Disputed completion - authorising issue of qualification or statement of attainment
Version 3.2
November 2009
Disputed completion - authorising issue of qualification or statement of attainment [PDF 68kB]
Disputed completion process
The following information has been developed to provide training organisations and Department of Education and Training (DET) officers with a process which meets the requirements of the legislation and enables the matter to be settled.
This process applies to situations where one of the parties to the training contract (apprentice or employer) refuses to sign a completion agreement and a complaint is lodged with either the training organisation or DET.
Under departmental policies and procedures, the process is dependent on the training organisation notifying DET of the situation and requesting authority from the Training and Employment Recognition Council (TERC) to issue the qualification.
Note: There may be occasions when a dispute arises over an assessment of competencies. A dispute of this nature should be referred to the training organisation for resolution.
The complaint
Please ensure:
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One of the parties to the contract notifies the training organisation or DET that the other party is refusing to sign a completion agreement.
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If the complaint is lodged with DET, the complainant will be referred back to the training organisation in the first instance for them to attempt to resolve the matter through their complaints and appeals process required under Australian Qualifications Training Framework element 2.6.
The validation process
The training organisation's validation process should include:
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ensuring all training required to be delivered under the agreed training plan has been delivered and
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having a discussion with the parties to clarify the reasons for refusing to sign the completion agreement.
Before considering the training organisation's request, the delegated DET officer must ensure the training organisation has provided a statement containing the following information:
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It had not received a completion agreement signed by both parties.
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It is satisfied the apprentice or trainee has completed all the training required for the apprenticeship or traineeship.
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The apprentice or trainee is entitled to be issued with a qualification or statement of attainment for the apprenticeship or traineeship.
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It has submitted a completion agreement to both the employer and the apprentice or trainee for their signature.
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The employer or apprentice/trainee refuses to sign the completion agreement.
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It has outlined the facts and circumstances, including their attempts to obtain the missing signature, which reasonably satisfies the training organisation that all required training is completed, and the apprentice or trainee is entitled to be issued the qualification or statement of attainment.
The completion process
Please ensure:
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The training organisation completes the Disputed completion - authorising issue of a qualification or statement of attainment [PDF 109kB] on the Apprenticeships Info website.
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The copy of the completion agreement with the missing signature is attached and both forms are forwarded to the relevant regional office. Locate a Training Queensland office.
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The delegated DET officer will prepare a show cause notice based on the information provided by the training organisation and send a copy to all parties, including the training organisation.
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After the required interval, the delegated officer will make a decision on the matter and forward an information notice to all parties. If the decision is to approve completion, the information notice has the same effect date as a signed completion agreement form.
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The actual completion date will be the date of the decision as stated in the information notice.
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On receipt of the information notice approving the completion, the training organisation issues the qualification within 21 days.
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The training organisation sends a copy of the notice of issue to the relevant regional office and all parties to the contract with 14 days.
Promptly after receiving the notice of issue, the council must issue a completion certificate to the apprentice or trainee.
Who to contact
For further information, contact Apprenticeships Info on 1800 210 210.