Quick info

Apprenticeships guide by Industry Apprenticeships Industry guide by Industry
Australian Apprenticeships website (www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/)
Australian Apprenticeships Training Information Service (www.natinfo.com.au/)
Contact a Victorian apprenticeship field officer
Guide to Apprenticeships and Traineeships June 2007

Apprentices & trainees

In an apprenticeship/traineeship, you learn skills in a particular industry by workplace based training. 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 other employers in your industry.

You may hear apprenticeships and traineeships referred to as Australian Apprenticeships. This is the term used by the Commonwealth Government.

If you are thinking of becoming an apprentice or trainee, the best place to start is the Steps to find an Australian Apprenticeship section of the Australian Apprenticeships website.

The Australian Apprenticeships website clearly lays out, step by step, what to do to find a apprenticeship or traineeship, including:

useful websites to help you decide on an industry you want to work in, as well as information on job prospects and weekly earnings
ways to find job vacancies
how to market yourself
how to apply for positions and write an application
ways to increase your chances of success at interviews.

You can also look at the industry guide for the apprenticeship/traineeship that interests you.

Each guide contains:

the apprenticeships or traineeships available in that industry
how to employ an apprentice or trainee
the roles of the various players
financial incentives, both State and Commonwealth
useful contacts
how to find a registered training organisation
sample training plans
your responsibilities
training tips

You can obtain useful information from your nearest Australian Apprenticeship Centre (AAC ). They provide one-stop shops for those seeking to employ apprentices and trainees or take up an apprenticeship or traineeship as a career path.

On this website you can get information on Who provides the training, Wages and contracts, Tips and ideas to support you during your training and services that offer you advice on dealing with Complaints and grievances.

Pre-Apprenticeship courses are often a pathway to an apprenticeship. Contact your local TAFE and inquire about the Pre-Apprenticeship courses they offer.

Victorian Pre-Apprenticeship arrangements (PDF - 82Kb) detail the available Pre-Apprenticeship courses and the related reduction in nominal duration of the apprenticeship training contract.