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[QLD] Free Construction Apprenticeships for over 25's @ TAFE QLD & CQ University

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Just announced, free construction apprenticeships for various trades (listed through the link) for over 25's.

Free Construction Apprenticeships for Over 25s covers the cost of your training when you choose an eligible construction-related apprenticeship and study with TAFE Queensland or CQUniversity.

Commences July 1st, save between $1000 - $10000 if you are looking for a career swap.

To be eligible, you must:

  • have commenced your apprenticeship between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026
  • be currently employed as a Queensland apprentice (under a training contract) in an eligible construction-related apprenticeship qualification
  • be aged 25 years or older when you commence your apprenticeship.

Related Stores

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Comments

  • +79

    Cheaper to do this and then be qualified to DIY extensions than to get a tradie in to do it.

    • +3

      On top of being cheaper, it'll be faster than waiting for a tradie to actually show up to quote.

  • +46

    With all that money saved, can put it towards the 69,420 monthly payments for that new raptor gen 2 on finance!

    Fr tho - while there are a heap of good mentors there are way more bad ones who use apprentices as cheap labour and fail to teach good practice/ abuse the apprentice-mentor arrangement. Much of it now is more or less about getting the work done as fast as possible under budget as possible - which sets up a whole new generation to be even worse…and that’s before we get into the whole problem of work site toxic interactions. It can be a pretty tough game.

    • Nah so much information on YouTube anyway most of it is learning on the job.

      • +9

        That sounds like a contradiction.

      • +8

        learning on the job

        Agreed, there IS a bit of an art to taxing chips out of the sites bulk kfc order and making it look like it came out of the restaurant like that - and honestly it comes down to practical experience.

        • +1

          Buy one get one free at Subway was always a good earner when getting the lunches.

    • +2

      who use apprentices as cheap labour and fail to teach good practice/ abuse the apprentice-mentor arrangement

      Yeah I was overhearing some guys saying their bosses have been hiring heaps of apprentices and using them as cheap labourers cause it was cheaper than hiring labourers.
      Shame to hear hope they still taught them well.

    • Hence why we get paid what we do when it's all over. College was a breeze in comparison, was a full time university student after the big R in Europe, can literally wipe my ass with the degree, fun times tho..

  • +14

    Anyone looking to do this , pick the sparky/ instro if you can. Licence to print money.

    • +4

      I was thinking plumber. Charge $500 to install a washing machine 🤣🤣

      • +17

        I too enjoy rummaging around in faeces.

        • +8

          You have faeces in your washing machine?

          • @Trip: You need to be a plumber to install a washing machine too.

            • -1

              @Andoes: My mate gets a few calls a day from people to install the washine machine tubing. He charges between $300 to $500 depending on client.

              • @easternculture: Seems pricey. The tubing is going into the washing machine, right ?

                • @Magpye: Washine machine to taps.
                  Washing machine drainage pipe to sink

                  Some wealthy people can't be bothered to do a simple task.

                  Seems pricey

                  Anything Plumbing related is pricey

              • @easternculture: As in screw in the hoses?

        • +4

          fisting dunnies making monies

        • Now you can be paid to do it

      • +2

        I was thinking plumber.

        Plumbing literally involves dealing with actual shit. No thanks.

        • Like every profession, you can refuse jobs. With plumbers, they can afford to be selective.

        • At least the money doesn't stink.

    • +4

      Get used to Crawling in roof spaces with spiky fibres.

      • +4

        Don't forget the rats, snakes and the 50 degree heat.

        • +4

          and hopefully no asbestos and or silica dust on site

      • +1

        While an apprentice , yes probably but after you get both quals you won’t be doing that again. Decent intros are on bulk money.

    • +2

      Refrigeration mechanic, is another one of the better trades that young people forget about.

      • underrated yea - bit under the radar

      • +2

        I am one of them too and I would give it a miss. Not a big money trade and you’re always on the wrong side of the aircon/ air handler/ refrigeration unit.

      • what you learn can also crossover to another area, got a friend who fixes fridges for the big2 supermarkets, and does some side work installing a/c + hvac split systems….

    • licensed trades does create more demand becasue of the certificaction for occupancy so electricians, plumbers, roofrers, licensed trades. Chippie, brickie, tiler, anybody can do that and no license required, you tube and bunnings diy nighty.

  • +7

    Free edu email address and student benefits I assume.

  • +3

    if you are looking for a career swap

    With whom am I going to swap.

    • +2

      Your current self

  • +17

    Be a hard sell going back to minimum wage during a housing/cost of living crisis.
    Really wish I could though, have wanted to do a sparky apprenticeship for a long time. Had a chance for a while but was rare as hens teeth for anyone to take on a mature aged apprentice when I was looking. They want all the cheap as shit juniors unfortunately and churn them out for cheap labour.

    • +2

      Have a look at government/utilities. Our EBA just went through and mature age first years now make 80% of full timers. Wild times.

      • mature age first years now make 80% of full timers

        Going to be wilder when they pay them the premium to learn. Like 30 days a year off to do training and upskilling. You know we love leveling the playing field.

        The government granted 2m or there abouts of migrant visas of various types in the last 3 years what are all these people doing. They can't all be doing Uber.

        • +2

          I'm all for it, great career and much better suited for many people compared to degrees. Good to see it become a much more desirable option than when I went through.

      • Is this applicable in Queensland?

        • Which bit? But I am in QLD so i'd say yes.

          • @Dandaman21: The Enterprise Bargaining Agreement :), might send my wife off to be re-skilled. I'm sure they'd be all over it for the minimum female employment targets

            • +1

              @Catsfan070911: Each company generally has its own EBA so would depend on the company. No minimum quota for women in my org, but they're definitely keen to improve the numbers so if she's interested and is vaguely competent, I've never looked back!

              • @Dandaman21: My father was an electrician so i've always been interested myself. The wife has expressed an interest in the trades before. Also, as an immigrant from Europe she has struggled to have her teaching qualifications recognised here.

                • +1

                  @Catsfan070911: Energex/Ergon are about to open applications, depending on where you're located, I posted the link in another comment. It can still be a tough gig for women with a lot of rusted on attitudes to overcome, but definitely getting better, and larger organisations tend to be better equipped to manage it than construction sites.

              • @Dandaman21:

                No minimum quota for women in my org

                That's very rare these days. Women and Black people are in high demand in most places. Quotas must be filled in the name of equality!

      • mature age first years now make 80% of full timers. Wild times.

        Where do I sign?

        • Sorry, don't think you've got what it takes.

      • Direct me on where to do this 😂

      • +1
    • +6

      This is exactly my situation. Mature age, over desk jobs, good with tools, and fit, 38 years old. But cant afford to go to apprenticeship wages, with a toddler.

      Might* consider this of it was in NSW

    • +2

      same for me, would love to do apprenticeship but current $150k pa office job i couldnt take the pay cut.,

  • +3

    If this runs in VIC I might quit the job to do a apprentice.

    • In VIC there is free TAFE. You can do Cert IV in Building & Construction or even diploma level and see how people turn into dodgy builders (spoiler, it isn't taught in the course so I can only assume they are stupid in and stupid out).

  • so…. governments are starting to realize we need a construction workforce, about 20 years too late.
    Policy fail but great for tradies. Milk it while you can. It will take at least 10 years to build the construction workforce.

    • -3

      This is a much better policy that has long term Qld wide benefits compared with the SEQ centric election period 50¢ public transport fares.

      • 50c fares apply anywhere that a Translink service operates. So your "SEQ centric" doesn't really make much sense.

        • I stand by that. Translink is SEQ centric as that is where the vast majority of services, annd no doubt nearly all its revenue are located. There is no translink west of the divide, and only limited services in a bunch of larger towns up the coast.

          This apprenticeship program is a much better policy and shows the Qld government can still make the right call, despite blatant attempts at vote grabbing.

          • @entropysbane: But the vast majority of the QLD population live in SEQ so of course it will have the most services and the most revenue. At a rough guess, I'd argue Translink services cover about 70-80% of the QLD population, it would be unreasonable to think they could service the entire population. Any small town (Isa, Emerald, Roma, Longreach etc.) not serviced by them doesn't have the population to support it, at most you'd maybe get a single loop service that will take you around town. I don't really know what your expectations are in the grand scheme of things.

            • @EFC94: I expect government to govern for the long term and be actually inclusive, not just claim they are. And I am not asking for services that won’t be patronised. That shouldn’t happen in various parts of the city either btw.

              My criticism isn’t about the extent of public transport services, or asking for an expansion on non viable routes.
              it is that temporarily spending a lot of money in locations that already get a higher level of service is not fair to the rest of the population. And qld is a lot more decentralised than other states, and this scheme is a sugar hit only available around the election period.
              (Disclosure, I commute on the bus every day, this will save me about $45 a week from September through to feb until after that costing what it does now, regardless of who gets elected. But I can tell the diff between good and bad policy, and also how these kinds of little bribes to the city people make regional people feel angry and.. forgotten).

              Ps those four towns you mentioned are not small, and they are wealthy compared with their neighbouring towns.

              On the other hand this apprenticeship program is long lasting, not city centric, and will help the economy over time, by ultimately delivering productivity improvements and economic growth. Deserves to be acknowledged and the government given kudos.

    • +1

      Thank the previous Liberal governments for gutting the TAFE system and handing it over to private interests.

      Remember the "Free laptop/iPad" TAFE scam?

  • +3

    I am almost 50 years old.
    Is that too late to start as an apprentice?
    Which one is least muscle required..

    • +1

      Sign writer would be my guess, or electronics tech.

      • appliance repair prob (1st entry in the list) would be my guess

    • Melbourne tram driver is available if you wanna come down here (brrrrr) - my mate is nearly 60 and got a job…. 115k plus super for full-time, 7.5 weeks leave per year.

      Only muscles you need are in your hands.

      https://careers.yarratrams.com.au/job/Boro-Full-Time-Tram-Dr…

  • +7

    I'll get a free basic sparky license so I can legally do my electrical work from now on.

    • +3

      I'll get a free basic sparky license so I can legally do my electrical work from now on.

      At the end of your 4 year apprenticeship will be able to legally do that.

    • there's such a thing as a free basic sparky licence?

      • +1

        used to be 30 years ago, could get dispensation for own home if you had electronics qualifications, not need to do the courses, exams to be licensed …. not sure what happens to sparkie from india or china to be licenesed in australia.

  • Could be worth it for the free edu email

    • have commenced your apprenticeship between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026

      Surely there are easier ways than commiting to an apprenticeship just to get an edu email?

      Look at the Fee-Free Tafe options if that is what you are after, way less of a commitment.

  • This is all well and good, but the problem is actually trying to get an apprenticeship to start with. A lot of the ads you see online are looking for 2nd or 3rd year apprentices. Not enough employers can afford to put on a first year who for the most part has no idea what they're doing. Hopefully this new scheme will entice more employers to put on a first year.

  • +1

    Might be helpful to list the eligibility requirements, it's not super practical for many people, especially not if you have children or a mortgage. I'd love to take on one of these, but couldn't afford it!

    • +1

      You need an employer to sign you onto the apprenticeship thats pretty much all the requirements.

      I have children and a mortgage and am seriously considering it. Probably wouldnt work on a single income household for sure.

      • +1

        How would one go about finding an employer? What do people say to justify career change from a desk job?

      • +1

        Mate, we know QLD rocks.No daylight saving. Can ride a moped on car license up to 50km an hour. Lovely weather compared to the South and North Pole. It's the Sunshine State. The list goes on. However, can you please edit the post and include the requirements.

        • Daylight savings not so bad, you get use to it. Extra hr of daylight comes in handy. Moped on car licence sounds good (though I have a MN licence already).

          • @Widget: Mate, daylight should be illegal. You aren't getting an extra hour of daylight. Blows my mind that some states think they are conjuring up "extra" daylight. Love you coz you are on Ozbargain and clearly one of the top 1%. But to make it to the top 0.1% you need to unbrainwash yourself about daylight saving. Move to QLD and live a better life. We will welcome you and forgive your daylight saving sins. We are good people.

            • @tessel: lol, but you indirectly get an extra hour by losing an hour of morning. I grew up in QLD (now NSW), would probably be nice to move back up at some point.

  • +3

    Eligibility
    To be eligible, you must:

    -have commenced your apprenticeship between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2026
    -be currently employed as a Queensland apprentice (under a training contract) in an eligible construction-related apprenticeship qualification
    -be aged 25 years or older when you commence your apprenticeship.

    • Seems pointless when you read the requirements.

      • Which part is pointless? They're standard requirements for anyone starting an apprenticeship

        • This part is confusing me:
          "be currently employed as a Queensland apprentice (under a training contract) in an eligible construction-related apprenticeship qualification"

          Seems to cut out anyone just interested in a career change? Or am I reading it wrong?

          Edit: Oh… so you just need to seek out an apprenticeship first? It reads like applicants would already need to be an apprentice at this point in time.

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