Sign up an apprentice or trainee
Whether you're ready to sign up your apprentice now or need a bit more help to get started, you're in the right place.
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Benefits of hiring an apprentice or trainee
Apprentices and trainees bring practical skills, formal learning and fresh ideas to your workplace. Including apprentices and trainees in your hiring strategy enables you to:
- Bring new skills and ideas to your business
- Prevent skills shortages and future-proof your business
- Access funding, incentives and rebates
- Tailor training to suit your business needs
- Foster a culture of success
With over 500 apprenticeship and traineeship options available from traditional trades, engineering and manufacturing to media, tourism, retail and financial services, there's a solution to meet every business need.
Apprenticeship funding for employers
The Australian Government is committed to supporting the development of skilled labour across the country and provides a range of financial incentives and benefits to employers and Australian Apprentices. This can include incentives for hiring Priority Occupations and additional bonuses depending on your state or territory.
Priority occupations
The Australian government has developed 'The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List', identifying occupations experiencing a national skills shortage. By employing an apprentice or trainee in one of these priority areas, your business addresses critical skills gaps and may also qualify for additional government incentives and funding.
Understanding the types of apprenticeships and traineeships
Australian Apprenticeship and Traineeship is the government's collective term for apprenticeships. Apprenticeships offer flexible options for different industries and workforce needs and provide nationally recognised qualifications from Certificate I to Advanced Diplomas. But what is the difference between an apprenticeship, traineeship and a school-based apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a structured program combining practical experience in your business with formal training, primarily for trade industries and available to anyone of working age.
- Apprenticeships typically last three to four years.
- Training is delivered either on-site at your workplace or off-site through a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
- Programs are tailored to meet the specific needs of your business.
Traineeships provide structured training to equip employees with industry-specific skills and education. Open to people of all ages, traineeships cater to a wide range of industries, often in vocational or office-based roles.
- Traineeships generally last between nine months and four years.
- Covers diverse fields such as administration, customer service and IT.
- Enables businesses to develop employees with a targeted skill set.
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships offer students aged 15 and over the opportunity to gain hands-on industry experience while earning a nationally recognised qualification. Students work part-time in your business and study with an RTO while completing secondary school. Benefits for your business include:
- Recruiting keen young talent before they graduate.
- Meeting your current and future business needs.
- Introducing students to your industry and developing them through part-time training.
Apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications in your state
Each state offers a unique range of apprenticeships and traineeships tailored to local industries and economic priorities. In addition to the Australian Apprentices Priority List, click on your state or territory below to explore the complete list of apprenticeships and traineeships available.
How do I hire an apprentice or trainee?
Hiring an apprentice or trainee doesn’t have to be complicated, and we’re here to help. Our Industry Training Consultants will guide you through the process, assess your eligibility for funding, and help identify training opportunities for your team.
We can help you find the right match
Here’s how we can support your recruitment journey:
- Advertise your job to over 300,000 young job seekers via our youth-focused Skillsroad Jobs Board – perfect for entry-level roles.
- Group Training Organisations (GTOs) employ and place apprentices or trainees with host businesses. They manage admin, provide support, and ensure training continues smoothly. We can put you in touch with a variety of partner GTOs across a number of industries.
- We work with teachers, career advisors and VET coordinators to connect you with students who are ready to start their careers.
- Vocational, Training and Employment Centres (VTECs) train Indigenous job seekers and match them with employers.
- Access a diverse pool of job seekers, on Workforce Australia, from entry-level to experienced candidates across many industries.
Ready to recruit?
Thinking about hiring an apprentice or trainee? Use our free RecruitReady diagnostic tool to assess your business’s readiness, or speak to a member of our team. We’ll walk you through the hiring process, help you access funding, and support you in building a skilled workforce.