Apprenticeships and Traineeships Guide

Most students hear “apprenticeship” and picture a trade. Then they try to find out how to get one, and hit a wall of acronyms, government websites, and state-by-state rules that each say something slightly different.

This guide puts the whole pathway in one place, in plain English, so a student can work out whether it suits them and what to do next.

What is inside the Apprenticeships and Traineeships Guide?

Inside the 2026 digital PDF:

• What apprenticeships and traineeships actually are – how earning and studying at once works, and what you hold at the end.
• Apprenticeships vs traineeships, side by side – the differences in industry, length, and financial help.
• A plain English glossary – ACAP, RTO, GTO, SBAT, USI, AQF, VSL and the rest, explained once.
• School-based apprenticeships – starting from Year 10, 11, or 12, or from age 15, and continuing after school.
• Eligibility, spelled out – citizenship and visa requirements, age, and what employers look for.
• The full application process – eight short sections, from researching options to the first day.
• Wages, fees, and funding – award rates, leave, course fees, state fee-free training, loans, and tool and travel reimbursements.
• 24 jobs across six Cadi Career Clusters – each with an indicative first-year wage and the qualification behind it.

There is more in it than this, including what to do when a training contract needs to change.

Why students and schools use this guide

More students are asking about vocational pathways. The answers sit across federal sites, eight state and territory systems, training providers, and employers, and none of it is written for a 16 year old.

This guide is one source a student can actually finish. Careers advisors can hand it out before a group session instead of building a slide deck. Parents get enough detail to ask the right questions. Students see what they are signing up for before committing years to it.

We will be upfront about the limits. It is written for students and their families, covers Australian pathways only, and does not replace advice from an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider.

Every step of the application, in the order it happens

This is where most students get stuck, because it involves more people than a normal job application. The guide breaks it into eight short sections, with a diagram of who does what and when.

• Researching opportunities – which industries and roles are worth chasing.
• Preparation and documents – resume, Unique Student Identifier, tax file number, bank account, ID.
• Finding a job – applying direct, or through a Group Training Organisation.
• Engaging an ACAP – what an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider does for you.
• Finding a training provider – choosing a Registered Training Organisation and checking it is accredited.
• The training contract and training plan – what each commits you to, and the probation period.
• Making changes – suspending, cancelling, or moving employers if things do not work out.
• Starting out – what to expect on day one.

It also links to the apprenticeship authority in all eight states and territories, plus federal tools like the Fair Work Ombudsman pay calculator and the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Explorer.

Twenty four (24) jobs, and what the first year actually pays

Students rarely rule apprenticeships out on principle. They rule them out because they cannot picture the job or the money.

So the guide sets out 24 roles, four in each of the six Cadi Career Clusters, with an indicative first-year wage and qualification level for each. The range is wider than most expect:

• Coordinators – payroll officer, events assistant, emergency response officer, purchasing officer.
• Guardians – hairdresser, aged care worker, fitness trainer, medical laboratory technician.
• Informers – outdoor instructor, teacher aide, cyber security officer, legal assistant.
• Innovators – graphic designer, florist, artisan baker, content creator.
• Linkers – retail assistant, advertising assistant, library officer, community liaison officer.
• Makers – electrician, horticulturist, chef, joiner.

Wage figures are indicative. They assume a full-time recent school leaver who has finished Year 12, so actual pay depends on the award, age, and hours.

What’s new in the 2026 edition?

This is Edition 4 of the Apprenticeships and Traineeships Guide. The 2026 edition was checked against the federal and state apprenticeship bodies, Fair Work award information, and the current incentive and loan programs at the time we published it.

Policies do change, sometimes at short notice. The guide says so, and points to the official source each time, so a quick check with the employer or provider is easy before applying.

Who the Apprenticeships and Traineeships Guide is for:

The guide was written with three readers in mind:

• Careers Advisors, Guidance Counsellors and Educators (School Licensed Edition) who need a vocational pathways resource they can share across the school community.
• Parents and Carers (Personal Edition) who want to understand the pathway before their teenager commits to it.
• Year 10, 11 and 12 students (Personal Edition) weighing up vocational training against their other options.

Whichever option you choose, you will get a download link in your browser and in a follow-up email, so you can grab it again whenever you need it.

Careers Advisors please note:

• Basics and Ponder Member Schools don’t need to purchase this – you can simply log in and download it from the Education Dashboard as it’s already included in your membership.
• The School Licensed Edition is approved for sharing within your school community. You can email it to staff, post it on your intranet, or add it to a school-access careers page without breaching the licence. If your school runs more than one campus, choose the Two Campus or Three Campus option to cover them all.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When should a student start looking for an apprenticeship? Earlier than most expect. School-based apprenticeships can start from Year 10 or age 15, and employers often recruit well before the school year ends. The guide sets out the steps in order, and covers how a school-based apprenticeship carries on after graduation.

Does it cover every state and territory? Yes. The guide links to the apprenticeship authority in all eight states and territories, so students can check the rules that apply where they live.

How much do apprentices actually get paid? The guide gives an indicative first-year wage for each of the 24 jobs, plus a section on award rates, leave, and entitlements. Actual pay depends on the award, age, and hours, so the guide shows how to check with the Fair Work pay calculator.

Can we share this with our whole school? Yes, but only the School Licensed Edition is approved for that. It covers a single school community, including enrolled parents and students. Multi-campus schools can choose the Two or Three Campus licence.

Is the guide updated each year? Yes. This is Edition 4, reflecting the programs, incentives, and application steps in place when we published it.

What if something changes after I download it? Policies can change at short notice. Confirm details with the employer, provider, or training organisation before applying. The guide points to the official source each time, so it is quick to check.

What format is the guide, and what devices does it work on? It is a high-quality A4 PDF, made for reading on screen and for printing. It opens in any free PDF reader on a computer, tablet, or phone.

Ready to show students a pathway that pays while they learn?

Choose the Personal or School Licensed Edition above and download the guide today. Your link appears straight away in your browser, and we email you a copy so you can find it again later.