The first step towards becoming an apprentice is to find an employer to take you on. They can be a single tradesperson, a large company or a Group Training Organisation. In the construction industry, most employers prefer people who have completed a pre-apprenticeship course.

There is a minimum age of 15 to start and apprenticeship but there is no maximum age restriction. Most apprenticeships take four years but they are now based on competencies learned, rather than just time served, which means the faster you learn, the quicker you gain your qualification. Doing a 13-week pre-apprenticeship course can also help reduce the time of an apprenticeship.

It is important to know that while you are training you may be eligible for government allowances, such as the Youth Allowance when doing a pre-apprenticeship course, a Living Away from Home allowance if you are living away from home or a Health Care Card, which may provide a range of entitlements and discounts.

If you are looking for a job as an apprentice, there are a number of ways to find an employer, including:

• If you are still at school, talk to your Careers Teacher, or if you are at TAFE, talk to the Careers Adviser or Student Services.
  
  
• Attend careers information sessions and expos.
  
  
• Visit your local Australian Apprenticeships Centre, Centrelink or Job Network Agency
  
  
• Contact Group Training Australia or the employer association of the trade you are interested in
  
   
• Contact the Incolink Employment Service and ask for the Apprentice Support Officer. Telephone 9639 3000.

For more information about apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, call the Apprenticeship Administration Branch on 9412 6600 or the TAFE Course Info Line on 131 823 or click on the Links in this section.

For Incolink contact details, click here.