Are you considering commencing an Apprenticeship or Traineeship?
Have you considered contacting a Group Training Organisation (GTO) to help you secure employment and select a training program that’s right for you?
GTO's are Australia's leading employers of Apprentices and Trainees. They secure your on-the-job training and organise your off-the-job training with TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation; they look after all your wages, worker's compensation and other employee benefits, and most importantly they monitor your progress and offer support throughout the term of your Apprenticeship or Traineeship. The process is simpler than you may think. Find out more about School-based Traineeships
What is an Apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships are jobs that combine work and structured training. Although they vary from one industry to another, apprenticeships include:
- Paid employment under an appropriate industrial arrangement (for example, an award or enterprise agreement);
- A Training Contract that is signed by both the employer and apprentice and registered with the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET), the only exception being trainee apprentices;
- A qualification, delivered by a TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation, that meets the requirements of a declared apprenticeship in NSW and leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
Find the Right Apprenticeship For You
There are more than 100 apprenticeship vocations available in NSW. Apprenticeships generally last four years and cover traditional trade areas such as: building and construction; hairdressing; cooking; the automotive industry; engineering and manufacturing. All apprenticeships (designated by the Commissioner for Vocational Training under the Apprenticeship and Training Act 2001) are recognised trade vocations under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001.
If you know what Apprenticeship you would like to undertake, search by industry category to Find the Right GTO for You, to meet all your employment and training needs. If you are yet to decide on your career direction browse through over 100 apprenticeships and 500 traineeships currently offered in NSW to find the right Apprenticeship or Traineeship for you.
An Apprenticeship is a full-time commitment as is completing your high school studies, so at this stage Apprenticeships cannot be undertaken whilst at school. More on School-based Traineeships.
What is a Traineeship?
Traineeships, like Apprenticeships are jobs that combine work with structured on and off-the-job training. Traineeships generally include:
- Paid employment under an appropriate industrial arrangement (for example, an award or enterprise agreement);
- A Training Contract that is signed by both the employer and trainee and registered with the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET), the only exception being trainee apprentices;
- A qualification, delivered by a TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation, that meets the requirements of a declared traineeship in NSW and leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
Traineeships traditionally cover a much wider range of occupations than apprenticeships, however the training is generally shorter, lasting between one and two years. In recent years, improvements have been made to the traineeship system in NSW to make training more flexible. Many higher qualification level and longer traineeships have now been introduced. Traineeships have also been established in new industries, easily being linked to further vocational education and university studies.
There are over 600 traineeship vocations introduced to provide employment and training opportunities in a range of areas, including: multimedia; information technology; sport and recreation; hospitality; retail and primary industries.
There are a number of ways a Traineeships can be undertaken:
- Full-time Traineeship – Employers are responsible for all Trainee on-the-job training. Together with the Trainee, Employers are able to choose a training provider for the off-the job training and determine a flexible training plan to suit business needs.
- Part-time Traineeship - The option to employ an Trainee part-time is suitable for small to medium enterprises. The Trainee receives a guaranteed pattern of work with a minimum number of hours of on and off-the-job training per week. Exact requirements vary from State to State. This option is also available for students that can undertake a part-time traineeship organised through a group training organisation, whilst continuing their usual study load at school.
- School Based Traineeships - These are generally available to students from Year 11 or Year 12, You can undertake a School-Based traineeship as part of your Higher School Certificate (HSC). Under this arrangement you will be completing your HSC as well as obtaining your traineeship. The traineeships you can obtain under this scheme are among the most popular on offer. You are required to invest additional effort and time but you will earn as you learn.
- Existing Staff - Existing staff that have been with an employer for more than 3 months full-time or 12 months part-time/casual may apply to enter a Traineeship.
