Apprenticeships and traineeships combine off-the-job training with practical on-the-job training in your chosen industry.
You can sign up for an apprenticeship or traineeship at different life stages – whether you’re still at school, a school leaver, re-entering the workforce or as an adult wanting to change careers.
When you finish your apprenticeship or traineeship you will have a nationally recognised qualification.
Financial support for apprentices and trainees
The State and Commonwealth Governments offer a range of financial incentives and subsidies to help apprentices and trainees while they are undertaking their training.
You can find out more about the incentives and subsidies you may be eligible for in the Financial support for apprentices and trainees fact sheet.
What is the difference between an apprenticeship and a traineeship?
Apprenticeships typically take three or four years to complete and are offered in trade areas such as engineering and metal fabrication, automotive and mechanical, building and construction, hairdressing, and cookery.
An apprenticeship is a structured program with a combination of on- and off-the-job training, where you gain hands-on skills and knowledge.
Traineeships can take between one to two years to complete and are offered in industry areas such as multimedia and information technology, through to sport and fitness, childcare, aged care, beauty therapy and business.
Traineeships are usually completed on the job, in combination with off-the-job training to complete required units of competency.
Real stories, real careers: Australian apprenticeships and traineeships
Take a look at this short video featuring AFL legend Kevin Sheedy, to see the experiences of everyday people that have found real opportunities through their Australian apprenticeship or traineeship.
Finding an apprenticeship or traineeship
Your local Jobs and Skills Centre can provide you with information and advice about apprenticeship and traineeship options.
Step 1 – Find a career path that suits you
Check out the Career exploration section of this website for information about what sort of work or career would suit you, and to see whether an apprenticeship or traineeship is the right path for you.
You could also use the course search to browse through all the courses and qualifications available through WA training providers, and see whether the course you're interested in is available as an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Step 2 – Find an apprenticeship or traineeship
Your local Jobs and Skills Centre is also a good place to start to find information and advice about apprenticeship and traineeship options.
The Jobs and Skills WA website has a Jobs Board where employers advertise apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities. You can register your details to receive notifications for opportunities you are interested in.
The Apprentice Connect Australia Providers (ACAPs) are funded by the Commonwealth Government to provide advice and assistance to help you find an apprenticeship or traineeship. There are three ACAPs in WA:
- The Apprenticeship Community (Busy at work)
- Apprenticeship Support Australia
- MEGT Apprenticeship Network Provider
Employers and Group Training Organisations (GTOs) also advertise apprenticeships and traineeships on Seek and other job platforms.
Step 3 – Sign in to your training contract
Once you have found an apprenticeship or traineeship, you need to choose an ACAP. An ACAP will work with you and your employer to sign a training contract application that they will lodge with the Commonwealth Department of Employment and Workplace Relations via their Apprenticeships Data Management System (ADMS).
ACAPs are contracted by the Commonwealth Government to provide free support services to apprentices and employers from pre-commencement to completion of the training contract specifically:
- screening and testing to match a prospective apprentice or trainee with an employer;
- working with the Apprenticeship Office to help manage the training contract, training plan approvals and completion arrangements; and
- in-training support services such as mentoring, to assist apprentices and employers at risk of not completing the apprenticeship arrangement to work through issues and difficulties.
There are three ACAPs in WA:
- The Apprenticeship Community (Busy at work)
- Apprenticeship Support Australia
- MEGT Apprenticeship Network Provider
Step 4 – Registration and administration of the training contract
Your training contract application is sent from the Commonwealth’s ADMS system to the Department of Training and Workforce Development's (DTWD) Western Australian Apprenticeship Management System (WAAMS) so that it can be registered by DTWD’s Apprenticeship Office.
The Apprenticeship Office registers training contracts and regulates the apprenticeship system in Western Australia in accordance with legislation.
The Apprenticeship Office also manages any changes you or your employer wants to make to the training contract and can also be contacted to assist in resolving disputes regarding the training contract, if an issue cannot be resolved between you and the employer and/or the ACAP.
Explore detailed information about how the Apprenticeship Office can help you and your employer.
Further information
The Fair Work Ombudsman website has some useful information for anyone thinking about starting an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Elite athlete apprenticeship and traineeship (EAAT) arrangements
The Elite Athletes Apprenticeship and Traineeship (EAAT) arrangements provide flexibility with the minimum part-time hours required when undertaking an approved apprenticeship or traineeship. They allow an elite athlete to commence or continue an apprenticeship or traineeship while still pursuing their sporting commitments.
A person is eligible for EAAT arrangements if they are unable to meet the minimum hour requirement for a part-time or full-time apprenticeship/traineeship due to their sporting commitment and they are either:
- recognised as an elite athlete by national athlete categorisation as defined by the National Institute Network athlete categorisation policy and endorsed by the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) as suitable to undertake the apprenticeship or traineeship; or
- a professional contracted player with a recognised sporting entity within a state/national/international competition and endorsed by Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport as suitable to undertake the apprenticeship or traineeship.
