There are differences between an employee completing a traineeship to attain a certificate level qualification and an employee completing a diploma under a signed training contract.

Traineeships

Most traineeships lead to a certificate level qualification.

Employees undertaking a traineeship to attain a certificate level qualification get their pay and conditions from Schedule E in the Miscellaneous Award. 

Other entitlements (such as penalty rates, overtime and allowances) come from the industry or occupational award that covers them. 

Some trainees get all of their pay and conditions from their industry or occupational award.

Employers and trainees should check their award to confirm where their pay and entitlements come from.

Employees completing Diplomas

An employee completing a diploma under a signed training contract gets paid the applicable adult or junior rate in their award, based on their classification and duties. 

All other entitlements also come from the industry or occupational award that covers them. 

This is because the pay and conditions in Schedule E of the Miscellaneous Award only apply to employees completing traineeships that lead to a certificate level qualification.