Apprentices and trainees
Great skills. Real opportunities.
Great skills. Real opportunities. will improve trade training to make it more
accessible, flexible and relevant.
Great skills. Real opportunities. will reform Queensland’s further education and training sector.
The needs of students and employers will underpin the state’s training system. This will enable every
Queenslander to obtain great skills for real job opportunities and boost economic and social prosperity for
all.
Great skills. Real opportunities. reforms commenced in 2013 with roll out continuing over the next five
years.
Making trade training more flexible and relevant
Apprenticeships and traineeships are an important entry point to most trades in Queensland. To make
trade training more accessible, flexible and relevant, government will:

improve apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements, making it easier for apprentices and trainees to
change employers and move interstate without affecting their progress towards becoming a qualified
tradesperson

enable adult workers to gain a qualification and trade outcome through flexible pathways for a broader
range of industries, including the new Registered Trade Skills Pathway

encourage more apprentices and trainees to improve their literacy and numeracy skills through selected
training providers accessing a $5 million government support program

provide $3 million in incentives to group training organisations to employ additional apprentices

provide additional support for apprentices and trainees in regional areas.
From school to employment
Training programs in schools help young people choose a career and take their first steps towards full-time
employment. Government will:

target vocational education and training funding towards school-based training that will prepare
students to step into employment

improve career and training information available to schools, students, parents and employers through
a comprehensive new website.
Employing apprentices and trainees
Employing and managing apprentices and trainees will be made easier. Government will:

provide a $5000 bonus for employers to retain school-based apprentices in full-time work after school
through the $10 million School to Trade Pathway program

reduce barriers to attracting and retaining apprentices through nationally consistent regulation
arrangements

simplify and streamline administration and online processing to make it easier to take on, train and
retain apprentices and trainees

enable complementary, flexible trade training pathways for a broader range of industries

make gaining trade recognition easier for casual and other employees through the Registered Trade
Skills Pathway and other initiatives that will complement existing trade pathways

improve regional assistance for employers, including advice on flexible trade training pathways and preapprenticeship career planning through dedicated regional government officers

review and improve the User Choice program to ensure ongoing certainty for students, employers and
providers.
More trade training in Queensland
Queensland needs more apprentices and trainees in our priority industry sectors.
The Queensland Government has committed an additional $86 million over six years to create an extra 10
000 apprentice and trainee commencements.
Employers will be supported to create additional places.
Apprentices and trainees will be supported to take up new employment opportunities.
Together, Queensland’s trade training will keep pace with industry and employer demand.
Great skills. Real opportunities. reform action plan and factsheets are available at
http://www.training.qld.gov.au/greatskills. Factsheets include:

overview

industry and employers

regional communities

students and parents

TAFE Queensland reforms

training providers.
© June 2013 Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment