Apprenticeship and traineeship course guide
Gold Coast
Why employers choose TAFE Queensland
Experience
With more than 140 years’ training experience, a TAFE Queensland qualification is trusted and valued by industry.
Employer satisfaction
As a multi award-winning training provider with a 93%* employer satisfaction rating, TAFE Queensland continues to deliver outstanding results for both students and employers.
Flexible
We offer training to suit the needs of the employer, including workplace, drop-in days, block training, day release and mixed mode delivery.
Industry relevant training
Our training programs are contemporary, developed in consultation with industry and delivered by teachers with extensive hands-on experience.
Customised training solutions
TAFE Queensland works with employers to develop tailored training packages, including accredited and non-accredited skillsets, short courses and certified qualifications according to their unique training needs.
Facilities
Our purpose-built training centres ensure apprentices and trainees receive hands-on training using the latest equipment, tools and practices.
Find Your Apprentice
Take the guesswork out of finding an apprentice or trainee with TAFE Queensland’s Find your Apprentice service. This free service will match you with applicants who are job-ready and keen to start an apprenticeship in your industry#
The best part is they’ve often already completed preapprenticeship training through TAFE Queensland. That means your new apprentice will come with an existing skill set including essential occupational health and safety training. They’ll also have a foundation level understanding of the job so you can rest assured they’re as passionate about your industry as you are. Find out more: tafeqld.edu.au/ find-your-apprentice-service
Apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships combine paid work with structured training to help you gain a qualification. At TAFE Queensland, we work with your employer to support your success in a trade (apprenticeship) or a vocational area (traineeship).
Upon completion, you may be in a great position to continue working, pursue further study, or even start your own business!
Apprenticeships and traineeships can be started during high school, when you have recently finished, or even later in life if you’ve been in the workforce for a while.
Traineeships vary in length from six months to three years, while apprenticeships generally take three to four years to complete. TAFE Queensland will assist you and your employer to get started and provide ongoing support every step of the way.
Four
easy
steps to become an apprentice or trainee
1 Choose the right apprenticeship or traineeship
• think about what you enjoy and where your interests lie
• talk to family, friends, or your school career counsellor or guidance officer
• get the facts at qld.gov.au/education/apprenticeships
2 Find an employer
You can be employed directly by a business, which will pay your wages and train you with the support of a training organisation. Ways to find an employer:
• contact businesses in person, by phone, or via personalised emails
• search job websites like workforceaustralia.gov.au, seek.com.au, and careerone.com.au
• use your personal network—ask family and friends if they know someone hiring
• contact a Workforce Australia provider for job preparation and placement support: workforceaustralia.gov.au
• consider a Group Training Organisation (GTO), which places you with different businesses and manages your training: desbt.qld.gov.au/training/employers/gto
• TAFE Queensland has Vocational Placement Coordinators to assist Certificate II graduates with work experience or placement.
3 Choose your training partners
• Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN): They’ll help you and your employer complete the training contract
• Training Organisation: You and your employer will choose a Registered Training Organisation (like TAFE Queensland) to support your training.
Learn more: australianapprenticeships.gov.au
4 Get started
• complete your paperwork: Work with your employer and training organisation to finalise your training plan
• use the probationary period: This is a trial phase where both you and your employer decide whether to continue.
Our facilities
Step into our purpose-built facilities where you will use the same tools and equipment used in industry. Put your theory into practice straight away in our salon, training restaurant and trades workshops. Develop your skills, ability, and confidence and gain the practical experience you need to graduate job-ready.
Purpose-built marine campus equipped with separate fiberglass chambers and spray-painting booths
Custom-built carpentry building including elevated working at heights training area
Live service venues including Green Fields Bar + Restaurant, Seedpod Café and Nature’s Escape Hair & Beauty Salon
Specialised clinical labs boasting a 64 bed simulated hospital environment
Multi-level plumbing tower simulating the complexities of a residential or commercial multi-level dwelling
Support services
Everyone’s journey is different and sometimes you need some extra support. We’re here to help. Free and confidential support services are available to all students.
Learning support
The Learning Skills team is ready to assist you with:
• assignments, essay writing and referencing
• study skills and exam preparation
• english and maths
• time management and organisation skills.
Indigenous student support
If you are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student, you can access additional student support services. Our Indigenous student support officers can offer specific advice and help on a variety of topics including study help, pathways and career options.
Employment Officer
We have an employment expert who can help match you to a job opportunity as they become available. The position works closely with our other student services to help guide and support you as you seek employment.
AccessAbility support
If you identify with having a disability, our staff can work with you to develop a support plan which may include:
• communicating with your teacher on your behalf when required
• providing sign language interpreters, readers and scribes
• loaning you assistive technology
• coordinating alternative assessment arrangements.
Online Support
Access to TAFE Queensland learning support and resources including Studiosity. Studiosity is on-demand study help for academic literacy skills and core subject support.
Counselling support
Short-term counselling is available for all students. Support services include:
• deciding what career path to follow
• choosing the right course
• general difficulties with student life
• personal and complex issues
• cross-cultural and special needs
• service referrals for long-term support.
Libraries
All TAFE Queensland students receive automatic library membership which gives you access to our physical library services as well as an extensive range of digital resources that are available to use at any time.
Our library network allows both online and on-campus students to access information and borrow resources from across all TAFE Queensland libraries.
Our fully qualified library staff can help you:
• use the library facilities including the library catalogue
• access digital resources including eBooks, eJournals, streaming videos, and databases
• reserve resources from other campuses
• start to research your assignment topic
• reference assignment sources to avoid copyright and plagiarism issues.
Learn more: library.tafeqld.edu.au
*This qualification is superseded. A transition period applies to enable current students to complete their study. Students who have not fully completed this qualification prior to this date will be transitioned into the replacement qualification. For full details visit tafeqld.edu.au
The Department of Trade, Employment and Training provides a public funding contribution towards the cost of training and assessment for eligible Queensland apprentices and trainees. The program aims to provide funding aligned to the skills needs of industry and respond to changing government priorities. For more details visit www.qld.gov.au/education/training/funded/ apprenticeship-funding
B Block training: Training is delivered in study blocks from three days to six weeks at our training facilities.
D Day release: Training is scheduled one day a week at our training facility.
DD Drop in day: Students can drop in to campus to train with a teacher. Please contact us to enquire about available days.
O Online: May include access to online elements such as learning materials, and for some courses classes or training may be via video or web conferencing programs.
OV Online virtual classroom: Course delivered online to a scheduled timetable.
W Workplace: Students are trained and assessed by our workplace training officers in their own workplace.