Traineeship and apprenticeship training is intended to enable people to develop skills and knowledge through a combination of study and work at the same time.
There are a range of government subsidies and payments to facilitate this.
In some cases trainees can receive recognition for their existing skills and knowledge.
What is an apprenticeship?
Under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001, Apprentices and Trainees must be under a 'Contract' or 'Training Agreement' with their employer before they can study at TAFE or gain an apprenticeship qualification. 'Contracted' apprentices are then entitled to receive:
- Training at TAFE (Australian citizens or permanent residents only)
- Nationally recognised qualifications that lead to a career and pathways to other opportunities
- Financial assistance
- Ongoing advice and support
If you are unsure as to whether you are under an apprenticeship 'Contract' or 'Training Agreement', ask your employer to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Centre at apprenticeship.det.nsw.edu.au.
What are traineeships?
A traineeship is a work-based training program, which means you earn while you learn.
Traineeships are usually 12 months long but there are some traineeships which take a shorter time and some which take longer. The timeframe can be anything from 6 months to 18 months.
Traineeships give you the skills and experience you need to meet industry demand for entry-level positions. Although traineeships vary from one industry to another, all traineeships include:
- Paid employment under an appropriate industry arrangement (e.g. an award or enterprise agreement)
- An indenture of traineeship (training agreement) that is signed by both the employer and trainee
- A training program, delivered by a Registered Training Organisation, that meets the requirements of a traineeship in NSW and leads to a nationally recognised qualification
FAQ
Traineeships are advertised in the employment section of the newspapers. You can also approach employers directly to see if they have any vacancies. Or you can look for Traineeship vacancies on the Australian Government jobs site.
Group Training Companies employ a large number of trainees each year. They can match you with a host employer or a range of employers so you can get experience working in large industries and in smaller, more specialised businesses.
The contact number for the Group Training Association NSW is (+61 2) 9746 9333.
There are over 400 traineeships which have been introduced to provide employment and training opportunities in a range of areas. Here are some that are available at South Western Sydney Institute: automotive; manufacturing and engineering; transport and distribution; finance, insurance and business services; process manufacturing; retail and wholesale; sport and recreation; tourism and hospitality; community services and health.
Once you have commenced employment as a trainee, your hands-on training starts at your workplace. This is provided by your employer with additional structured training being delivered by a training organisation such as South Western Sydney Institute.
This training can commence as soon as the necessary paperwork is finalised and the TAFE contact person has spoken with your employer to organise the training.
Traineeships can be undertaken in a variety of ways including:
- Totally on-the-job
- In your workplace as flexible work-based delivery
- Customised to meet the needs of your employer
- Delivered part-time
- Totally off-the-job (i.e. you attend the relevant TAFE college either one day each week and/or block attendance depending on the traineeship area)
Yes. Existing Worker Traineeships are similar to other traineeships in that they contain formal accredited training and/or assessment and recognition of prior learning.
They are generally a one to two year program and are aimed at providing existing workers with the opportunity to gain formal qualifications to match their existing knowledge and to help develop new skills.
Who can participate? An existing worker trainee is defined as a person who has been employed continuously by the existing employer for more than 3 months full-time or 12 months casual or part-time or a combination of both immediately prior to commencing the traineeship.
What employer incentives are available? Employers participating in the Existing Worker Traineeship program may be eligible for Federal Government subsidies for each trainee they employ.
More information can be obtained by contacting an Australian Apprenticeship Centre (AAC) for up to date advice and assistance.
Click here to view the Australian Apprenticeships site or phone 13 38 73.
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