Apprenticeships & Traineeships
What is an apprenticeship or traineeship?
In an apprenticeship or traineeship, you learn skills in a particular industry by working and training on the job. In most cases, there is off-the-job training as well, usually with a TAFE institute or a private training provider. Your skills and qualifications are recognised across Australia, and by employers in your industry.
- More than 800 apprenticeship and trainee pathways are available as full-time or part-time programs
- Students can do an apprenticeship or traineeship while at school, or once they have left school
- Apprenticeships and traineeships are sometimes referred to as New Apprenticeships
School Based New Apprenticeships in the VCE or VCAL
Students can do an apprenticeship or traineeship part-time while at school doing the VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) or VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning). This is known as a School Based New Apprenticeship.
School Based New Apprenticeships are available in areas such as Agriculture, Automotive, Business Administration, Community Services, Engineering Studies, Food Processing, Food Processing (Wine), Horticulture, Hospitality (Operations), Information Technology, Retail Operations, Seafood Industry, Sport and Recreation.
For more information, see:
- School Based New Apprenticeships in VCE (http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vet/programs/newapprent.html).
- The Australian Apprenticeships web site, information for schools students (http://www.newapprenticeships.gov.au/)
On-the-job apprenticeship and traineeship
Apprentices and trainees generally combine on-the-job paid work with training at a TAFE institute or other registered training provider. For some programs, most of the training and assessment takes place at work.
A trainee or apprentice is required to sign a contract of training that must be registered with the Department's Office of Training & Tertiary Education. They receive wages and other employee benefits, and qualifications at Certificate II, III or IV level are nationally recognised.
For more information see: apprenticeships and traineeships (http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/apprentices_and_trainees).
Pre-apprenticeships
Students do not need an employer to do a pre-apprenticeship course. The courses generally take eight to 16 weeks and prepare a student for an apprenticeship by teaching them the basic skills of the trade. The training provider often helps the student find an employer once the course is finished.
Industries include horticulture, general construction, electrical, engineering, floristry, furnishing, carpentry and joinery, plumbing and recreational vehicle manufacturing.
For more information see: Apprenticeships and Traineeships (http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/apprentices_and_trainees)
How to get started
If you are thinking of becoming an apprentice/trainee, the best place to start is the Australian Apprenticeships (http://www.newapprenticeships.gov.au). This provides information on websites to help you decide on an industry you want to work in, as well as information on job prospects, weekly earnings, ways to find job vacancies. It also tells you how to market yourself, how to apply for positions and write an application, and ways to increase your chances of success at interviews.
Another good resource for finding out about becoming an apprentice is the Australian Apprenticeships Job Pathways website (http://www.aajobpathways.com.au/). The site provides a self help area which gives step by step guide to becoming an apprentice, information on selling yourself, attending interviews and starting a new job.
Australian Apprenticeships Job Pathways (http://www.aajobpathways.com.au/) – provides easy to use search options that lead to the Job Pathway Charts, ‘self help’ job hunting tips and Job Descriptions that provide a sample of the training specific Australian Apprenticeships occupations.
Apprentice Trade Bonus
The Apprentice Trade Bonus aims to encourage apprentices to complete their apprenticeship. Find out about the $500 Apprentice Trade Bonus for Victorian apprentices who began their apprenticeship after January 1, 2006.
More information
Apprentices & trainees (http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/apprentices_and_trainees) - information on training providers, wages and contracts, complaints and grievances.
The Australian Apprenticeships Access Programme (http://www.dest.gov.au/audience_segments/for_apprentices.htm) provides job seekers who experience barriers to skilled employment, with pre-vocational training, support and assistance to obtain and maintain a Australian Apprenticeship. Alternatively, a job seeker may be supported into employment, further education or training.
Information for employers of apprentices
Understanding the employer's perspective can often help you work more effectively. Here is a list of some resources that employers may use when deciding to employ an apprentice or trainee.
Skills Victoria website employers page (http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/industry_and_employers), including the apprenticeship guides by industry (http://www.skills.vic.gov.au/industry_and_employers/apprenticeship_guides_by_Industry).
See also the training.com.au website (http://www.training.com.au/) for employer information about the benefits of training and incentives.