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Eligibility
Just about anyone who wants to combine training with working in a paid job is eligible for an apprenticeship or traineeship.
Age Requirements
Anyone over the age of 15 can do an apprenticeship / traineeship. If you leave school before the minimum school leaving age of 15, you may still be able to do a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship. To do this, you must supply written evidence of special permission granted by the Minister for Education, and you must have reached the minimum standard of education for the apprenticeship or traineeship.
Australian Requirements
The following categories of people are eligible to start an apprenticeship / traineeship:
- Australian citizens
- New Zealand citizens
- People with permanent residency visas
- People with temporary protection visas
- People who are engaged or recently married to Australian citizens and are holders of provisional spouse visas under subclass 820 and 309
Existing Employees
If you are already employed, you can still do an apprenticeship or traineeship. For example, you could use an apprenticeship to move from trades assistant to apprentice, to tradesperson. You may even reduce the length of your apprenticeship or traineeship by receiving credit for existing skills or knowledge.
If you work part-time, you can undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship if the relevant industrial award or agreement has provision for this to happen. Under a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship, you must work a minimum of 15 hours per week, averaged over each four-week period for the duration of the apprenticeship or traineeship. Casual or daily hire employees are not eligible to undertake part-time apprenticeships or traineeships, as there is no guaranteed pattern of work (which is a requirement of a training contract).
