Hi TT,
The reason that I posted that article is that it refered to two situations that may be of some interest to Australian ATCs. The first being that the USA has a severe ATC shortage, as has Australia. Maybe some Aussie ATCs could look for alternative work there although I believe their pay on condidtions are not much better than ours.
The second is in reference to trainees being used unsupervised in "live" positions.
I found some irony in the fact that the USA has trainees, something that we do not seem to have. And as the title of my message insinuated, it would be better if AsA did not see the article because, if and when we do get trainees in the field, it may just enter management's thick skulls to use them (to alleviate staff shorages) as reported in the article.
I hope that has cleared a few things up for you.
BTW, I have seen trainees left unsupervised, albeit for short periods of time.
Regards
Stephen