How much unpaid "training" is reasonable?

Hi ladies,
Just wondering if anyone had any knowledge or recent experience on this or just opinions . DH is starting up a pizza cafe and has put a sign up at the shop advertising for staff. He has had lots of interest and done a few phone interviews so far. Mainly high school and uni students. He is just wondering about what the usual thing is with training. He is wanting people to come in for say, 2 blocks of 4 hours to learn how to use the equipment, talk about how they are all going to work together, rosters etc. As it is a new business he thought he might just get everyone there at the same time and have a few informal training sessions before they open ie. they would not be doing real work, just learning the ropes.
He thought of not paying them for that at the time but paying a few weeks later, to make sure they stick around. Do you think that is reasonable? Are businesses actually allowed to NOT pay for training?
He had a pizza restaurant when he lived in the US so knows some part of the business but the local rules and laws are all new to us as it is our first go at a small business.

hi anney, im not sure about now with work choices and all that, but a few years ago my boss (in a cafe) had a girl do work exp for a week (for school) who then asked for more unpaid experience during the holidays, with a view to employment, it didnt work out (she was hopeless!) but she then made complaints to some organisation and my boss got in a bit trouble and had to pay her for the whole lot. and a fine.

I was under the impression it was illegal NOT to pay for training and that workplace insurance doesn't cover you in this instance?

ETA: School Work experience is different as it is covered by Dept of Ed Insurance etc - it is the opposite - you CAN'T pay them for this (I was a school careers advisor for a while)

How much: NONE as far as I'm aware.

It was a few years ago but I did some training with a workplace for free and they wanted me to do several more shifts of "training" for free. I queried it with the centerlink office I was with and they said it was illegal to expect anyone to train for free.

It must be hard to start out with having everyone train etc at once but I think you do need to pay them. Perhaps an "interview and show around the equipment" all in one may be more the go? I had an interview and "manual dexterity test" at Holdens years ago which involved using some equipement to see if I was suited to the workplace. It's a tricky one....

I always have potential new staff come in and work in the rooms with the staff for at least a day - I make sure they understand that it is a voluntary trial day unpaid. I find that the genuine ones are always happy to do this - and it gives me a good idea of how they might work out as the other staff are able to get a feel for their ability, etc.

my first employer put me on 'work experience' for a few weeks (was a bakery) paid me $5 a day, i rang wageline about it and the said it was illegal, they went in a got me my money owed and they got fined, i'd get some sort of advice first

Sorry but even a moment of unpaid work for training or otherwise is legal. The employee must be paid at least the basic periodic rate of pay for all time worked.

This is why there is a probation, it is a time for both the employee and employer to see if they are suitable for the position.

If you take on an employee and don't pay for training them then you run the risk of serious penalties. It is just not worth the risk. I'd encourage you to have a look at the Fair Work Ombudsman website for more info.

HTH
Spring

Thanks everyone for the clarification. i thought it would be illegal but I have heard of it happening so much that I wondered how employers managed it. As I said, we intend paying them for the training but after they have been there for two weeks when we have an idea that they are going to stick around. Certain wouldn't let anyone go without paying them. We just don't want to pay people who are not really serious about wanting a job.