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Find apprentices and trainees
There are many ways to find an apprentice or trainee for your business, such as:
- upskill one of your existing workers
- contact local high schools and TAFEs
- post a vacancy on websites targeted at aspiring apprentices and trainees.
If one of your staff wants to transition into an apprenticeship or traineeship, they must fulfil eligibility criteria to receive government funding.
Employing apprentices and trainees with a disability not only attracts financial incentives such as tax and wage subsidies, but also brings financial and social benefits to businesses. Research shows that employers can save on recruiting and training costs by hiring workers with disabilities because they are productive workers who tend to stay longer with an employer.
This guide outlines different ways to recruit your next apprentice or trainee including employing existing workers and those with disabilities.
Recruit apprentices and trainees
Finding the right person for an apprenticeship or traineeship is critical. The applicant must be hard-working, able to take instruction and dedicated to establishing a career in their chosen profession.
Ways to recruit
Existing staff
Group training organisation
Rather than directly recruit an apprentice or trainee yourself, you can 'host' one, for a short or long period of time, through a group training organisation (GTO).
The GTO takes care of the recruitment, employment and responsibility for the off-the job training.
You will only be responsible for on-the-job supervision and training.
Registered training organisation
Contact a registered training organisation who offers pre-vocational or pre-employment courses in your industry.
High schools
Recruit from local high schools. Many schools offer school-based training programs and may advertise the position to the school community.
Apprenticeship Support Australia
Ask about using school networks to find your next apprentice or trainee.
Job seeker websites
Post your apprenticeship or traineeship vacancy on job seeker websites.
Apprenticeship Central
Find out how to advertise a job, or search, for your next apprentice or trainee.
Skillsroad Jobs board
Find out about advertising for entry level jobs and 15–25-year-old job seekers.
Out-of-trade register
Search for Queensland-based apprentices and trainees who have been previously registered but have lost their job.
Workforce Australia
Search the Australian Government's online employment service for your next apprentice or trainee.
Hire existing workers as apprentices or trainees
By transitioning existing staff to an apprenticeship or traineeship, they can improve their skills and gain vocational or trade qualifications.
Existing staff can take up an apprenticeship or traineeship if they fulfil basic eligibility criteria for:
- minimum age
- visa requirements for workers other than Australian and New Zealand citizens or residents.
Eligibility requirements
Read more about age requirements, restricted callings and visa requirements for apprenticeships and traineeships in Queensland.
If your employee is eligible, follow the steps for employing an apprentice or trainee.
Subsidised training for existing workers
The definition of an existing worker is important when determining whether your employee can get government-funded training or incentives as part of their apprenticeship or traineeship.
An existing worker is defined as a person who has been employed with your business for at least 3 months full-time or 12 months part-time or casually, immediately before starting an apprenticeship or traineeship with you.
Learn more about the definition and exemptions in the existing worker policy.
Training credit
If your employee has some skills and experience, they can apply for recognition of prior learning to reduce the amount of off-the-job training they will need to complete. Once the off-the-job training has been completed, the apprenticeship or traineeship can be completed. Apprenticeships and traineeships are competency-based not time-based.
Hire apprentices or trainees with a disability
Many employers are reluctant to hire apprentices or trainees with disabilities because they:
- are more concerned about their disabilities than their abilities
- aren't aware of the benefits they bring to a workplace
- worry about having to accommodate for them
- aren't sure about what support is available.
Benefits
There are proven financial and social benefits for employing staff with disabilities.
Financial benefits may include:
- reduced staff turnover
- lower recruitment and retraining costs
- fewer compensation incidents and accidents at work
- lower insurance cover and workers' compensation costs
- less sick leave.
Social benefits may include:
- increased staff morale and sense of teamwork
- an enhanced image in the local community
- a workplace that reflect the diverse community that supports and surrounds it.
Financial support for employers
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support (DAAWS) program offers financial support to employers of apprentices or trainees with disabilities.
Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) offers financial support for workplace modifications such as:
- special equipment
- vehicle adaptions
- information and communication devices
- AUSLAN (sign language) services
- disability awareness training for the workplace.
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support
Learn more about DAAWS, including eligibility requirements and what support is provided.
Employment Assistance Fund
Learn more about EAF, including eligibility, what support is available and free workplace assessments for eligible applicants.
Getting financial support
Your Apprentice Connect Australia Provider will help determine your eligibility and assist with the application process.
Financial support for off-the job training
Skills Disability Support provides technology and support services to approved training organisations, such as:
- magnification aids
- specialised computer accessories
- voice recognition applications
- screen reading software
- AUSLAN (sign language) interpreters
- disability coaches or mentors.
Skills Disability Support
Learn more about financial support we can provide to your registered training organisation to help you apprentice or trainee succeed in their training.
© The State of Queensland 1995–2024
- Last reviewed: 08 Sep 2021
- Last updated: 08 Sep 2021