There are many government funded initiatives to promote employers engaging apprentices and trainees. Some of those initiatives include:
- The already announced $1 billion JobTrainer program, which provides more low-cost training places for school-leavers.
- The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) scheme that offers $1.2 billion towards wage subsidies for 100,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships.
- The 19% tax threshold has been permanently lifted from $37,000 to $45,000, and people earning between $45,000 and $90,000 will receive a tax cut of $1,080, on top of the $1,080 provided under the Low And Middle Income Earner Tax Offsets (LMITO).
By kick-starting an apprenticeship or traineeship, you can:
- Earning a wage while you learn.
- Developing practical skills specific to the occupation or industry you are interested in.
- Experiencing training that is hands-on and delivered in the workplace, in a classroom, or a combination of both approaches.
- Gaining a nationally recognised qualification which can provide the basis for further education and training over the course of your working life.
- Potentially accessing government financial support and other benefits to assist with the costs incurred whilst you are undertaking your training.
- Updating skills in an area you already work in.
- Increasing your value as a qualified employee.
Remember, too, that the core aspects of future-proofing your career decisions haven’t changed much:
- Think skills, not roles – when you focus on developing and growing your natural skill sets instead of fixating on a specific job role, you set yourself up to become more resilient in the future. In other words: relying on your skills makes pivoting way easier. Also, if you do something you’re good at and already enjoy, it makes it much likelier that you’ll be happier in your job.
- Our so-called “soft skills” are becoming even more important than ever before. Developing the qualities of curiosity, adaptability, initiative, creativity, leadership, critical thinking skills and good communication skills will always stand you in good stead, no matter what happens in your career.
What’s the difference between an apprenticeship and traineeship
Apprenticeships
An apprenticeship is a structured training arrangement, which usually lasts three to four years. The training combines practical experience at work with complementary off-the-job training with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) or Tafe.
On successful completion, you are issued with a nationally recognised qualification and you have on-the-job skills, which are highly regarded by many employers.
Traineeships
A traineeship is a training agreement between the trainee and their respective employer: the employer agrees to train the trainee in a specific industry, and the trainee agrees to work and learn.
Traineeships are available for people of all ages and usually last between one to two years (but can last longer), depending on the vocation and certificate level undertaken.
Your apprenticeship or traineeship can also be used as a pathway to a higher level qualification, including other vocational education and training qualifications, and university qualifications.
