How old must my child be to commence an Australian Apprenticeship?

Your child must be a minimum of 15 years of age to commence an Australian Apprenticeship.

Can my child participate in an Australian Apprenticeship while still at school?

Yes; this scheme is called an Australian School-based Apprenticeship, or ASbA. The student is able to attend the workplace a minimum of one day a week to complete their qualification, while participating in on-the-job or off-the-job training. For further information on ASbAs please visit our ASbA page (hyperlink to ASbA page) or contact our office on (02) 6241 2969.

What types of industries are available for Australian Apprenticeships?

Australian Apprenticeships are available in a wide range of industries, from Information Technology or Arts, to the more traditional trades such as Carpentry or Plumbing. For a full list of the available Australian Apprenticeship industries please click here (hyperlink to pdf).

Can my child receive any wage assistance while participating in an Australian Apprenticehip?

Australian Apprentices may be able to claim some financial assistance during their Apprenticeship, depending on certain eligibility criteria. There are various wage assistance schemes available for Apprentices enrolled in a Skills Needs qualification (the list of Skills Needs qualifications can be found here – hyperlink to pdf) for Apprentices living away from home in order to complete their Apprenticeship, for Apprentices with a disability, or for Apprentices aged 30 years or over. For further information regarding wage assistance please contact our office on (02) 6241 2969.

Centrelink may also offer financial assistance through Youth Allowance, Austudy or Abstudy. Please contact Centrelink directly on 13 36 33 for further information.