Federation TAFE - Apprentices

Apply your learning in industry, and get paid to learn

This site provides prospective students, employers, parents and teachers with information about apprenticeships and traineeships.

Australian apprenticeships are available to anyone of working age and do not require any entry qualifications. You can be a school-leaver, re-entering the workforce or simply wishing to change careers.

Australian apprenticeships offer:

  • A great way to get a head start in a chosen career.
  • Paid work and structured training that can be on-the-job, off-the-job or a combination of both.
  • Competency-based training which means you can complete your training faster if you reach the required skills level.
  • Existing skills and prior experience are recognised and course credit granted, potentially reducing formal training time. Available as full-time or part-time, also available part-time in many schools.
  • Leads to nationally recognised qualifications and skills which provide the basis for further education and training over the course of your working life.
  • A pathway from school to work.

Pre-apprenticeship

Take the first step in your career in the trades.

If you want a career in the trades, a pre-apprenticeship program will help you get to where you want to go. A pre-apprenticeship program can give you the edge over competitors when you are applying for apprenticeship positions, because you will learn the hands-on skills which employers want.

You will learn how to use the tools for your chosen trade and train on full size, up-to-date equipment in true-to-life situations. You will gain practical experience and the work that you do will give you credit towards your apprenticeship studies.

Successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship can reduce the time it takes to complete your apprenticeship by up to six months. Many pre-apprentices find jobs even before they have completed their program and all receive valuable assistance with job searching skills - all designed to help you take that first step into your trade career.

VET in Schools
If you are still at secondary school you may be able to do an Australian school-based apprenticeship as part of your school studies. There are a number of ways this could be managed and may include working in industry two days per week and going to school three days per week. For options to suit you, contact your careers co-ordinator at school or contact us. 

Australian school-based apprenticeships
If you are still at secondary school you may be able to do an Australian school-based apprenticeship as part of your school studies. There are a number of ways this could be managed and may include working in industry two days per week and going to school three days per week. For options to suit you, contact your careers co-ordinator at school or contact us.

Six easy steps to becoming a trainee or an apprentice

  1. Think about what areas you would like to work in (there are loads of industries that now have traineeships and apprenticeships available).
  2. Update your resume.
  3. Visit employers to drop off your resume and discuss if they could employ you as a trainee or an apprentice (most employers these days know the steps in employing you under this program) and talk to Group Training Australia's local office, and visit your local Australian Apprenticeship Centres (AACs) and look in newspapers for jobs advertised and visit local job network providers.
  4. Check employment websites for traineeships and apprenticeships that may be available outside our region.
  5. Consider doing a VET in Schools course or a pre-apprenticeship program at TAFE to gain some entry level skills.
  6. Be persistent!

Students commencing study with us come with a vast range of skills, experiences, motivations and capacity to deal with the challenges required when commencing study.

We need to assess students' foundation skills that are necessary for the successful completion of their studies. These assessments will enable teachers to identify any gaps in current skills. It will also allow us to offer additional support with literacy or numeracy so that students can better manage the requirements of their course.