Applicant Obligations

As an occupational trainee, you must understand your obligations about your entry into Australia and participation in the occupational training.  When you are granted a visa, you must meet the following obligations.

While in Australia, you must:

• comply with the conditions attached to your occupational trainee visa
• not undertake any work outside of the nominated and approved occupational training program
• maintain health insurance for the duration of your stay in Australia
• contact the department if you want to change your sponsor or cease your training before it is completed.

If the sponsor ceases your training, you must do one of the following:

• find another training provider who is willing to sponsor you, or
• leave Australia within 28 days unless your visa expires before that time, in which case you must leave Australia prior to visa expiry.

If you have entered Australia under a nomination arrangement, you can change the nominated position or sponsor by having a new nomination approved.

The following table outlines the conditions attached to the occupational trainee visa.

If you are…	you must…
the occupational trainee	not engage in work in Australia (other than in relation to your course of study or training).
	maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.
a family member of the occupational trainee	not engage in work for more than 20 hours a week while in Australia.
	maintain adequate arrangements for health insurance while in Australia.

Note: Other conditions may apply.

Trainee obligations

While undertaking the training, occupational trainees must:

• participate fully in the occupational training
• not undertake any other activities likely to impact on the trainee's participation in the occupational training
• notify the sponsor of any changes to their personal circumstances, such as inability to continue the training
• notify the sponsor if they have any concerns about the training program.

Health insurance

To be granted a visa, the trainee and any family member included in the occupational trainee application must show that they have adequate health insurance for the first 12 months of the training program, or if less than 12 months, the period of training.

Note: Overseas Student Health Cover cannot be used for occupational trainee visa applications.

Changing sponsor

If you decide to undertake training with another organisation while in Australia you will need to be sponsored by the new organisation and have them lodge a nomination. When the new nomination is approved you will be able to train with that organisation for the period remaining on your visa without having to reapply for a new visa.

Change in circumstances

You must notify the department of any change in your circumstances that may breach your visa conditions.
Example: If you stop working with the organisation that you were placed with.
See: Form 1022 Notification of Changes in Circumstances ( 97KB PDF file)

Before lodging an application, please read all related obligations.
See: Other obligations