Apprenticeships & traineeships
With a long and proud history of vocational education and training, Victoria University (VU) offers an expansive range of apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship and traineeship programs.
These sought after courses provide foundation and generic skills, along with the practical hands-on experience valued by employers. Whether you want to become a construction worker, a business owner or an engineer, we make it easier for you to achieve your goal.
Our apprenticeship programs support the growth of the industry, which is critical to our economy and employment within the community.
VU apprentices work to the highest industry standards, with some recognised for their achievements.
Pre-apprenticeships
Thinking of joining a trade but not quite sure if you’ll like it? Give yourself a great head start for an apprenticeship with VU's pre-apprenticeship program.
Pre-apprenticeships give you the opportunity to gain a realistic expectation of the work involved in a particular trade and develop important basic trade skills. You get off-the-job training as well as practical experience. Employers prefer applicants that have undertaken a pre-apprenticeship when considering an apprentice.
VU offers full time pre-apprenticeships for students who wish to leave school and continue into further education.
How to apply for a pre-apprenticeship
If you are considering a pre-apprenticeship, we encourage you attend one of our face to face trades pre apprenticeship application support sessions. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about the course.
When you're ready to apply please see the how to apply information located on the course page.
Pre-apprenticeship courses
- Certificate II in Building and Construction Pre-apprenticeship 22614VIC
- Certificate II in Civil Construction RII20720
- Certificate II in Electrotechnology Studies (Pre-Vocational) 22499VIC
- Certificate II in Plumbing (Pre-Apprenticeship) 22569VIC
- Certificate II in Engineering Studies 22632VIC
Time commitment
Each trade has a different delivery timetable.
Depending on the course, students will generally be required to attend classes three to four days per week for 16 to 20 weeks.
Apprenticeships
How to get an apprenticeship
- Find an employer in your chosen trade who will employ you as an apprentice
- employers often prefer to take on apprentices with pre-apprenticeship qualifications.
- Your employer will need to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Centre and sign a training contract to register you as an apprentice.
- Nominate Victoria University as your preferred registered training organisation (RTO).
Within six to eight weeks after successfully completing this process your classroom training will commence.
Apprenticeship courses
Apprenticeships are offered for the following courses:
- MSF30322 Certificate III in Cabinet Making and Timber Technology
- Certificate III in Carpentry CPC30220
- Certificate III in Civil Construction RII30920
- Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician UEE30820
- Certificate III in Engineering (Fabrication Trade) MEM30319
- Certificate III in Engineering (Mechanical Trade) MEM31922
- Certificate III in Hairdressing SHB30416
- Certificate III in Barbering SHB30516
- Certificate III in Plumbing CPC32420
- Certificate III in Signs and Graphics CPC30216
- Certificate III in Commercial Cookery SIT30821
- Certificate III in Hospitality SIT30622
Except for the plumbing and eletro-technology certificates, these courses can all be undertaken as a standard qualification (not as an apprenticeship).
Please note that employers may prefer you to have the hands-on experience of an apprenticeship, in which case finding work may be more difficult if you choose classroom-only training. We recommend that you check with potential employers before applying.
Trades training in Geelong
Victoria University also delivers carpentry courses at the Geelong Industry Trade Training Centre (GITTC). Apprentices have access to industry standard workshops, specialist machinery and theory rooms at the facility.
Qualifications available: Certificate III in Carpentry CPC30220
Traineeships
Traineeships are undertaken as on-the-job training.
How to get a traineeship
- Find an employer in your chosen area who will employ you as a trainee
- Your employer will need to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Centre) and sign a training contract to register you as a trainee.
- Nominate Victoria University as your preferred registered training organisation (RTO).
Within six to eight weeks after successfully completing this process your classroom training will commence.
Traineeship courses
Traineeships are offered for the following courses and areas:
- Certificate III in Hospitality SIT30616
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care CHC30121
- Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care CHC50113
These courses are also available to study as a standard qualification instead of a traineeship if you'd prefer. But please keep in mind that employers may prefer you to have the hands-on experience of a traineeship, in which case finding work may be more difficult if you choose classroom-only training. We recommend that you check with potential employers before applying.
Fees
Find out how much your course will cost, including whether or not you need to pay material or amenities fees.
For details on how to pay your fees, login to MyVU to view your Statement of Account (Tax Invoice). You must be an enrolled student to access MyVU.
Skills recognition
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications.
Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 82 33 87 to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
