The National training wage (NTW) schedule in the Miscellaneous Award lists minimum rates for most award covered trainees. For some trainees the award specific NTW schedule in their award does.

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

A trainee's minimum rate in the NTW schedule is based on the:

• wage level for the traineeship they're doing
• highest year of school they've completed
• number of years they've been out of school

To calculate trainee rates, use our Pay and Conditions Tool. 

Wage level

The NTW schedule lists the training package and the AQF certificate level allocated to a wage level.

For example, the Level III certificate in the beauty training package is allocated to wage level A, and the Level II certificate in the beauty training package is allocated to wage level B.

Highest year of schooling

A trainee's highest year of schooling is the highest year of secondary school that they've successfully completed.

If a trainee left school before completing year 10, then year 10 is used as their highest year of schooling.

Years out of school

The number of years out of school doesn't increase on 1 January following a completed year of school. This is because the period between when a trainee finishes a year of school and the end of that year isn't counted towards years out of school.

Example: trainee completed year 10 and left school

Martez is a trainee. She completed year 10 in November 2019. She started her traineeship in January 2020.

From 1 January 2020 she's a 'school leaver' and from 1 January 2021 she's 'plus 1 year out of school'.

Completing part of a year or repeating a year

The number of years a trainee is out of school includes any period after year 10 where they've:

• part-completed year 11 or 12
• repeated or part-repeated year 11 or 12.

Example: trainee completed year 11 and left school

Pam is a trainee. She completed year 11 in November 2019. She started her traineeship in January 2020.

Therefore, as at January 2020 when Pam started her traineeship, she's considered to be a school leaver.

This is because:

• even though 1 January 2020 has passed, Pam's years out of school don't increase
• the period between when a trainee finishes a year of school and the end of that year isn't counted towards years out of school.

Example: trainee part-completed year 11

Joe is a trainee. He left school in July 2019 half-way through year 11. He started his traineeship in January 2020.

Therefore, as at January 2020 when Joe started his traineeship, he's considered to have completed year 10 and be 1 year out of school.

This is becuase:

• Joe completed year 10 and only part-completed year 11
• the time spent by Joe part-completing year 11 is counted towards his years out of school.

Example: trainee repeated year 12

Loch is a trainee. He first attempted year 12 in 2018. He then repeated year 12 and left school in November 2019. He started his traineeship in January 2020.

Therefore, as at January 2020 (when Loch started his traineeship) he is considered to have completed year 12 and be 1 year out of school.

This is because:

• Loch first completed year 12 in 2018 (and repeated year 12 in 2019)
• the time spent by Loch repeating year 12 is counted towards his years out of school.

Adult trainees

An adult trainee is a trainee who would qualify to be paid the highest minimum wage in wage level A, B or C, if they were covered by that wage level. It doesn’t depend on the age of the trainee.

Adult trainees get paid different rates when they’re completing Certificate IV traineeships.

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