Victorian Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney, today launched the new Apprenticeships Victoria 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 for trainees.
Staffed by trained Apprentice Case Support Officers, the Helpdesk can also help apprentices and trainees report serious issues such as 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, said Minister Tierney.
“The Apprentice Helpdesk is just a phone call away, providing apprentices and trainees access to the information and support they need quickly and easily,” she said.
“Victoria’s almost 74,000 apprentices and trainees are the future of our state’s skilled workforce – we want to see them succeed and we’re giving them the tools and support they need to do just that.”
Establishing the Helpdesk is one of the initiatives being implemented by the Government in response to the recommendations from the Apprenticeships Taskforce. The Taskforce’s final report, released in October 2024, made 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.
