Courses

More and more these days we hear about lifelong learning. Unlike the old days when finishing school was the end of your education, today you can learn right up until you retire! And even past that!! Exciting isn’t it! Whether you are a young school-leaver, an experienced worker or someone looking to change careers, you can always benefit from training and expanding your knowledge. Knowledge is power as they say, and with the opportunities out there for highly-skilled people, never a truer word was spoken.
So, what opportunities in training are out there? You can do day-long courses, week-long courses, certificates, diplomas, traineeships, apprenticeships, undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and more! There is no limit to what it is possible to study these days! Study can be expensive though, so make sure you check out our funding section, to see if you are eligible for government or industry funding. Getting an apprenticeship or traineeship is a great option because you are paid to learn! Find out more below in our Apprenticeships or Traineeships section.

Apprenticeships and traineeships are an excellent way to learn a nationally recognised qualification, while getting paid for it! They provide you with the relevant knowledge, experience and skills through structured workplace learning including both on-the-job and off-the-job training.

Full-time apprenticeships last for approximately three to four years and will provide apprentices with a trade qualification. Nowadays apprenticeships are competency based meaning that the quicker you learn and apply your new skills, the sooner you can receive your spiffy new qualification! Examples of apprenticeships include Landscaping, Chef and Boilermaking. For a full list visit the DETA website.

Full-time traineeships generally take between one and three years to complete and you are paid as you progress towards a qualification! These are generally referred to as non-trade qualifications and are nationally recognised. Examples of traineeships are Business Administration, Hospitality and Agriculture. For an extensive list visit the DETA website.

Now some people are turned off apprenticeships by the fact that the pay is, at least initially, relatively low however most training is very expensive so getting paid anything at all to learn really is a bonus! It is a training wage so it is lower for a reason, once you have completed your apprenticeship you’ll be a tradesperson and accordingly paid as one, and that is by no means low pay!! The same applies for traineeships, you get paid at a lower rate while you progress towards the qualification, and when you have it you’ll get the award rate for that occupation. Good stuff hey!

The employer who takes you on as an apprentice or trainee may also be eligible for financial incentives from the government, visit Queensland Apprentice Services website for more information.

So, is this starting to sound right up your alley? If so, what is the next step to actually becoming an apprentice or trainee? Well, luckily most of you will have completed a pre-vocational program with us here at CTC which will increase your chances of getting an apprenticeship/traineeship, and may also help reduce the time you take to complete your qualification. Firstly you need to find yourself an employer, who might be a small business, a large company, or a Group Training Organisation (GTO). GTOs act as an intermediary in the apprenticeship process. They sign you up as an apprentice, and you become one of their employees, they then find work for you with appropriate host employers in your area. This is becoming an increasingly popular option for both apprentices and employers as it lowers the risk involved for both parties. GTOs monitor your progress, offer support, and carry out the administrative legwork required to get you your qualification. In turn, this enables the host employer to focus on their core business and therefore give you the best training experience possible. For a handy list of GTOs in Queensland, click here.

School-Based Apprenticeships/Traineeships – Allows students to continue attending school to receive their High School Certificate while also completing an apprenticeship/traineeship part-time (usually one day a week), by working onsite and attending off-site training with an RTO.
Mature Age Apprentices – If you begin your apprenticeship aged 21 years or over, you could be classed as a mature age apprentice. You could also be eligible for various government incentives and scholarships, to find out more visit Australian Apprenticeships.

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Aside from apprenticeships and traineeships there are many other courses available, ranging from one day accredited or non-accredited training through to Diplomas or Advanced Diplomas. You can do many different licences and ticket qualifications which range in level & experience. Though these courses may seem costly, the value they add to you as a job seeker means they are a good investment in your future.
Both the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments offer funding assistance and incentives for some qualifications. To find out more, visit our Funding section.

University degrees are considered a higher level qualification and are usually associated with higher study costs. They are usually longer courses, with a Bachelor’s degree taking between 3-4 years full-time. The general assumption is that you will be higher paid with a university degree, and while this is normally the case, it is by no means certain!!
The Australian Government offers HECS-HELP assistance to students in commonwealth supported places for tertiary education. This means you can defer the (very high!) costs of your uni education until you are earning a sufficient amount to start paying it back. The loans aren’t charged interest but do increase with inflation. For more information on HECS-HELP, click here.
To find out about admissions requirements to university courses, visit the QTAC website.

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