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Trades apprenticeship, which can be completed in the following areas:
Over a period of four years the engineering trades apprentice in the above disciplines works with qualified tradespeople to learn the appropriate underpinning knowledge and skills to eventually undertake complex repair and servicing work.
In most apprenticeships learning occurs on the job while working, and this work place learning is then supplemented for one day per week (usually) by training at TAFE.
If you're a first year apprentice it sometimes seems that it's everybody. Be that as it may, most apprentices answer to one or two tradespeople.
Not all applicants wanting apprenticeships get one. Often employers do not need extra staff, cannot afford an extra employee, have sufficient skilled staff, or are not convinced that the applicant will be suited to the type of work required.
You do not get an apprenticeship by just doing a TAFE course. The first step in becoming an apprentice is organising a job with a manufacturing business. When applying for apprenticeship-related jobs, you must convince the employer you will be a cost-effective and conscientious worker who will add value to the business.
Put simply, an apprenticeship is usually gained because you can convince someone you will be of worth in their work team. It will go a long way in your favour if you know about the industry occupation you want to pursue, and if you show basic skills and a keen interest in the field you are applying for.
Once a job is attained, and if the job is in an apprenticeship-related occupation, you and the employer sign a contract of training, which outlines respective legal obligations and training requirements.
If you want to impress an employer, preliminary hand and thinking skills in a trade may be important. Subjects like maths, English and trade type studies (at Year 10), VCE maths, English, systems and technology, materials and technology and VET in schools engineering/electrical/automotive studies help you develop these.
Even so, many employers look only for good literacy, numeracy, attitude, enthusiasm, maturity and discipline in a young person. They reason that without these things, preliminary skills learned at secondary level are soon bypassed. Many employers only consider how you've gone at secondary school. Some figure that a Year 11 or Year 12 VCE pass shows you have education and maturity enough to handle TAFE and the demands of the workplace.
There is no right or wrong way to win an apprenticeship, sometimes it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. However, most apprentices achieve their position because they persevere, are prepared, and don't take the first rejection to heart.
To become an apprentice you need Year 10 (and above) passes in things like maths, English, automotive, engineering, electronics, mechanics, systems and technology, materials and technology, industry and enterprise, robotics, mechatronics, design, VET trade studies.
Everywhere and anywhere. Apprenticeship qualifications are recognised around Australia, and the trade skills you develop as an apprentice can be applied overseas.
Depending on the trade, first year apprentice award wages vary between $14,000 and $19,000 per year, rising with each completed year. The award rate is arguably low while you are learning the trade, but you've got to start somewhere! If you are a reliable apprentice, many employers will pay above-award wages to keep you on the team.
Secondary school - apprenticeship - trades work - supervisor/business owner - executive - corporate director (yes, many of the worlds most highly paid and powerful automotive manufacturing executives began as trade apprentices).
