The Apprenticeship Support Officer (ASO) program is funded by the Victorian State Government and aims to offer support and guidance to first year apprentices aged between 15–25 to complete the first year of their apprenticeship, giving them the best chance of completing their full apprenticeship. There are twenty-eight ASOs located across Victoria and service areas are based on the employer’s workplace location.
Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute have six ASOs servicing the geographic region that extends from the CBD out along the North Western Metropolitan corridor and the Bendigo Region.
Bendigo TAFE and Kangan Institute ASOs service apprentices employed within this region and who attend any TAFE or Registered Training Organisation.
How it works
Apprenticeship Support Officers contact apprentices in the early stage of their apprenticeship to offer mentoring, information and support across all trade areas. ASOs can assist and support apprentices to navigate workplace or training issues and refer to Fair Work, Worksafe Victoria, Centrelink, Australian Apprenticeship Network providers and the Victorian Regulations and Qualifications Authority. They can also help with referrals to other support services and provide assistance and support for apprentices who lose their job, wish to change employers or look at a different field of study.
ASOs welcome enquires from apprentices, parents of under 18-year-old apprentices, referrals from teaching staff and student support services.
Call 1300 311 820 or email: apprenticeship.support@edumail.vic.gov.au
To contact a Bendigo TAFE ASO:
email ApprenticeshipSupportProgram@bendigotafe.edu.au
Important links:
Victorian Registrations and Qualifications Authority (VRQA)
VicRoads - Car registration discounts for Trades apprentices
The Apprenticeship Support Program is supported by the Victorian Government.