Apprenticeships and traineeships, Victoria

What is an apprenticeship or traineeship?

Apprenticeships and traineeships are based on a formal training arrangement between an employer and an employee.

An apprentice is typically trained in a skilled trade and upon successful completion will become a qualified tradesperson. Trades such as plumbing, building and electrical are part of an apprenticeship scheme. A trainee is trained in a vocational area and receives a qualification in their chosen vocation at the completion of the traineeship. Traineeship jobs can include office administration, hospitality and information technology. See what types of apprenticeships and traineeships are available to job seekers.

Apprenticeships and traineeships involve a combination of work and study to receive a qualification, certificate or diploma. An apprenticeship or traineeship can be full-time, part-time or school-based and can be undertaken by anyone who’s old enough to work. A mature age apprenticeship scheme also exists.

An employee is classed as an apprentice or trainee if their training is registered and recognised by the relevant state or territory training authority or completed under a relevant law. The state and territory training authorities determine which qualifications are apprenticeships and which are traineeships in each state or territory.

How do you become an apprentice or trainee?

Before an employee can start an apprenticeship or a traineeship, the employer (Victorian Group Training) and the employee need to register the training with the relevant state or territory training authority. This is known as signing up.

The arrangement is a contract between yourself, the group training organisation (VGTC) and the host employer.

Victoria Group Training can assist you in finding a suitable host employer for you to undertake your apprenticeship or traineeship. See what apprenticeships and traineeship jobs vacancies we have available at Victorian Group Training or register you interest in becoming an apprentice or trainee.

What steps are involved in applying for apprenticeships and traineeships?

STEP 1

Step 1: Contact an Australian Apprenticeships Centre

Prior to entering into an apprenticeship or traineeship, Victorian Group Training, as the employer, will contact an Australian Apprenticeships Centre (AAC) to register the training contract.

STEP 2

Step 2: Contact a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Victorian Group Training will contact a Registered Training Organisations (RTO), or “trade school”, which can deliver the relevant qualification. They will initiate a training plan for you, whether it’s a mature age apprenticeship, traineeship or apprenticeship. RTOs provide training that is nationally recognised and range from privately run companies to industry and professional associations.

The chosen RTO will provide assistance on a range of matters such as:

advising and supporting the apprentice or trainee to succeed in their apprenticeship or traineeship jobs
assessing the apprentice or trainee’s achievement of skills
issuing a qualification on successful completion of the training.

You can choose from a range of RTOs – Victorian Group Training in Geelong and Colac can help advise you on the best one for you.

STEP 3

Step 3: Fill in the required paperwork

Victorian Group Training will assist you with filling in and lodging the required paperwork. This includes internal paperwork, RTO enrolment forms, the training contract etc.

STEP 4

Step 4: Start working

Victorian Group Training will assist the apprentice or trainee and the host employer throughout the apprenticeship or traineeship.

Contact Victorian Group Training in Colac or Geelong to find out more or for further information on apprenticeships and traineeships, please check out the following link:

Australian Apprenticeships – Apprenticeship Advice and Support