Information for trainees and apprentices
What is a traineeship?
What is an apprenticeship?
Award rates for trainees and apprentices
How can I apply?
What is a traineeship?
A trainee is a person who is employed in a traineeship. A trainee and their employer must sign a contract to work together so that the trainee can learn the skills of the occupation they have chosen.
An employment based training scheme approved under the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000 (PDF, 984 KB) is administered by the Department of Employment and Training.
A traineeship can be full-time or part-time. Students can also start a traineeship while they are at school. The length of a traineeship depends on the industry, the occupation or trade, any previous training the trainee may have had and how quickly he or she learns the skill of the traineeship.
What is an apprenticeship?
An apprenticeship is an employment based training scheme approved under the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000. The apprenticeship involves a period of technical off-the-job and on-the-job training for each particular trade or occupation, usually of nominal fixed duration, in which the apprentice is normally registered with one employer.
An apprentice is bound by legal agreement to work for an employer for a specific amount of time in return for instruction in a trade, art, or business.
Award rates for trainees and apprentices
The Department's Wageline Information Centre provide information regarding wage rates and employment conditions for trainees and apprentices throughout Queensland.
Traineeships, and to a lesser extent apprenticeships, in Queensland are very flexible and include part-time and school based arrangements. As a result of these options there are many wage rates and employment conditions that may apply depending on the type of traineeship or apprenticeship you are doing.
Apprentices and trainees wages and conditions may be influenced by either a state or federal award, agreement or other employment arrangement applicable to employees in the workplace where they are employed.
Find the award which applies to you.
If you need to contact Wageline Information Centre please have ready some of the following for the operator:
- What is the exact name of the certificate or qualification you will receive upon successful completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship?
- When did you start or enter into the apprenticeship/traineeship? What is the date shown on the "Training Agreement" you signed?
- What industry do you work in?
- Are you working in a factory or workshop, engineering plant, office etc.
- Your age, highest level of schooling attained and in what year did you complete that level of schooling.
How can I apply?
The Department of Employment and Training administers Queensland’s entry point to jobs, careers and training, apprenticeships and traineeships, and employment and training government assistance.
Please contact the Department of Employment and Training on 1300 369 935 for further information on:
- how to apply for an apprenticeship or traineeship including Queensland Government traineeships
- the sign-up process including your training plan, contract and obligations
- how to make changes to your training contract such as your address, employer and last name
- how to request extensions if you will not finish your training in time
- what you need to do to complete your apprenticeship or traineeship
- careers and training
- employment and training government assistance
Last updated July 18, 2005