Public Tenant Employment service for contractors

Contractors who have contracts with the Office of Housing with a Public Tenant Employment (PTEP) clause are required to employ public housing tenants when opportunities arise. This is a standard contract with the exception of the PTEP clause.

The intention of the clause is to provide opportunities for OoH tenants to gain work. To ensure this is meaningful for yourself and your potential employees, it is suggested that you consider the best way for tenants to be employed to suit your workforce needs. You can consider any category of work such as apprentices, labourers or office administration.

Recruiting

PTEP will provide a free recruitment service for you. Your vacancy/s will be advertised and you will be provided with a number of resumes' to interview and select from.

Employment of public tenants can be achieved by employing directly or via your sub-contractors. Any public tenants already employed will be taken into account for meeting these requirements.

Employing tenants

When you have selected your public tenant employees you should proceed in the usual way. Public tenant employees should be under the same conditions and contracts that you usually use. The public tenant employees should not displace your existing workforce, but fill vacancies as they arise.

Apprenticeships

Apprentices are eligible for both state and Commonwealth subsidies and incentives. There are two ways to employ an apprentice:

1.Direct employment with your company, or

2.Through a Group Training Company

Group Training Companies (GTC) are the legal employer and take responsibility for wages, superannuation, administration and skill development. If you are unable to offer ongoing employment the GTC will take responsibility for placing the apprentice with another host employer.

Contact PTEP if you would like to employ an apprentice through a Group Training Company.

*Special Announcement for Funding for Apprenticeships*

The Public Tenant Employment Program has established a partnership with HIA Group Training to promote construction industry apprenticeships for public tenants with substantial subsidies for contractors.

The way it works

• HIA indentures the Apprentice and is the legal employer for the apprenticeship
• The Apprentices are released on placement to the contractor, who is the Host Trainer for the on-the-job part of the apprenticeship
• Long or short term depending on the contractors needs or the life of the contract

HIA is responsible for:

• Selection
• Induction
• Apprentice Registration
• Site Safety Training
• Tools Training
• Ongoing site visits
• Payroll
• Performance management
• Trade school coordination
• Safety equipment
• OH&S management
• Workers Compensation
• Pastoral care

Charges and Subsidies

The funding model for this project is designed to reduce the cost to the contractor to encourage greater uptake of apprentices and generous subsidies are included. You don’t get charged when the Apprentice is on annual leave, sick leave, rostered days off, trade school or workers compensation.
The approximate cost for a first year apprentice under 25 years old is only $13,000 under this program. (This is an approximate cost and subject to variation)

To learn more and to apply for an Apprentice under this program contact;

Chris Fortune at HIA on 92808250 c.fortune@hia.com.au
Jaimee Kindt at PTEP on 90965864 jaimee.kindt@dhs.vic.gov.au

Please Note: There is a limited number of funding packages available

Training and induction

Usual Occupation Health and Safety (OH&S) and induction training should be provided to ensure workers are competent for the tasks they're employed for.

Paperwork and reporting

When employing someone through PTEP you will need to complete the Tenant Employee Registration form.

You will also be asked for an update at site meetings and a written report at approved periods or prior to practical completion (forms provided in the contract). The PTEP team will be available throughout the life of your contract to provide support to you, your site managers, and the public tenant employees.