FAQs for Job Hunters

The Australian Apprenticeships & Traineeships Information Service (AATIS) consists of useful information and resources for students, job hunters, employers and industry insiders.

For job seekers AATIS is a great place to start your research. It has ideas about how to work out your ideal career, information about each industry and what apprenticeships and traineeships are available. AATIS also can connect you to organisations involved in an Australian Apprenticeship.

 *AATIS does not advertise jobs or training courses. We do not sponsor people who want to come to Australia, and we do not employ apprentices or trainees. AATIS provides all the information and resources you need to find your ideal apprenticeship or traineeship.

The Steps to an Australian Apprenticeship will help you get started on your job search.

Completing an apprenticeship or a traineeship has many benefits as a pathway into a career. These include:

• Earning a wage while you learn.
• Developing practical skills specific to the occupation or industry you are interested in.
• Experiencing training that is a combination of hands-on,delivered in the workplace and formal training delivered by a training provider.
• Gaining a nationally recognised qualification which can provide the basis for further education and training over the course of your working life.
• Potentially accessing government financial support and other benefits to assist with the costs incurred whilst you are undertaking your Australian Apprenticeship.
• Updating skills in an area you already work in.
• Increasing your value as a qualified employee.

Your apprenticeship or traineeship can also be used as a pathway to a higher level qualification, including other vocational education and training qualifications, and university qualifications.

Apprenticeships and traineeships are established across 50 industries. Most people know about the common jobs like carpentry, plumbing, automotive mechanic and electrician. But there are hundreds of other jobs that can be Australian Apprenticeships. 

Your career pathway can start with apprenticeships or traineeships in industries like community services and health, travel and tourism, communication and information technology, financial services, agriculture and horticulture, and government.

You can use this website to find out more about what jobs can be done as an apprenticeship or traineeship, and what is involved in these roles. 

There’s also industry information that can help you build an understanding of the range of industries and job roles that can be done as Australian Apprenticeships. Find out information including growth in that industry, the most common types of apprenticeship and traineeship jobs, and industry specific job hunting tips.

Yes, you can. There is no upper age limit for the commencement of an apprenticeship or traineeship, however, there are some factors which should be taken into consideration.

The term 'adult apprenticeship' can sometimes be confusing, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman website, an adult apprentice is anyone over the age of 21. At this age, apprentices and trainees may be eligible to receive adult apprentice or trainee rates of pay set out in the relevant award.

Wages may be lower than your current or previous wage, so all potential adult apprentices and trainees need to consider if they can live on an apprentice wage.

If you are still at school or at another education or training organisation there may be a Career Adviser on campus who can help you.

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) providers can assist you with career advice and skills matching to suitable apprenticeships and employers through their Gateway Service.

The VET alumni program have people who have moved through the vocational, education and training system and are happy to share their experiences.

 You can contact these sites for professional Career Advisers who will charge for their service:

• CICA - The Career Industry Council of Australia which is the national peak body for the career industry
• CDAA - Career Development Association of Australia

The first organisation to contact is the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider that completed the sign up or, contact your state or territory training authority.

The Registered Training Organisation that delivers the training may be able to assist.

You may need to contact Fair Work if your issue relates to wages, conditions or harassment.

Our post-recruitment page also has links to support services and organisations. 

A pre-apprenticeship is entry-level training which can provide a pathway into the industry of your choice. Generally, they are offered in the traditional trades industries, such as Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing and Automotive. Not all apprenticeships have a designated pre-apprenticeship course and not all apprenticeship courses allow credits from a pre-apprenticeship. A list of pre-apprenticeship courses can be found here.

Some employers in certain trades, especially the licenced trades such as electrical and plumbing, prefer apprentices to have completed a pre-apprenticeship so that they have basic skills before they begin work. It is important to remember that you do not work during a pre-apprenticeship program so you do not earn wages and in many cases you have to pay to do a pre-apprenticeship course.

Part of the apprenticeship or traineeship is to complete formal training. Formal training is conducted by a Registered Training Organisation which may be a TAFE, a community provider, or a private training provider.

The formal delivery of training can be conducted in a number of ways, face to face either in a classroom situation or on site, workbooks or online. It may be conducted through a combination of these training types.

We have more information on how apprenticeship training works.

We do not have jobs, advertise job vacancies or have any links to employers.

However, our web site is designed to help you find an apprenticeship or traineeship and there are lots of ideas and tips about job hunting to help you with this process. The Steps to an Australian Apprenticeship explain how to go from career research through to getting signed up.

You should also register with you nearest Group Training Organisation as they specialise in apprenticeship employment, or contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider to utilise their Gateway Service of skills matching with employers.

Finding an apprenticeship or traineeship is the same as finding any job, however there are some organisations that are apprenticeship or traineeship specific to assist you. You can also look on Job Search Websites for live vacancies.

Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers have a free career service and apprenticeship or traineeship only vacancies on their websites.

Group Training Organisations specialise in apprenticeship employment and will also have available opportunities on their websites.

Other options are to door-knock local businesses, follow companies on social media for notifications on any openings or pop-up interviews, and consider asking your network of friends and family for referrals.

The Steps to an Australian Apprenticeship explains in more detail, including career research, job searching for an apprenticeship or traineeship, and the sign up process.

If you’re an adult and are keen to do an apprenticeship, the process is the same but for extra tips you can access more information on the Adult Apprenticeships Job Hunting Tips page on the website.

Australian Apprenticeships consist of both employment and training. The employer and apprentice must be based in Australia.

Your eligibility to apply for an Australian Apprenticeship is based on the type of visa. To find the correct, up to date information about which visa is eligible for an Australian Apprenticeship you can contact the Department of Home Affairs. If you are in Australia already, contact your local Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider to see if your existing visa is eligible.

There are certain circumstances where someone who has completed a qualification can still do an apprenticeship but you will need to talk to your local Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider about your particular circumstances.

In theory you can do this, but there are many factors involved and each case will be different. Contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider to check your eligibility and discuss with your training provider what your options could be.

There are financial incentives that an Australian Apprentice might be able to access, such as the Trade Support Loan and Living Away from Home Allowance. Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers can explain what might apply in your case, and can also explain whether there are any specific State and Territory allowances available to apprentices and trainees such as discounted car registration.

Services Australia’s Centrelink may also provide allowances and concessions. To find out what you might be eligible for and application requirements use the Centrelink Payment and Service Finder.

There might be an enrolment fee connected to the Australian Apprenticeship training. Who is responsible for the payment of enrolment fees and other types of fees and payments varies in different trades and industries.

Some awards stipulate that this is the responsibility of the employer, but some awards don't say who has to pay There may also be State or Territory based policies relating to fees. It's important to check apprentice or trainee entitlements with the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Earning while you are learning is one of the many benefits of becoming an apprentice or trainee. Apprentices and trainees have lower pay rates than other workers and they vary between occupation and industry. It is a good idea to do your research and find out about wages, entitlements and financial support you may get to assist you on your career journey before you begin. 

Trainee wage rates may depend on your age, education level and the number of years since you left school. Apprentices wage rates are set in the award of the industry and job you are apprenticed to. Basic employment entitlements such as sick leave, overtime rates, and superannuation are set in your award for both trainees and apprentices

Your award may also state who is responsible to pay for an apprentice or trainee's training fees, and whether there are any travel, accommodation, or uniform allowance entitlements.

All the relevant information about the award you will be under, and the wages and allowances you entitled to can be found at the Fair Work Ombudsman website.