Becoming an Apprentice or Trainee

1. What are Australian Apprenticeships?

Australian Apprenticeships are the term given to traineeships and apprenticeships and combine paid work with nationally recognised training. You learn skills in a particular industry by working and learning on-the-job, and also through training with a registered training organisation (such as Swinburne TAFE).

Australian Apprenticeships are available in a wide range of industries and can be full or part-time. Apprenticeships are generally of three to four years’ duration, while traineeships are usually of one to two years’ duration. Australian Apprenticeships are available in traditional trade areas as well as areas such as finance, IT, office administration or retail, to name just a few examples.

2. How do you get an Australian Apprenticeship?

Swinburne TAFE is one of Victoria’s largest providers of apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications. But before you enrol in these programs, you will need to find an employer willing to offer you an apprenticeship or traineeship in your chosen field. You do this in the same way you would look for any job. Check newspapers and the internet for job advertisements, or contact employers directly and ask if they would be willing to employ you as an apprentice/trainee. Once you have found employment, your employer will need to register you though an Australian Apprenticeship Centre or “AAC”. They can find their nearest AAC by calling 1800 639 629 or getting onto www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au.

Below is the process to become an apprentice or trainee:

3. What are Pre-Apprenticeships?

Swinburne TAFE also offers a range of pre-apprenticeship courses that let you ‘road test’ an industry and do part of your apprenticeship without having to find an employer. Pre-apprenticeships make you more attractive to employers as you will already have the basic skills when starting your apprenticeship. Completion of a pre-apprenticeship course will also reduce the length of your apprenticeship training. Swinburne has a range (link to pre-apps section in ‘Australian Apprenticeship courses at Swinburne) of pre-apprenticeship courses.