Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is an excellent pathway to an industry career – ready to move?
How to become an apprentice
You must have a job with an employer or Group Training Company before starting an Australian apprenticeship or traineeship.
To search for a job, you can contact employers directly, refer to the employment section of newspapers, visit Centrelink, register with employment agencies or use personal contacts.
The Australian Apprenticeships website and the Victorian Department of Education and Training are also good sources of information.
Your employer will then register you with an approved Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider (AASN). An AASN representative will organise a training contract between you and your employer.
AASN will register your training contract on the apprenticeship database (called Epsilon) and you will be allocated a unique Epsilon number – this step may take up to 4 weeks.
Once we have received your Epsilon number, your Melbourne Polytechnic Apprentice Coordinator will discuss your training program and responsibilities with you and your employer.
They will also organise for you to start your training as soon as possible.
You might be eligible for a Trades Support Loan
These loans are intended to assist apprentices with everyday costs while they complete their apprenticeship.
If you are an Australian apprentice, then you could be eligible for a Trade Support Loan.
Information for employers
Our Student Hub team can help you find department contact information and can help you with general enquiries.
On-the-job training must be provided by a suitably qualified or experienced person, and you must give the apprentice or trainee the chance to learn how to use the tools and equipment commonly found in their trade or occupation.
You must provide hands-on experience in a wide range of relevant tasks, covering all the competencies set out in their training plan.
Employer checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you are meeting all the regulatory requirements for employing an apprentice or trainee.
If you agree with every checklist item, the apprenticeship or traineeship is likely to be progressing well.
If you disagree with a checklist item or you are unsure, you can ask for advice from your apprentice or trainee’s training organisation or your Apprenticeship Network provider, or contact us.
To download a copy of this checklist or to learn more, click here.
As an employer of an Australian Apprentice, you may be eligible for financial support from the Australian Government to help offset the cost of taking on an apprentice.
Information for apprentices
As an Australian Apprentice, you may be eligible for financial and non-financial support from the Australian Government.
Click here to learn more about entitlements for apprentices.
To be an apprentice, you must be 15 years of age or older. Mature age students can start apprenticeships and should ask about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
You must have a job with an employer or Group Training Company before starting an Australian apprenticeship or traineeship.
To search for a job, you can contact employers directly, refer to the employment section of newspapers, visit Centrelink, register with employment agencies or use personal contacts.
The Australian Apprenticeships website and the Victorian Department of Education and Training are also good sources of information.
Typically, you spend 4 days a week working with your employer and 1 day a week studying theory at Melbourne Polytechnic.
Some employers agree to ‘Block Release’, which is 1 or 2 weeks of intensive study at Melbourne Polytechnic.
Depending on the training plan, you may attend 4 to 8 blocks of classes per year. This needs to be agreed to by your employer, and then discussed with your Melbourne Polytechnic department to see if this is possible.
Most apprenticeships take four years, but they are now based on competencies learned, rather than just time served, which means the faster you learn, the quicker you gain your qualification. Doing a 13-week pre-apprenticeship course can also help reduce the time of an apprenticeship.
Traineeships usually take two years to complete.
There are a range of financial support resources available, including scholarships.
You may be eligible for a Living Away from Home Allowance and a Health Care Card. Apprenticeship Support Officers will also assist in resourcing you.
The Australian Apprenticeships financial-information and Centrelink websites are good sources for this information.
You may also be eligible for the trade apprentice car registration discount. You can get 50% off your car registration and Transport Accident Charge renewal fee. For more information, visit the VicRoads website.
As an apprentice or trainee in Victoria, you should get the opportunity to learn all the skills related to your chosen trade or occupation through on-the-job training.
Click here to learn more about apprentice and trainee rights and responsibilities.
You should expect to be trained by a suitably qualified or experienced person, and to have the chance to learn how to use the tools and equipment commonly used in your trade or occupation.
You should expect to get hands-on experience in a wide range of relevant tasks, covering all the competencies set out in your training plan.
In return, you will be expected to:
- attend and work in a professional and courteous manner, while respecting the rights of others at work
- take care of your employer's property and resources, and treat employer information as confidential
- make all reasonable efforts to achieve the competencies in your training plan, and complete all the required assessments
- attend training sessions or supervised workplace activities, and take advantage of learning opportunities
- maintain a training record book.
Need help?
Services and support
https://www.melbournepolytechnic.edu.au/students/services-and-support/counselling/
Melbourne Polytechnic is committed to supporting the wellbeing of our students. You can access free and confidential counselling service whenever you need. Our counsellors are highly qualified and experienced in supporting people with a variety of issues.
https://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/news/Pages/News/article-065.aspx
If you’re eligible for the trade apprentice discount you can get 50% off your car registration and Transport Accident Charge renewal fee.
The discount applies to all apprentices who are registered as:
- a Victorian apprentice holding a current Victorian driver licence (not a learner permit)
- use their own car, ute or van for approved work purposes
- or regularly use it to get to or from work between 8.30pm and 5.30am
- the vehicle cannot exceed 4.5 tonnes (GVM)
https://www.apprenticeships.vic.gov.au/apprenticeship-support-officers/
Apprenticeship Support Officers (ASOs) can help you get the most out of the apprenticeship system.
ASOs are very experienced and highly knowledgeable about the apprenticeship system in Victoria. Depending on your situation, they can offer support and advice via phone, email or text, a workplace visit, or a longer period of contact if needed.
https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/
Official Australian Government website on Australian apprenticeships and traineeships.
"We support people to have safe, secure and well-paid work with the skills for a sustainable future."
The National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN) is the national association representing group training organisations (GTOs), Australia’s largest employer network of apprentices and trainees.
https://www.aapathways.com.au/
The Australian Apprenticeships Pathways website is an Australia wide:
- information hub
- providing information for people considering career options
- employers looking at recruitment and
- those offering support and advice
The Apprenticeship Employment Network website is an out-of-trade register that provides an opportunity for unemployed apprentices or trainees to post their resume and apply for jobs online.
Employers can also advertise apprenticeship or traineeships vacancies.
Learn more about:
- wages, benefits, allowances and subsidies
- award requirements such as “who pays for the training?”
- employment conditions
HALT builds the bridge between both local and national support services for people at risk of suicide in the local community.
That is, to facilitate the spreading of information and raise awareness of groups such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue, open up conversations and break through the stigma attached to mental health.
https://www.tradesrecognitionaustralia.gov.au/
Trades Recognition Australia is for overseas qualified professionals who wish to practice in Australia. It also has very useful information regarding working in Australia and visas.
https://www.vic.gov.au/education
"Find government information about early childhood, primary and secondary school, and further education."
https://www.vrqa.vic.gov.au/apprenticeships/Pages/Apprenticeshipsandtraineeships.aspx
The Department of Education and Training (Victoria) provides strategic advice and analysis of Victoria’s skill needs, and acts as the system managers for the vocational education and training sector.
This site also contains information for apprentices and employers, and about Competency Based Completion arrangements.
The VRQA is responsible for the regulation of apprenticeships and traineeships in Victoria. Details for contacting Victorian Apprenticeship Field Services (VAFS) can be found here.
https://www.melbournepolytechnic.edu.au/locations/skills-and-jobs-centre/
Skills and Jobs Centres are useful when you are:
- looking to enter the workforce
- start training
- re-skill
- or for employers to meet their workforce needs
https://www.youngworkers.org.au/
The Young Workers Centre (YWC) provides personalised advice for young people who have come across issues at work such as unfair dismissal, bullying and harassment.
If you need assistance in resolving a workplace issue you can contact the YWC online or on or by calling 1800 714 754.