Apprentice supervision FAQ

There are several reasons for this, the first and most important being apprentice safety.

The updated ratios reflect our view that the least experienced apprentices ought to be provided with the greatest level of oversight, while more experienced apprentices can be given greater autonomy for lower risk electrical work.

Under the Victorian Electricity Safety Act 1998 and Electricity Safety (General) Regulations 2019, apprentice electrical workers are only deemed licensed to carry out electrical installation work if they are under effective supervision.

The Regulations were updated in 2019 to place responsibility for supervision on employers and supervisors through the Apprentice Supervision Requirements. The update followed a series of incidents, including 3 apprentice fatalities, and other safety incidents involving apprentices.

The Apprenticeships Taskforce Final Report, published in 2024, highlights serious issues – including fatalities, injuries, low completion rates, and workplace concerns such as bullying, harassment and unsafe conditions across all apprenticeships.

The government has endorsed the taskforce recommendations.
These findings align with Energy Safe’s experience in addressing electrical apprentice safety concerns, reinforcing the need for a clear and enforceable supervision framework.

Relevantly, the Apprenticeships Report noted that the number of significant WorkSafe claims for all apprentices increased by 31 per cent between 2013 and 2021.
As part of our consultation on the proposed update to the requirements, we hosted an online survey that received 206 responses. 90% of survey respondents were apprentices themselves.

In the survey, 85% of respondents supported the proposed ratios. When asked if ratios were well understood by industry, only 72% said ‘yes’. Some of the free text responses highlighted unsafe practices, lack of understanding and/or compliance with the ratios and noted the importance of having ratios.

Many of the changes in the updated requirements are based on what we heard from the apprentices themselves. Their safety is our priority.

As noted in our consultation paper, there are a range of approaches to supervision ratios taken by other jurisdictions. The updated Victorian ratios align with New South Wales and are comparable to Western Australia and Tasmania, while Queensland does not prescribe any ratios.

Apprenticeship completion rates

Electrical apprentices are required to meet 4 obligations to become a licensed electrician. They must:

• complete their apprenticeship contract of training
• complete their qualification
• complete of all licensing assessments, and
• successfully apply for their licence.

Roughly 40% of apprentice electricians who commence an apprenticeship drop out during their apprenticeship term. The highest rate of this drop-off occurs in the first year, and then to a lesser extent in subsequent years.

There are many reasons for this, but their experience on the job is definitely one of the factors – with apprentices reporting feeling unsupported and unsafe.

In addition to the drop outs during the apprenticeship, there are issues of them having problems when they reach the end of their 4 years.

Based on 2020 data:

• 20% of apprentices were finishing their ‘time’ with incomplete contracts/qualifications and failed to extend their apprenticeship contracts or obtain supervised workers licences.
• A further 20% were fully completing their contracts of training but were not applying for their electrician's licence – mainly because they had not passed their licensing exams.
• This demonstrated that approximately 40% of the apprentice cohort (800-900 apprentices) per year were not obtaining their electricians licence after working as an apprentice for 4 years.

In 2023, Energy Safe worked with the Victorian Government’s Behavioural Insights Unit to understand why apprentices are not getting licensed at the end of their apprenticeship.

The research indicated ineffective apprentice supervision to be one of the biggest barriers to apprentice licensing.

Apprentices require effective on-the-job supervision and learning during their apprenticeship to be able to carry out electrical installation work and successfully complete their licensing assessments.

Some apprentices failing to complete this process may be working unlicensed or leaving the industry.

Availability of supervisors

The Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) is the regulator that looks after apprentice contracts. Its data shows that 77% of employers of electrician apprentices employ only one first year apprentice. And first years are the main group affected by the 1:1 supervision ratio.

Employers who employ a large number of apprentices normally also have several A grades.

While there has been an increase in apprentice electricians recently due to state and federal government initiatives and incentives, at most 3,000 new apprentices are entering the Victorian workforce each year.

Energy Safe acknowledges that not every licensed electrician can act as a supervisor and that the circumstances in each business are different.
However, Energy Safe believes there is sufficient capacity across the industry to support provision of 1:1 direct supervision to first-year apprentices. 

If the apprentice is building a switchboard on site, it doesn't matter if it's industrial, commercial, or domestic. If they are doing this work on site, then the supervision requirements apply.

If the apprentice is building a switchboard in a factory, which is quite often the work of electrical fitters or switchboard manufacturers, it's not electrical installation work. So that can be done outside the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

While the supervision requirements don't apply in this situation, our guidance is that you should have qualified people there supervising the apprentice to make sure that the work is correct and it is safe once it does go to site for installation and certification.

In terms of the Apprentice Supervision Requirements, the answer is ‘no’, as that type of work is extra low voltage (ELV) and therefore not electrical installation work.

However, you should be mindful if an apprentice is doing nothing but ELV data security, AV and structured cabling. If this is true, they're not getting the scope of work they need to be able to obtain their licence. They must also be given the opportunity to carry out electrical installation work.

The list is too long to itemise. They can do anything that is not classed as electrical installation work under the Electricity Safety Act 1998 – although remembering that other OH&S supervision may still be applicable in these circumstances.

An easy way to think about it is: do you need a licence to carry out this work? If it’s a task that does not need a licence, for example, drilling holes, cutting plaster, ELV work, then it’s not electrical installation work, and the Apprentice Supervision Requirements do not apply.

No, the Apprentice Supervision Requirements only apply to apprentice electricians working on electrical installations. All lineworkers, whether they work in distribution, transmission, cable joining or rail, are not covered under these requirements. Those apprentices should continue to use the VESI guidelines.

Running the electrical feed from a switchboard to an air conditioner – and running the interconnecting cables between the indoor and outdoor units of a split system – is electrical installation work. Apprentices undertaking this work must be supervised in accordance with the Apprentice Supervision Requirements, unless the interconnecting cables are extra-low voltage – that is, less than 50 volts a.c. or 120 volts ripple-free d.c, as defined.

Any person who employs an electrical apprentice must ensure that the apprentice is given effective supervision in accordance with the requirements. This requirement extends to any licensed electrical worker who has been tasked with supervising an apprentice carrying out electrical installation work.

So, for a refrigeration apprentice specifically, they can carry out electrical installation work under the supervision of a licenced supervisor. Given most refrigeration workers hold a Restricted Electrical Licence (REL, or ‘D licence’) this is limited to the scope of work of the REL holder. For example, disconnect/reconnect work and/or fault finding (depending on the class of licence held by the supervisor).

During Energy Safe’s consultation with the refrigeration industry when developing the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) resources, it was a strong recommendation by the refrigeration industry that refrigeration apprentices should not carry out electrical disconnection/reconnection work or fault finding until they are licensed to do so in their own right.

However, if an employer decides to allow their refrigeration apprentice to carry out disconnect/reconnect or fault-finding work, it must be done under direct supervision per the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

No. As a refrigeration apprentice they do not yet hold a ‘D licence’, and as such must work under supervision. See the previous question for more detail.

Yes. Testing and tagging is not licensed work. It may be carried out by any competent person with no prescribed level of supervision. The employer or supervisor is responsible for ensuring the apprentice is competent in this task.

Supervision can vary between domestic, commercial and industrial, but it relates more to the apprentice themselves and if they have done the type of work before, and at what level they are competent to do so. For example, an apprentice who is competent to carry out work under broad supervision in a domestic setting may require direct supervision if moved to an industrial setting for the first time.

For refrigeration apprentices, please see the applicable FAQs for these apprentices (above).

A Supervised licence holder, either an ‘L licence’ or an ‘ES licence’ must be under effective supervision. However, they are not formally covered by the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

Effective supervision, in relation to electrical work, means:

(a) being present at the site of the electrical work to the extent necessary to ensure that the work is being correctly performed and carried out in accordance with the Act and any of the regulations relating to the work and the operation of electrical installations and supply networks; and

(b) being aware of the details of the electrical work being performed and giving detailed instructions and directions with respect to the electrical work.

Correct. Spotting work is not electrical installation work. If they are a registered spotter, they can carry out spotting in accordance with the spotter classes on their registration without supervision.

High risks tasks are not defined, other than those listed in Table 2.

There has been no change in relation to apprentice supervision of basic and advanced fault finding in the new requirements – they are the same as in the existing requirements. The first or second-year apprentice should be able to watch and learn from a safe distance, without working on or near any energised parts.

It is important to note that the obligations in the Requirements for the effective supervision of apprentice electricians apply only when apprentices are undertaking electrical installation work, excluding routine non-electrical tasks like drilling holes in frames or digging trenches.

The supervision ratio requirements, for example, only apply when apprentices are undertaking electrical installation work. This means that it is possible that an apprentice be undertaking electrical installation work under the effective supervision of a supervisor, whilst another apprentice also watches on, and learns.

When undertaking other types of work, the employer/supervisor should apply the type of supervision required under any relevant OH&S requirements.

No, however the tasks may need to be adjusted, depending on the work being carried out on the day. If there are non-electrical installation work jobs that can be done, one apprentice could do those tasks or alternate with the other apprentice for these tasks. There can also be an opportunity for the apprentices to be watching and learning.

The other option for larger companies is to consider the work required, and how they can distribute the apprentices at different supervision levels across their A grade supervisor workforce. For example, a supervisor doing work on new electrical installations (not yet connected to supply) could have one first year apprentice (under direct supervision) and three third or fourth-year apprentices under broad supervision .

Apprentices must, when undertaking electrical installation work, be under effective supervision in order to meet the requirements that deem them to be licensed. Employers and supervisors must comply with the level of supervision for the types of electrical installation work specified in Table 2 (or greater, per the requirements detailed in 11.1).

Work experience students are not permitted to carry out any electrical installation work, as they are not licensed to do so. Apprentices are deemed to be licensed while under their contract of training and under effective supervision. The work experience student may carry out other, non-electrical work tasks, and watch and learn.

As such, it is permitted to supervise both the apprentice and the work experience student under the Apprentice Supervision Requirements, as only the apprentice will require direct supervision for the electrical installation work.

However, it is recognised that both a first-year apprentice and a work experience student may need close supervision from an OH&S viewpoint, even if they are carrying out non-electrical tasks, so you should consider how this can be effectively managed by the supervisor.

Energy Safe cannot specify every possible combination, so judgement will need to be used by the supervisor relative to the tasks being undertaken (per table 2) and any more onerous supervision that may be required when considering an apprentices competence levels (per section 11.1).

The key element, where there are larger numbers, is that the supervisor is able to provide each apprentice with the supervision in accordance with the requirements in the document – see ‘Table 2: Levels of supervision’ for specified types of electrical installation work for more detail.

Yes. Section 8 of the Apprentice Supervision Requirements details the combinations of ratios available. A supervisor may supervise up to 5 apprentices under broad supervision. The Requirements do not specify if these are all on the one site or on different sites.

No. The face-to-face contact required under the Apprentice Supervision Requirements must occur in person, not by video call.

The supervisor must check in with each apprentice during the day. For broad supervision, the supervisor does not need to remain on the same work site at all times but must be readily contactable and must return to site as needed.

In practice, this means:

• The supervisor should have in-person contact with the apprentice during the day – not just at the start or end of the job.
• If the apprentice is carrying out low-risk, de-energised work and has already had in-person contact that day, they may stay in touch via phone or video to discuss the work and seek guidance.
• However, the supervisor must return to site for any testing or energisation work, as these require direct supervision.
• Any higher-risk tasks that require direct or general supervision also require the supervisor to be physically present.

Finally, as the person responsible for signing off the work, the supervisor must physically inspect the work before doing so.

The Apprentice Supervision Requirements do not apply to Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)/TAFE.

The Victorian Government’s Electrical Safety Exemptions Order, available on our website, details exemptions to the Electricity Safety Act. There is a training and assessment exemption within this document. However, the exemption does require that if electrical installation work is carried out by the apprentice at school, the supervisor must be a licensed electrician.

This exemption only applies to registered training organisations, or assessment bodies approved by Energy Safe. It does not apply to ‘in-house training departments’.

No. There is no change to the means of determining the required levels of supervision from the previous edition of the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

Minimum levels of supervision remain based on the year of the apprenticeship, as specified throughout the Requirements, and collectively represented in Table 2.

A competency assessment may result in providing a greater level of supervision than the levels that are specified in Table 2. Refer to section 11.1 for the specified types of electrical installation to be performed and the minimum level of supervision required for that work.

The Apprentice Supervision Requirements require consultation between the supervisor and apprentice. This is to ensure that the supervisor is satisfied that the individual apprentice has the necessary level of supervision to perform the task safely and correctly. This may result in a supervisor providing a greater level of supervision than the levels that are specified in Table 2.

For example, a second-year apprentice starts with the business and works at a new electrical installation (not connected to supply). They may not have worked in the domestic construction sector, so whilst Table 2 permits general supervision, the supervisor and apprentice are best served with direct supervision being provided.

The supervision levels are still based on the apprentice’s year level, as shown in Table 2 of Section 11 in the Requirements. However, there is flexibility to adjust the supervision level based on the apprentice’s competency where a greater level of supervision is determined as being required for an individual apprentice. This is done through a competency assessment as described in Section 7, and within the minimum levels permitted under section 11 for specified types of electrical installation work.

For example, Table 2 of section 11 states that a second-year apprentice may install consumers mains under general supervision. If a competency assessment is carried out and it is found the individual apprentice is not competent to carry out this task under general supervision, their supervision level can be adjusted to direct. However, under no circumstances can their supervision level be adjusted to broad for this task, until they are third year.

The supervisor and apprentice should discuss whether the apprentice:

• has an awareness of safety requirements
• has previously performed the task (direct supervision is likely to always be necessary the first time an apprentice performs a task)
• can perform the task to an appropriate technical standard
• understands workplace policies and procedures for performing the task
• deals well with everyday problems that may occur in performing the task (for example, technical issues that regularly arise while doing the task)
• understands why the task is performed in a certain way or sequence, and
• applies these skills consistently.

Both the employer and the supervisor are responsible.

Energy Safe does not have a preference and have not issued or approved any template documentation for this task.

We don’t have templates and are not planning on producing them.

Yes. You can download a copy of the Requirements for the Effective Supervision of Apprentice Electricians from our website at www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/supervision

Specific training for supervisors of electrical apprentices is being considered. We will keep the industry informed as it develops. At present, completing this training is recommended, but not compulsory.

The requirements are included in the CPD training, and we update CPD resources every 6 months. The next update is due in July, so the new Requirements will be included in the CPD training then.

For apprentices, we’re making sure the electrotechnology teachers know about and understand the updated requirements so they can answer questions in class. Victorian regulatory requirements should be covered in the electrotechnology qualification.

We are not planning on producing supporting materials of this kind; however we are considering supervisor training.

The general duty under OH&S legislation for the provision of information, instruction, training or supervision may be demonstrated by combinations of tool-box meeting minutes, training records, and sign-ons to Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS).

Energy Safe has a program of proactive random site visits in place to do compliance checks – including licensing and apprentice supervision. Further to this, Energy Safe is happy to take reports of unsupervised apprentices working on sites. For further information or to submit a report, please visit https://www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/resolve-problem-or-report-concern

When you submit a report, be sure to provide the details of the location and work being carried out.

Energy Safe is also working on the identifying and targeting high-risk workplaces. For example, employers with a high ratio of apprentices to licence holders.

Energy Safe is not responsible for, and has no jurisdiction over, the signing of the apprentice contracts. However, the Apprentice Connect Australia Providers who carry out this function will be advised of these supervision requirements. It is up to the company to ensure they can meet these and any other regulatory requirements when taking on new apprentices

If you've got a report to make, please do so via https://www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/resolve-problem-or-report-concern

You can make reports anonymously if you wish, by ticking the box on the report form.

There is also a new Apprenticeships Victoria Apprentice Helpdesk available. They will be able to help apprentices submit a complaint to Energy Safe if they don’t want to do it themselves.

The Apprentice Helpdesk can be contacted on 1300 311 820 or via their website https://www.apprenticeships.vic.gov.au/helpdesk.

Ensure supervisors are familiar with their role and responsibilities in the Apprentice Supervision Requirements, and that the Requirements are followed. Energy Safe suggests making access to supervisor training available. Energy Safe is considering developing training for supervisors. This training will focus on the Requirements. Industry will be advised once this becomes available.

General supervision training is available from several providers, and more is under development. While not under the jurisdiction of Energy Safe, other aspects of supervision should also be considered. For example, the new OH&S Psychological Health Regulations.

Legally, any person who holds an A Grade electricians’ licence can be a supervisor, unless they have a conditional licence that does not permit this.

That doesn't mean every individual has the personal capability OR the interest in having that level of responsibility. Some people are good at working with others and training other people – a willingness to be training and working with an apprentice is really important.

What we don't want is people in the supervision role who are likely to:

• bully or otherwise abuse the apprentice
• not train the apprentice in good technical skills and safe practices.

We want the apprentice to have a good, safe learning experience.
To the second part of that question: yes, they have a choice.

Acting as a supervisor is not a compulsory part of holding an A grade licence. So, this is a conversation the employer needs to have with the A grade.

We hope that's not the case as we don't want anyone unnecessarily losing their jobs.

However, we need all apprentices to be safe.

If an employer is unable to meet the requirements, and has to let an apprentice go, ideally both the employer and apprentice will work towards having that apprentice employed by another company.

Energy Safe is unable to assist with this, however there are several options to explore. Talk to the apprentice’s RTO or TAFE – they may be aware of other contractors who are looking for apprentices.

Use your professional networks to see if there's anyone else who can take on the apprentice.

The VRQA, and the new apprentice helpdesk may be able to provide support.

And we also hope that the industry bodies – for example, NECA, Master Electricians and ETU – may be able to assist as well. Group training companies may be able to take some apprentices.

Presently, the industry commences approximately 3000 first-year apprentices annually. For a short time, it may be valuable for companies seeking to commence a first-year to ‘rehome’ an existing first-year rather than take on a brand new apprentice.

The RTOs have advised that apprentices should ensure they are up-to-date with their training competencies, as this will assist them in finding new employers.

The regulations state that the apprentice must be under a contract of training – but it doesn't stipulate that they've got to be working with the company that holds that contract.

If your business works with subcontractors or other businesses that employ electricians, and another licensed electrician is willing to provide the supervision, that is okay. It is a really good way for an apprentice to get some additional experience in other areas.

Importantly, both parties remain responsible to ensure that effective supervision is being provided in accordance with the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

This is a matter between the employer and the A grades.

Energy Safe recommends you have a look at the supervision ratios in section 8 of the Requirements – in particular, the combinations of ratios. Compare these to the apprentice year levels that you have and work out where that sits for your business.

It depends on the year level of the apprentices and the ratios in Section 8 of the Requirements. For example, if you have more fourth years than A grades it may be manageable, but if you have more first years than A grades, it may be difficult to achieve the required supervision levels. You also need to factor in the type of work you are doing, for example, ELV/data etc is not electrical installation work, so the Apprentice Supervision Requirements don’t apply.

Having a good understanding of what work is electrical installation work, and therefore where the Requirements apply, is the first step. Then, you can consider arranging the work patterns in a better way.

Energy Safe can't dictate your grace period or what notice your staff have to give. In terms of needing to supervise apprentices once the A grade leaves, you'll need to look at the ratios that you you've got with your other existing staff. You might need to rearrange your work for a little while until you can get someone in to replace them.

This will be more of an issue if you are already working right to the limit of your ratios. However, the issue of supervising staff leaving, either permanently or being sick or on annual leave are issues that should be considered when you are considering how many apprentices to employ. These matters are important for work planning in general, not just apprentice supervision, and have not changed with the introduction of the new Requirements.

Energy Safe does not consider there will be a massive dismissal rate of first and second-year apprentices. Currently the data shows that most employers only have one apprentice, or one first year.

Industry networks, employer and employee groups, and group training organisations will also be able to assist. The industry is always looking to take on more apprentices, and around 3000 first years commence each year. For a short time, it may be a matter of ‘rehoming’ existing apprentices instead of taking on new ones.

The data shows that most employers only have one apprentice, or one first year. The number of apprentices who may lose their jobs should be minimal and should be able to find employment with other employers who are looking to employ an apprentice.

Energy Safe suggests you work with your A Grade to build their skills and confidence to have an apprentice and consider if you have other A grades employed who could supervise this apprentice.

This situation has not changed with the new Apprentice Supervision Requirements. What is your current business process to manage this situation? In a small company it is not uncommon for all staff to take leave at the same time. In a larger company the apprentices can be supervised by other A grades.

The Licensing Regulations require a 4-year contract of training to be eligible for licence application.

Each licence application is considered individually on its merits. Apprentices who have completed their apprenticeship early and are not yet eligible for a licence under the Regulations may be considered for a Supervised Workers Licence to make up the shortfall in time.

If you haven't completed your qualification at the end of your 4-year apprenticeship, you must extend your apprenticeship training contract. You cannot finish your qualification outside of an active apprenticeship. This is a VRQA requirement. Contact the VRQA or your Apprenticeship Connect Australia Provider.

Yes. The apprenticeship contract of training is four years. The pre-apprenticeship may give you some of the units of competence towards your qualification, meaning that you may not need to attend trade school for a short period of time in your first year. This does not reduce your apprenticeship term.

Apprentices are not allowed to supervise other apprentices.

There are other ways to develop leadership, including working alongside these other apprentices while under the overall supervision of an A Grade.

For example, a 4th year apprentice could instruct and show a 1st or 2nd year how to carry out installation testing. However, the supervising A grade must be present and overseeing the process. They will be certifying the compliance of the installation under their licence number – they are responsible for it, in addition to their responsibilities under the Apprentice Supervision Requirements.

An apprentice cannot be made responsible for other apprentices.

There have been 5 apprentice deaths over the past 10 years. They were all electrocuted.

Three of the deaths occurred around 2015/2016. Of these, one apprentice had been left alone on site. For another, the supervisor was on site but was at a different part of the site and hadn't made sure it was safe for the apprentice to be left.

The third of these was an apprentice not working with their employer, they were doing a job for a relative on the weekend.

We have had 2 more recent fatalities. One was an apprentice who was on site alone. The other is still before the courts so we cannot comment on it.

A further incident that helped prompt the change of regulations to place responsibility on the supervisors occurred when we had a first-year apprentice working on a lighting circuit that had been isolated, and the supervising electrician turned the power on as a joke. Fortunately, the apprentice was not hurt. He did blow up his pliers and got a real fright. The supervisor then bullied him into not reporting the incident.

Energy Safe found out about this incident through other means. However, given the regulations in place at the time of the incident, we were unable to take any action against the supervisor who obviously demonstrated poor behaviour with that apprentice.

This was one of the main incidents that prompted the change to the regulations in 2019, which puts responsibilities on the supervisor themselves and not just on the employer.

If you've got a report to make, please do so via https://www.energysafe.vic.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/resolve-problem-or-report-concern

You can make reports anonymously if you wish, by ticking the box on the report form.

There is also a new Apprenticeships Victoria Apprentice Helpdesk available. They will be able to help apprentices submit a complaint to Energy Safe if they don’t want to do it themselves. The Apprentice Helpdesk can be contacted on 1300 311 820 or via their website https://www.apprenticeships.vic.gov.au/helpdesk.

One of the changes with the new Apprentice Supervision Requirements is that the employer must give a copy of the requirements to the supervisor (paper or electronic). So, the supervisor has those requirements and cannot say they don't know about them. The Requirements must also be given to the apprentice.

Have a conversation with your supervisor. If you're still not getting anywhere and they're not willing to acknowledge that there are new requirements, speak to your employer (assuming the supervisor and employer are different people).

You can also contact Energy Safe, and we can speak to your employer. You can also speak to your RTO/TAFE or the Apprenticeship Victoria Help Desk or Apprentice Support Officer. Don't give up. Don't allow yourself to be put in an unsafe situation.

Firstly, well done for raising the safety concerns. If you have safety concerns, make sure you raise them.

Energy Safe is unable to assist with employment arrangements.

Talk to your TAFE or RTO. They quite often know other employers who are looking for somebody.

Talk to the industry bodies, the ETU, NECA, Master Electricians. They have networks that will help. The Apprenticeships Victoria helpdesk may also be able to assist. Group training companies may also be able to help.

Apprentices need to ensure their trade school is up to date, which will also help when you are looking for other employment.

No. All electrical installation work by a first-year apprentice must be under direct supervision – noting that they are not permitted to perform fault finding until at least their third year.

Once they have completed their apprenticeship and obtained their licence.

Apprentices must, at all times, be under effective supervision in order to meet the requirements that deem them to be licensed. Employers and supervisors must comply with the level of supervision for the types of electrical installation work specified in Table 2 (or greater, per the requirements detailed in 11.1).

It is important to note that the framework provides scope for supervisors to provide apprentices with greater autonomy as they progress through their apprenticeship.

For example, when an apprentice progresses to broad supervision, the supervisor does not need to always be physically on the same work site as the apprentice. Instead, they must provide periodic, face-to-face contact throughout the day or shift – checking that the apprentice's work complies with technical and safety requirements.

This question should be directed to VESI.

Apprentice lineworkers are not covered by these requirements. Apprentices in this qualification should adhere to the VESI requirements.

Other qualifications do not alter the apprentice supervision requirements.

If you have concerns with a particular trade school and the training they are delivering, they can be reported to the Australian Skills and Qualifications Authority (ASQA), who are the training regulator. This is outside the jurisdiction of Energy Safe.

Energy Safe are looking at how we can provide further information to the RTOs who teach the electrical courses in relation to topic areas that appear to be poorly understood or demonstrated in the licensing assessments.

While trade schooling is a vitally important part of an apprentices’ training, apprentices spend only 13% of their apprenticeship time at school. Apprentices spend 87% of their apprenticeship time on the job. Training must be provided to the apprentice in all their venues of learning and development.

No. A high percentage of apprentices do not complete their training as they have a poor experience during their apprenticeship. Improving their apprenticeship journey should improve retention and completion rates in the longer term.

This question is outside the jurisdiction of Energy Safe. It should be directed to Apprenticeships Victoria.

The requirements do place responsibility on the apprentice (refer to section 6). However, the power relationship must be recognised. We have heard from some apprentices that they will not speak up as they are scared they are going to lose their job if they do so. It is important the employers ensure an environment where the apprentice feels safe to voice their concerns.

It is the responsibility of the apprentice to ensure they do not work unsupervised outside their employment relationship.

Energy Safe appreciates your concerns; however, this is outside our jurisdiction to manage or comment.

Energy Safe appreciates your concerns; however, this is outside our jurisdiction to manage or comment.

Energy Safe appreciates their enthusiasm to further their career and take on that level of responsibility. However, recognising, understanding and acting within the law is a large part of the responsibility of being a licensed worker. If they are unwilling to acknowledge this, they may not be ready to take on this responsibility.

Employers should consider what work they have available that will challenge these apprentices and keep them learning in new areas – which will make them better electricians once they become licensed.

If competent to be under broad supervision, and if it’s safe to do so, the 4th year can be on a site by themselves. This does allow them the scope to problem-solve and think jobs through. The supervising electrician, having ensured the site is isolated and safe, can be contacted by the apprentice during the day as required. This allows the apprentice the opportunity to at least partially run a job. The supervising electrician will need to return to site for the testing and livening stage, which the apprentice can carry out under supervision.