WorkSafe Victoria Supports New Safe Start Project for Apprentices
The Australian Industry Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre (Ai Group ATC) is pleased to announce that it has received funding through WorkSafe Victoria’s 2025-26 grants funding round to deliver the Safe Start Project, an initiative focused on improving safety outcomes for apprentices entering manufacturing workplaces.
The project forms part of WorkSafe Victoria’s commitment to supporting innovative approaches that prevent or minimise risks from hazards in manufacturing workplaces. [https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/worksafe-grants]
Creating Safer Starts for Apprentices
Starting an apprenticeship is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a challenging transition into a new workplace, new equipment, new expectations and new safety responsibilities.
The Safe Start Project will explore ways to improve the onboarding experience for apprentices in manufacturing and engineering environments by identifying practical strategies that help young workers understand workplace risks, build confidence and develop safe work habits from day one.
Through collaboration with host employers, apprentices, workplace supervisors and industry stakeholders, the project will seek to identify what works well, where improvements can be made and how best practice approaches can be shared across the sector.
Working Together to Improve Safety
As one of Australia’s leading employers of manufacturing apprentices, Ai Group ATC understands the important role that both employers and apprentices play in creating safe and supportive workplaces.
The Safe Start Project will focus on gathering real-world experiences and insights to help shape practical resources and recommendations that can support better safety outcomes for apprentices now and into the future.
Get Involved
We’re inviting host employers, supervisors and apprentices to be part of the project.
If you’ve welcomed an apprentice into your workplace, supervised an apprentice, or recently started an apprenticeship yourself, we’d love to hear about your experiences. Your feedback and involvement will help us identify opportunities to improve how apprentices are introduced to workplace safety and supported throughout the early stages of their apprenticeship. Together, we can create safer, more confident starts for the next generation of manufacturing apprentices
Interested in getting involved?
Contact the Ai Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre team to learn more about the Safe Start Project and upcoming opportunities to participate.
Call 1300 761 944