Mix training and work to get skills

Traineeships are emerging as a study alternative to apprenticeships to create a skilled workforce.

Apprenticeships are the common option to obtain a qualification in a vocational area but many workers are unaware a different training path to get employment is available.

Traineeships and apprenticeships are a contract between an employer and the apprentice or trainee and provide a mix of on-the-job experience and off-the-job training.

The employer provides training and wages while the trainee or apprentice completes study with a training organisation to achieve a qualification.

Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology deputy chief executive Elaine Bensted says traineeships generally are offered for non-trade vocations.

“A traineeship usually lasts for 12 months to three years, depending on the area of employment undertaken,” she says.

“Traineeships are generally for vocation-type jobs, such as in office administration, aged care, enrolled nursing, horticulture or in a large number of other non-trade occupations. An apprenticeship is in a traditional trade occupation and is usually undertaken over three to four years . . . in hairdressing, electrical trades, motor mechanics, welding or other trade occupations.”

Traineeships and apprenticeships can be completed full-time or part-time, depending on the industrial agreement, and some can be undertaken by teenagers still studying at high school.

Both training options provide a national qualification, which allows workers to be recognised as qualified to get a job anywhere in Australia.

Ms Bensted says some traineeships are shorter than others as well as apprenticeships because the qualification to get the skills needed to do the work takes less time to finish. Traineeships often provide the qualifications needed for entry-level positions.

Apprenticeships allow the student to work at a more advanced stage and be competent in most areas of the trade.

Ms Bensted says the State Government provides funding to support the training of apprentices and trainees.

The Federal Government provides incentives to employers to hire apprentices and trainees.

An incentive is what helped Hamilton Laboratories hire trainees at its factory in Adelaide.

Joint managing director – operations Stewart Blake says traineeships allow the company to upskill its existing workforce within a shorter period of time than an apprenticeship.

“Staff take two years to complete the Certificate IV in production and manufacturing,” he says.

“There’s been quite a cross-section of staff undertake traineeships – we’ve had some who would be aged in their low 20s and going through to some who would be in their 50s.

“We obviously get some benefits as the workers do things better and find areas to improve and that will flow through to productivity.”