their Training Plan.

  • participate in the development of the Training Plan,
  • attend and perform work as directed by the employer,
  • work towards achieving the competencies in the Training Plan,
  • undertake any training or assessment related to the Training Plan,
  • hold the training record/s (such as Journal of Experience).

  • provide all relevant parties with information regarding the requirements of the apprenticeship/ traineeship,
  • conduct an ‘Employer Resource Assessment’ to verify the employer’s capacity to train the apprentice/trainee,
  • negotiate the Training Plan and provide a copy to the apprentice/trainee and employer,
  • advise the employer and apprentice/trainee of any costs associated with the training,
  • arrange additional learning support if required,
  • monitor the Training Plan to ensure progression of apprenticeship/traineeship.

Changes to the Training Contract

Each qualification has a nominal duration that is listed in the Training Contract. As training is competency-based, this can be completed earlier than the nominal duration. Aviation Australia will monitor the progress against the Training Plan – and together with the Employer and Apprentice/Trainee, progress towards the qualification outcome within the nominal duration.

Where the apprentice/trainee and/or Employer would like to cancel the Training Contract before the nominal duration – this can be processed through the Apprenticeship Support Network provider.

There may be circumstances that happen during the duration of the Training Contract that may hinder the successful completion within the nominal duration. If this is the case, an extension of the Training Contract can be requested, for additional time to complete. This can be processed through the Apprenticeship Support Network provider

Want to get started?

Contact us to discuss the qualification options available to ensure that you are completing the right training required for a AME / LAME outcome. Email [email protected] or call 07 3860 0923.