APPRENTICESHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS

Apprenticeships and traineeships combine practical work with structured training to give you a nationally recognised qualification and the experience you need to get the job you want. Apprenticeships are usually for a longer period than traineeships (e.g., most traineeships take approximately one year full-time to complete, while many apprenticeships take up to four years full-time). Whether you do an apprenticeship or traineeship depends on the career area you wish to enter.

Apprenticeships and traineeships are now available in over 500 occupations in a large range of industries. Go to the following website for a list of apprenticeships and traineeships available in NSW.

For more information about apprenticeships and traineeships see the following websites:  

If you are interested in obtaining an apprenticeship or traineeship, apply the following steps:ß

1. Decide what sort of apprenticeship or traineeship you want.

Use the following websites to explore careers or contact the NSW Department of Education and Training. (phone 132 811)

2. Find an employer

Explore your personal network. Do you, your parents, or friends know an employer who might take on an apprentice or trainee?

Contact a Job Services member for job vacancies in your area.

3. Contact employers directly or in writing.

Contact a group training company.

Look in the newspaper, especially the career section of the Saturday Courier Mail, Gold Coast Bulletin, or the Saturday Sydney Morning Herald or

Use the Internet :

4. What if I can’t find an employer?

To improve your chances of obtaining an apprenticeship or traineeship you could consider completing a prevocational course or another certificate level course related to the area of work in which you are interested. These can be undertaken at a TAFE institute or other registered training organisation.

5. You can find a list of registered training organisations on this website:

6. Once you have found an employer who will take you on as an apprentice or a trainee

Your employer will select a training provider to deliver the formal part of your training. This may be a TAFE institute or another registered training organisation.

You will be required to sign a training contract. This is an agreement to work and train for a specific time.

All apprenticeships and traineeships have a probation period. During this time you and your employer decide whether you want to continue your employment. This is a time when you evaluate whether you are sure that this is the employment pathway you want to pursue.