Are you a school leaver looking to do a trade?
Maybe you’re re-entering the workforce or having a career change?
Perhaps you are still at secondary school, but feel that you’re ready to dive in and get started on your career?
Or maybe you are a parent looking for guidance about how to support your child into a career?
An apprenticeship is a great way to get started in a trade – they can be done by anyone of working age.
“With the growing building market, an apprenticeship is a great opportunity to learn skills and knowledge, even if it’s just to fix up your own home,” Chisholm Building and Construction Manager Adam Laxton says.
“You’re learning new skills, not just within your subject matter. If you’re a carpenter, you don’t just learn about carpentry – you learn about other trade areas too. I always say it’s more of a lifestyle than a job.”
So, how do apprenticeships work? Let’s take a look.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is a learning pathway that combines paid practical industry learning with formal study.
You start your vocational training, gain hands-on experience and earn money at the same time, in some instances while still at school (see school-based apprenticeships).
Apprenticeships are usually full-time, but in some instances they may be completed part-time.
At the end of your apprenticeship, you have a nationally recognised qualification under your belt. That means you can use your qualification to work anywhere around Australia, and often overseas too.
What’s the difference between an apprenticeship and a traineeship?
Apprenticeships combine work and study to get a trade qualification, which may take anywhere from three to six years (on average, it’s three to four years). Examples include plumbing, engineering and hairdressing.
A traineeship combines work and study to get a certificate qualification, generally in non-trade areas such as aged care, early childhood education and information technology. This usually takes one to two years.
Benefits of an apprenticeship
- Earn while you learn.
- Gain practical skills so you are job-ready.
- Get your foot in the door with an employer (apprenticeships frequently lead to ongoing employment).
- End up with a nationally recognised qualification.
- Choose from loads of different careers and jobs – 500 in fact, according to the Australian Government’s Australian Apprenticeships website.
What attributes do you need?
Depending on the trade, certain attributes may come in handy. If you’re looking to do something like building design or hairdressing, creativity and interpersonal skills are important.
For some trades, like engineering, electrical courses and automotive trades, a solid understanding of maths can be a real advantage.
With other trades, like building and construction, you may need to be meticulous and follow projects through from start to finish, so skills like attention to detail and time management may be useful. Same goes for trades such as carpentry and cabinet making.
Trades like plumbing require you to be relatively fit and able to problem solve, while a desire to work at heights and outdoors is key if you want to be a bricklayer.
How is an apprenticeship structured?
“Some apprenticeships are full-time campus-based learning with a blend of workplace; others are a blend of workplace and a small amount of campus-based learning,” says Adam. “It depends on the employer’s needs.”
With all apprenticeships, you can earn while you learn, says Adam. “Any study that you do, whether it be online or campus-based, you should be getting paid for.”
Chisholm apprenticeship courses
Chisholm offers apprenticeship courses across many different industries, from barbering and commercial cookery to plumbing and heavy commercial vehicle mechanical technology.
Courses are designed to give you the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to help you excel in your chosen trade.
To explore current offerings, head to Chisholm’s Apprenticeships page.
Job opportunities
The employment prospects for trades are strong, given the current skills shortages.
The National Skills Commission's 2022 Skills Priority List found shortages were most common in the Technicians and Trades Workers occupation group, with almost half (47%) of all occupations in shortage in 2022. The largest employing occupations in shortage were electricians (general), carpenters, chefs and motor mechanics (general).
“At the moment, there is a high demand for trades – plumbing, electrical, carpentry and construction,” says Adam. “Even in manufacturing and things like cabinet making such as kitchen and bathrooms.”
How do you get an apprenticeship?
Adam says the way it works is:
- You find yourself an employer
- You get signed up by an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) on a government-based contract.
- That information gets forwarded on to the relevant Registered Training Organisation (like Chisholm).
“Chisholm does have employers that call us who are looking for apprentices, and we can then connect any students through a pre-apprenticeship program or VET program that might be looking for work,” says Adam.
Finding an apprenticeship is pretty much like applying for a job. The steps may include:
- Pick a trade
- Consider a pre-apprenticeship
- Get your resume up to speed
- Look for advertised apprenticeships
- Use your contacts and networks to find opportunities
- Put yourself out there and show initiative
- Nail the interview
- Get started.
Adam says once you do secure an apprenticeship, it’s important to demonstrate that you are reliable. “Employers want someone who is dedicated, hardworking, and trustworthy,” he says.
Approximate salaries
An apprenticeship is usually covered by an award or registered agreement. You can search the award on the Fair Work website for an idea of pay rates.
As a ballpark, talent.com lists the average apprentice salary in Australia at $54,400 per year or $27.90 per hour. Entry-level jobs start at $46,800 a year.
Likewise, Indeed.com lists the average yearly salary for an apprentice as $55,239, with example national average salaries as follows:
Carpenter: $48,756
Electrician: $55,773
Cabinet maker: $49,817
Plasterer: $39,348
Baker: $34,493
What financial support is available?
“There are heaps of government incentives, government-funded courses and support, whether it’s travel support, living out of home allowances, or tools for the trade allowances,” says Adam.
As an example, the Australian Apprentice Training Support Payment provides up to two years of financial assistance if you’re doing a Certificate III level or above qualification in one of the jobs listed on the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List.
Eligible full-time students get $1,250 every six months for the first two years of the apprenticeship ($5,000 in total), or $625 ($2,500 in total) for those studying part-time.
To find out more about this and other incentives, head to the Australian Government’s Australian Apprenticeships website.
Tips for parents
Adam’s number one tip for parents supporting their child into an apprenticeship is to remind them of the big picture.
“It’s a journey,” he says. “It’s not a short-term investment or outlook, it’s long-term. A pre-apprenticeship is also always a great leg up, because a lot of employers look for someone who already has some basic skills and knowledge.”
Ready to get started?
Want to find out if an apprenticeship is right for you? Check out Chisholm’s Apprenticeships page for more info.
