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Courses

Apprenticeships

An apprenticeship or traineeship is a training contract between you as an employee and your employer. At VU you combine training in your workplace with formal education.

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Pre-apprenticeships

Pre-apprenticeship training is a training pathway that prepares you for entry into an apprenticeship. You get some off-the-job training here at VU, and this is supported by work experience with an employer.

A pre-apprenticeship helps you gain a more realistic expectation of the work involved in a particular trade, helps you develop important basic skills and acquire some experience.

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Apprenticeships

Image of Fabian Guseli with a link to his success story

Fabian Guseli completed an apprenticeship in Joinery at VU.

VU offers apprenticeships for the following courses:

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Traineeships

VU offer traineeships in the following areas:

  • Aged Care
  • Beauty
  • Business
  • Civil Construction - Plant Operations and Road Construction and Maintenance
  • Home and Community Care
  • Hospitality
  • Information Technology
  • Library Studies
  • Transport and Logistics - Road Transport and Warehousing and Storage.

To contact the specific traineeship coordinator, please phone +61 3 9919 6100, or email trades@vu.edu.au

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How to get an apprenticeship

To become an apprentice or trainee:

  • work out what trade you want to do
  • discuss your aims with a job or career adviser
  • find an employer who takes on apprentices.

Advice and information on this process can be found at:

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Contracts, workplace visits and enrolment

Contracts

Your employer should contact the Australian Apprenticeship Centre and then sign a Training Contract with you to register you as an apprentice or trainee.

You will then receive a letter from Skills Victoria containing your Registration (8 digit number) and Delta Student ID Number (10 digit number).

Workplace visits

Teachers from VU come and visit you in the workplace to meet you and your employer, gain an understanding of your workplace and to:

  • check that you enrol in the correct course
  • discuss course requirements and possible customisation
  • arrange training release time for you
  • provide initial course information
  • arrange for work to be completed before your first class
  • begin the enrolment process
  • ensure that your employer signs an agreement to enable invoicing the employer for course fees, or that you will pay when you attend VU.

Once you've done all this, you will have completed your customised training plan agreement between yourself, your employer and VU.

Enrolment

Enrolment may happen when a VU representative visits your workplace, or when you first attend VU.

You also need to attend an enrolment session at the specified time and date. Remember to bring your Skills Victoria letter. If you don't have this letter, you need to provide it to your teacher as soon as the letter is received.

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Skills Recognition

Skills Recognition (which includes Recognition of Prior Learning or RPL) is a process where skills obtained through your work, education and everyday life experiences are formally recognised and matched to the requirements of a Nationally Recognised Qualification or a Statement of Attainment for part of a Qualification.

Previous experience and training can be recognised through RPL - meaning that you can advance through your training more quickly.

To access RPL, fill out the Application for Advanced Standing form and make an appointment with one of our Skills Recognition Coordinators or access Skills Recognition Online, the easiest and most convenient way to recognise your existing skills with a vocational qualification!

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Fees

At the time of enrolment, you must pay your course fees (best option is to pay by credit card) unless you are a sponsored apprentice or trainee, in which case you must bring the sponsorship letter from your employer.

Payment of your fees secures your place in classes.

Important: you need to bring a passport or a birth certificate with you at time of enrolment in order to enrol.

Further TAFE fees information is available from the Student Service Centre on each campus.

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Australian School-based Apprenticeships

Have you thought of this alternative option? Secondary school students in part-time employment may be able to start an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA). Combine practical experience in the workplace with structured TAFE training and school studies to receive credits towards VCE and a national qualification at Certificate II, III or IV.

For general information on the VCE, VET and Australian School-Based Apprenticeships, go to the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority.

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Apprenticeship Support Unit

The Apprenticeship Support Unit (ASU)provides quality administrative support.It is the information hub for current apprentices, trainees and their employers.

The Apprenticeship Support Unit:

  • manages the administration for apprentices and trainees for all Colleges
  • is the contact point for apprentices, trainees and their employers
  • identifies emerging trends in the training of apprentices and trainees
  • achieves excellence in the certification of VU's trades program.
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Contact us

Apprenticeship Support Unit
Victoria University
PO Box 14428,
Melbourne, VIC 8001

Phone: +61 3 9919 7300
Email: trades@vu.edu.au

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