What is a Traineeship?
  • Paid employment under an appropriate industrial arrangement (for example, an award or enterprise agreement);
  • A Training Contract that is signed by both the employer and trainee and registered with the NSW Department of Education or Skills Canberra;
  • A qualification, delivered by a TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation, that meets the requirements of a declared traineeship in NSW or ACT and leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
  • Traineeships traditionally cover a much wider range of occupations than apprenticeships, however the training is generally shorter, lasting between one and two years.

Traineeships, like Apprenticeships are jobs that combine work with structured on and off-the-job training. Traineeships generally include:

There are over 600 traineeship vocations introduced to provide employment and training opportunities in a range of areas, including: multimedia; information technology; sport and recreation; hospitality; retail and primary industries.

Traineeship options:
Full-time Traineeship

Employers are responsible for all Trainee on-the-job training. Together with the Trainee, Employers are able to choose a training provider for the off-the job training and determine a flexible training plan to suit business needs.

Part-time Traineeship

Under this arrangement the Trainee receives a guaranteed pattern of work with a minimum number of hours of on and off-the-job training per week.

School Based Traineeship

You can undertake a School-Based traineeship as part of your Higher School Certificate (HSC). Under this arrangement you will be completing your HSC as well as obtaining your traineeship. The traineeships you can obtain under this scheme are among the most popular on offer. You are required to invest additional effort and time but you will earn as you learn.

What is an Apprenticeship?
  • Apprenticeships are jobs that combine work and structured training. Although they vary from one industry to another, apprenticeships include:
  • Paid employment under an appropriate industrial arrangement (for example, an award or enterprise agreement);
  • A Training Contract that is signed by both the employer and apprentice and registered with the NSW Department of Education or Skills Canberra;
  • A qualification, delivered by a TAFE or a Registered Training Organisation, that meets the requirements of a declared apprenticeship in NSW or ACT and leads to a nationally recognised qualification.
Types of Apprenticeships:

There are more than 100 apprenticeship vocations available in NSW and the ACT. Apprenticeships generally last four years and cover traditional trade areas such as: building and construction; hairdressing; cooking; the automotive industry; engineering and manufacturing.

If you know what Apprenticeship you would like to undertake, search by industry category to Find the Right GTO for You, to meet all your employment and training needs.

If you are yet to decide on your career direction browse through over 100 apprenticeships and 500 traineeships currently offered in NSW and the ACT to find the right Apprenticeship or Traineeship for you.