Apprenticeships & traineeships
Even if you haven’t already started a school-based apprenticeship,
there are avenues to explore when you leave school. The beauty
of an apprenticeship is that you can combine work and study. You
will sign a contract with your employer who will pay part or all
of your education costs for studying a VET course in the area of
your apprenticeship.
This is a good mixed option if you are interested in trade, administration
or retail. If working with your hands or working outdoors is something
you love, an apprenticeship can give you the freedom to do just
this.
The Australian Apprenticeships Access Programme www.accesstraining.dest.gov.au provides
job seekers who experience barriers to skilled employment, with
pre-vocational training, support and assistance to obtain and maintain
an Australian Apprenticeship. A job seeker may be supported into
employment, further education or training.
www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au,
or www.dest.gov.au and
follow the links to apprenticeships to find out how to go about
securing an apprenticeship or traineeship, as well as tips on where
to look for them, and what to look out for.
The Australian Defence Force also has an apprenticeship scheme
in all sorts of trades -
www.defencejobs.gov.au.
Hone Your Skills
If you’re the sort of person who is more hands-on and is
thinking about a trade, there are a lot of things on offer in Australia
- from TAFE to registered training providers, apprenticeships and
traineeships and the new Australian Technical Colleges.
You may have even already started doing a trade at school through
a school-based apprenticeship, and all these training providers
can help you complete that.
Australian Technical Colleges are located in areas where there
are skills needs, a high youth population and a strong industry
base and cater for Years 11 and 12 students who wish to study for
their Year 12 certificate and start an apprenticeship whilst still
at school.
Students enter into a trade at the Certificate III level, which
leads to a nationally recognised qualification; study academic
subjects, leading to a Year 12 certificate; and also gain IT, employability
and business skills.
www.australiantechnicalcolleges.gov.au
University Life
Research shows university graduates are more employable and earn more money
in their starting salaries. But the university experience isn’t just
about going to lectures and tutorials. There is also a lot of fun
to be had, as well as learning more about yourself and what you want out
of life.
University is a must for many careers such as medicine, dentistry,
pharmacy, architecture, engineering and veterinary practice, but
campuses are not just places where you learn about your chosen
career, they are also places to learn a lot more about the world.
There are more than 40 universities in Australia, including a handful of
independent providers. Making the transition from high school to university
can be a little confronting – more so if you are leaving home for
the first time to do it. University life offers all sorts of opportunities,
not just academic ones, and at first it can seem a little overwhelming.
Each university has its own culture and feel, and before deciding on which
universities you may want to apply for, it’s a good idea to visit
them first, to see if it is the right fit for you and what you would like
achieve.
Visiting the campuses may also give you some idea about how you are going
to get there if you decide on a course. Some may be a long way from your
home or even interstate and you will need to keep in mind such things as
expenses related to travel or living away from home when making your decision.
Different degrees also have different prerequisites and you should look
at matching the types of subjects that you have completed at school with
the pre-requisites for the courses you are applying for.
If you are interested
in a course but don’t fulfil the entry requirements you can also look
at alternative pathways into the course. Each university may have different
entry requirements so it is important to check with the provider before
following an alternative pathway option.
You should take into account your current lifestyle and learning preferences
when deciding on a course of study. If attending campus to go to lectures
means that you have to travel for hours or it doesn’t fit into your
lifestyle you could consider options such as distance education or part-time
study.
Try and join a few clubs or groups in which you are interested, they help
you create a network of new friends. And there are many resources and support
available through university student unions that can ease the way when you
start.
www.goingtouni.gov.au
www.careerfaqs.com.au
TAFE
TAFE (Technical and Further Education) campuses are the most common
providers of technical and vocational training in Australia. Courses
are a lot more industry focused and designed to give you the skills
you need. If you have an apprenticeship, or are interested in trying
to improve your chances of one in a number of trades like building,
plumbing, even hairdressing, TAFE has a course that is suitable.
TAFE is also more financially viable than university for many
school-leavers and in fact the number of students enrolling in
traditional apprenticeships, such as chefs and mechanics, has increased
by nine per cent since 2005.
TAFE class sizes are smaller and there is more flexibility in
their delivery than at university. Each campus and course has different
application and enrolment dates so it is best to either look it
up on the internet or visit the campus you are considering studying.
Each state has its own TAFE website, so type it into your search
engine to find the correct address.
And now TAFE also offers a number of pathways to university if you
would like to take your qualifications even further.
Taking the short cut
Not all vocational education courses need to take years to complete.
There are a number of private and community colleges that offer
short courses in everything from massage to MYOB that can help
you get a start on a career. And often these courses may take only
a few months to complete.
There are more than 700 independent colleges across Australia
offering courses in community services, business, education, hospitality,
tourism and IT. Independent colleges are a lot more flexible in
the way they deliver their courses and also very focused on the
working world, and are committed to recruiting experienced, industry-aware
teachers. Even your local adult education colleges can help you
take the first step in achieving your career goal.
The website www.courses.com.au has
a comprehensive list of more than 11,000 short courses available
throughout Australia at community centres, TAFE and even university,
covering everything from dance, music, business, health, yoga,
languages, sports and creative arts.
 
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