Apprenticeships and Traineeships WA

Benefits of doing apprenticeships & traineeships

Doing an apprenticeship or traineeship has many benefits as a pathway into a career. These include:
• Earning a wage while you learn.
• Developing or improving practical skills specific to the career you are pursuing.
• Gaining underpinning knowledge as well as hands on learning, in either a workplace setting, a classroom, or a combination of both.

Your Career Path

Signing a contract with employer

Earn while you learn as an apprentice/trainee

Gain a nationally recognised qualification

When starting an apprenticeship or traineeship, the apprentice or trainee and the employer will be 'signed up' into a training contract. The training contract is a legally binding agreement. It protects both the employer’s and employee's interests and outlines each party’s obligations.

When you complete your apprenticeship or traineeship, you will have a nationally recognised qualification that can provide the basis for further education and training over the course of your working life. Many graduates go on to do other vocational education and training qualifications and even university qualifications.

The Australian Government refers to apprenticeships and traineeships collectively as ‘Australian Apprenticeships’ and you may see this term used on documents including the training contract.

Competency Based Training

All apprenticeships and traineeships are delivered under a competency based training system. The training contract is completed when the apprentice or trainee has attained all the required competencies.

Competency-based training is a method of training that focuses on a learner’s ability to receive, respond to and process information in order to achieve competency. It is geared towards the attainment and demonstration of skills to meet industry-defined standards, rather than to a learner’s achievement relative to that of others. Learner progress in a competency-based program is not time-based. As soon as a learner achieves a required competency, they can move to the next. In this way, learners can complete training in their own time and at their own pace.

Prior learning or experience may be counted towards achieving competency earlier. If the apprentice is seeking credit for prior learning or experience, this should be discussed with their employer and their registered training organisation (RTO) when developing their training plan.

An employer or apprentice (or parent/guardian if applicable) may apply to extend the term of the training contract if the required competencies cannot be achieved within the nominal term of the training contract.

Competency-based training at Directions WA

Wages for Apprentices and Trainees

The Fair Work Ombudsman is the source of information on wages across industries and occupations. The FWO provides apprenticeship and traineeship specific information.

Learn more

Get Aprenticeships & Traineeships

About Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Your Career Path

Competency Based Training

Wages for Apprentices and Trainees

Talk to us today about how we can help you