In Australia, all apprenticeships and traineeships supported by the Australian Government are called Australian Apprenticeships.
Australian Apprenticeships are designed to be flexible to meet the needs of both the employer and the employee.
Australian apprentices work for an employer while they complete a nationally recognised qualification.
They are available full time or part time at a variety of qualification levels up to Advanced Diploma in more than 500 occupations across Australia. Australian apprentices do on the job training or off the job training or a combination of the two to complete their qualification.
Apprenticeships are usually offered in trade industries like plumbing, building, carpentry, automotive and commercial cookery. A full time apprenticeship usually takes three or four years to complete.
Traineeships are usually offered in non trade industries such as hospitality, business administration and retail. A full time traineeship takes around two years to complete.
Apprenticeships and traineeships can also be completed part time over a longer period of time.
More information about Australian Apprenticeships is available through the Australian Apprenticeships web site (see Related Links).
Australian School-based Apprenticeships
Employers can also employ an Australian Apprentice part time while they are still at school. Australian School-based Apprenticeships are available to year 11 and 12 students. Students complete both their school studies and a technical or vocational qualification while participating in on the job training with an employer.
Students are paid a training or apprentice wage for their time with their employer.
Students can also complete a Certificate III at an Australian Technical College in one of five industries: metals and engineering, automotive, building and construction, electro-technology or commercial cookery.
More information for school students interested in Australian Apprenticeships is available on the Australian Apprenticeships web site (see Related Links).
Who is eligible?
Australian Apprenticeships are available to anyone of working age. They do not require any entry qualifications. Job seekers can be a school student, school leaver, re-entering the workforce or changing career.
More information on Australian Apprenticeships, including eligibility, visit the Australiah Apprenticeships, Job Pathways or Skills Info web sites (see Related Links).
If the job seeker is a school student, their careers adviser and teachers will know if they can do an Australian School-based Apprenticeship at their school. Alternatively, they can enrol at an Australian Technical College.
How to find an Australian Apprenticeship
There are many ways for job seekers to find an Australian Apprenticeship. The Australian Apprenticeships web site has a step by step guide (link will open in a new window):
Students can also talk to their Vocational Education and Training Coordinator or career adviser as a first point of contact.
Financial help for Australian Apprentices
Australian Apprentices may be eligible for a range of government assistance, including:
- Living Away From Home Allowance
- Disabled Australian Apprentices Wage Support and tutorial support for off the job training
- Youth Allowance
- Austudy
- ABSTUDY
- Tools For Your Trade Initiative
- Support for Mid-Career Apprentices
- Business Skills Vouchers for Australian Apprentices
- Apprenticeship Wage Top-Up
- Apprenticeship Training Vouchers.
For more information on financial help for Australian Apprentices visit this link (link will open in a new window):
For more information on Business Skills Vouchers for Australian Apprentices visit this link (link will open in a new window):
More information?
If you have questions but are not sure who to ask, the JobAccess Advisers can help.