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.

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.

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!

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.

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. Often employers strongly prefer that applicants undertake a pre-apprenticeship before they will consider taking them on as an apprentice.

Pre-apprenticeships at VU

Please note that all applicants must have transitioned from secondary school and be 15 years of age or older.

School based apprenticeships

Secondary school students in part-time employment may be able to start an Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASbA) and complete VCE or VCAL. Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) can help you gain a TAFE qualification while still remaining at school.

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

Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Unit

The Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Unit (ATSU) at Victoria University coordinates the relationships between VU, employers, apprentices and trainees.

The Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Unit: