Earning or learning? Reimbursement for training away from home

Key Points:

The living away from home allowances must only be paid in respect of travel for work, and not for training.

In a decision with important implications for the potential costs of training for employers, the Federal Magistrates Court has held that a trainee employee was not entitled to be reimbursed for travel, accommodation and meal costs when he attended work-related training courses.

Federal Magistrate Cameron held in CEPU v Excelior Pty Ltd [2012] FMCA 621 that attending training is not "work" for the purposes of the Telecommunications Services Award 2010. The Award provisions that were considered by the Federal Magistrate are similar to working away from home allowance provisions that are contained in a number of Modern Awards.