Unqualified Trainee studying Diploma wage

[reyrey]

Hi I am wondering if anyone here is studying their Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care through a traineeship? How much do you get an hour if the centre you work at is paying for your study?

[Lorina]

In regards to the traineeship, you will need to pay the tuition fee directly to the RTO (the course provider, whom you will be studying with). It varies depending on who you do your traineeship through but it could be $1000/ or a little more. As for your pay, there isn't a Diploma traineeship wage. it depends on your duties and your level of responsibilities. However, as far as I understand you will be paid a minimum wage of a cert 3 educator until you complete your Diploma where you will move up to a Diploma wage. A cert 3 educator gets a minimum of $20.61 per hour/full time.

Hope this helps!

,
Lorina

[reyrey]

Thanks for your reply, I have a few more questions... At the moment I have zero qualifications, not even a Cert III, but my diploma is about 70% completed. I have been working as a lead educator for the past two years - if my understanding is correct then I should be on Level 4A.3 and my hourly rate should be $22.60? Currently I am being paid according to the trainee wage, is my employer able to do this because they are paying for the entirety of my course?

[Lorina]

Have you paid your RTO the tuition fee?

,
Lorina

[Lorina]

Even though you haven't got a cert 3, your Diploma has the cert 3 units within it, so if you are 70% complete then you would of completed the cert 3 units already, which technically makes you cert 3 qualified.

,
Lorina

[Lorina]

In regards to your trainee wage, the Diploma qualification doesn't have a specific trainee wage set like the cert 3 traineeship so you are to be paid as for your job role. Since you are the lead educator, yes you should be on Level 4A.3 as you have stated.

,
Lorina

[reyrey]

I haven't paid any fees as my employer is paying for my course.

Thanks for your help. I think I will have to have a talk to my centre director.

[Lorina]

Yes, you should talk to your centre director to find out exactly why they are paying you as a trainee, if you are not satisfied with their reply then you can take it further from there...

,
Lorina