Apart from Plumbing and Electrical apprenticeships, the other highly popular one is a Mechanic Apprenticeship. The number of car owners is constantly increasing, as it is in most parts of the world, which means skilled Mechanics are in high demand.

As with other trades, the only way to become a qualified tradesman is to start by completing an apprenticeship.

Requirements to get a Mechanic Apprenticeship

• You must have completed the 12^th grade of secondary school.
• You must have decent mathematics, English and physics grades.
• Employers are known to prefer candidates with a driving licence
• If you have a driving licence, you must have completely clean records.
• Ability to work well within a team
• Methodical attitude towards work
• A passion for technical drawings

Mechanic Apprenticeship Description

During your mechanical apprenticeship, you are likely to work on the job four days of the week, and you will attend classroom based teaching the fifth day. A typical week should comprise of 40 hours overall. 

During your on-the-job training, you will assist a qualified and skilled mechanic, which could be anything from installing or repairing air condition systems to inspecting engines to identify faults and change tyres. Everything you do will be under your trainer’s supervision and he is accountable for your actions.

If you complete a four year mechanical apprenticeship, you would have completed over 8,000 hours of work experience, in which you would have covered various automotive part, such as engines, transmissions, brakes and everything else that composes a vehicle.

Where do mechanics work?

The training that you will get in a mechanic apprenticeship is usually undertaken inside well-lit and well-ventilated workshops, however, on some occasions the training could be completed on the road. And due to the nature of the work and the tools used in the workshops, the apprentices can expect to face minor hazards such as bruises and light burns, which is why responsible

What are the career prospects?

Once your mechanic apprenticeship is complete, you will have to decide which route you will take. You will get the chance to become specialised in highly specific areas, such as Diesel engines and small engines. However, you also have the option to work in a different from the automotive field, and get a job as a motorcycle mechanic or even an aircraft mechanic. And wherever you decide to end up working, due to the ever advancing types of electrical equipment in every field, you will get the chance to undertake further training to broaden and refine their technical equipment skills.

Most mechanics are employed by their local dealership or an independent company that specialises in repairing vehicles.

A typical mechanic works on average 40 hours a week, and some of these hours may be carried out during weekends, as many dealerships are open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Salaries of Mechanics in Australia

Salaries in mechanics have steadily risen over the past decade, coinciding with the increase of vehicles. Minimum average salary is $29,999, the average maximum salary is $130,000, and the average salary throughout the profession is $68,279.

However, one thing to always keep in mind is that the amount you earn depends completely on you. In popular trades such as mechanics, there is always potential to can get extra work on days off and work overtime to increase your wages.

Can you get help with tools when doing a mechanic apprenticeship?

Mechanics that are looking for employment may benefit from owning their own tools, as some employers tend to prefer these people. Partly because they might own good tools that would help their business, but also because it shows that the prospective employee is more likely to be more determined and passionate about the job than someone who doesn’t own his/her own tools.

Tools for mechanics are usually quite expensive, and as engines all have different sized nuts and bolts, mechanics are usually expected to at the very least own their own set of different sized wrenches and shallow and deep sockets. Mechanical apprentices are advised to start their own collection early on in their careers, and this is why the Australian Apprenticeships scheme was created. The scheme helps mature age apprentices purchase start-up tools. If you would like to find out if you are entitled to help with your mechanic apprenticeship, please visit your local Australian Apprenticeship Centre, go on their Australian Apprenticeship Centre Website or call them on 13 38 73 .

-Mature Age Apprenticeships.org Team

Carpenters are very skilled craftsmen who are highly important within the building and construction industry.

There are two categories carpentry apprenticeships fall in, one is Structural Carpenters – Craftsmen who are involved in the building and construction of big structures, and Detail Carpenters – Craftsmen involved with furniture, be it making, assembling or repairing it. Many carpenters describe their work as a form of relaxation and an excellent way to train patience, which is helped by the fact that a carpenter can work anywhere in the world.

Older apprentices can benefit greatly from the Australian Apprenticeships scheme, as tools needed for carpentry apprenticeships can get pricey. If you are over the age of 25 (twenty-five) when you complete your apprenticeship, you may be entitled to help with finances towards tools and equipment.

What do you get taught in carpentry apprenticeships?

Carpenters are skilled craftsmen who primarily build, install and repair buildings, furniture and other objects that have timber. The work is very manual and it can be carried out both indoors and outdoors.

The main tasks undertaken in carpentry apprenticeships are:

• Carefully study drawings and specifications to understand how things are built
• Erects structures and the framing of roofs.
• Cuts wood to make structural components and furniture
• Repair broken structures and components
• Work with different materials, including wood, metals, perspex and plastic
• Installs external cladding on buildings, including walls doors and window frames.
• Build staircases

Skills required

• Excellent manual dexterity
• Creative type
• Patient approach to work
• High attention to detail
• Keen to learn
• Good mathematics skills
• Great interpersonal skills for clients.

How long are Carpentry Apprenticeships?

Carpentry is a highly skilled profession, so carpentry apprenticeships tend to be slightly longer than others, the average completion is between 2-4 years, depending on whether you can apply to RPL and how quickly you become skilled.

Can I apply or RPL (Recognition of Prioir Learning)

Carpentry is a trade many people have skills in without prior training, which means that if you are interested in completing an apprenticeship, particularly a mature age apprenticeship. If you have knowledge and skills, that you obtained through past experiences, training and education, you may well be eligible to apply for RPL and reduce the amount of training required.

If you wish to apply for RPL, you must complete the following steps:

1. Gather all relevant proof of skills or experiences. This can be previous employment references, certificates or records.
2. Next you must meet with an assessor who will review your submission and assess whether your claims match up with the requirements of the apprenticeship you are applying to.
3. The assessor will most likely arrange a practical test at a suitable workplace, and this will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and competences levels. This test will focus solely on relevant skills that you would learn in your apprenticeship.

Please note though that there are usually fees involved with this, to get an idea of costs, you might expect for the initial application itself to cost $300 and if the assessor feels you might be eligible for RPL, you will need to pay another $85 per unit for the assessments.

Career Outlook

The carpentry trade is one of highly skilled workers, and they are high in demand. Wherever there are things being built with wood, there will be a need for a carpenter. Due to the nature of the work and skills involved, carpentry can be a highly entrepreneurial career, which explains why over a third of carpenters are self-employed. Most recently qualified carpenters look for a good mentor to teach them until they become experts and then go on to start their own business. However, one of the downsides of this is that bad weather some times means unpaid downtime, which can cause problems.

Where can I find apprenticeships and jobs?

If you are looking for carpentry apprenticeships or jobs, try looking for some on the government’s website – http://jobsearch.gov.au/findajob/maplvl1.aspx or try our job section. Good luck and if you get an apprenticeship or job, send us an email with your story, we’d love to hear it and share it with everyone else on here!

-Mature Age Apprenticeships.org Team

Hairdressing apprenticeships are one of the most popular apprenticeships with females, however an increasing amount of males are also applying.

In hairdressing apprenticeships you start your career by working as a junior in an established salon, which means you will assist senior hairdressers directly, while they train you to become a junior stylist. During this time, your main job will consist of the core business tasks, such as taking appointments, washing, shampooing, conditioning, drying hair and you may also get the opportunity to apply hair-dye while under supervision. Alongside all of this you will be studying various hair topics, which include effects of chemicals on skin and hair, hair colour selection and if you are interested, you can also learn about how product marketing works, how to relax hair of every type and even perms.

Becoming A Hairdresser At An Older Age

Hairdressing is a timeless career, there are no age requirements and you are never too old to start your own. A key benefit hairdressing apprenticeships have is that as a mature age apprentice you will most likely be able to claim credits using your past experience and skills. Young apprentices usually take a long time to complete their training, as they need to be taught how to do everything, older people are more likely to have more effective social skills, are more knowledgeable and have more experience with hair trends and haircuts, and of course, are more responsible overall.

Qualities needed to get hairdressing apprenticeships

Hairdressing is a very sociable career, and as such the following list are typical qualities employers look for in hairdressing apprentices:

• Excellent social skills to engage with clients
• Passionate about fashion and hair
• Strong attention to detail
• Good listener
• Interested in other people’s stories
• A methodical and careful approach to working

Career Opportunities

Hairdressing is a big industry that will never disappear, so you are assured a ‘job for life’. Once you apply to hairdressing apprenticeships and complete it, they become a junior stylist, you will have the option to either work your way up to the director stylist level and beyond, or you can undertake further training in other areas, such as colouring and developing your cutting skills further.
Hair is a major part of fashion, and because everyone needs to get their haircut every so often, there are big opportunities out there by freelancing. You could specialise in specific types of hair and do freelance work, for example: Wedding hair stylist or other special occasions.
The average salaries that hairdressers receive in Australia are between $29,300 – $43,700. But as we mentioned above, there is good potential to earn extra money by finding your own regular clients, who will get their hair cut with you during your free time. Some salons also prefer to rent a seat and equipment to hairdressers with their own clients, which has great potential if you can get a large list of loyal clients who pay well.

Hairdressing Apprenticeship jobs

If you are looking for hairdressing apprenticeships in Australia, have a quick search using the apprenticeships jobs page, if you apply and get an apprenticeship, please write us in the future with your experience, we’d love to hear from you and feature it on MatureAgeApprenticeships.org

-Mature Age Apprenticeships.org Team

Mining apprenticeships are not amongst the most popular apprenticeship, which shocks a lot of people, as Mining is an exciting and dynamic industry.

It is forecasted to continue growing for a very long time and the positive outlook for the industry and high salaries also make it one of the most satisfying industries in Australia. Due to the shortage of people looking for mining apprenticeships, most companies have consistent problems with filling all of the increasing number of positions as they struggle to locate skilled workers. This makes it a career that should be seriously researched and considered, however, it is important to acknowledge that it is not for everyone, which is why you should research it extensively.

Qualities people trying to get mining apprenticeships should have

Some of the more popular qualities that your prospective employers will look for are often:

• Have a responsible outlook to life, you will be working with heavy machinery and in potentially dangerous situations.
• You must be in, at the very least, decent physical condition and in good mental health.
• Are capable of travelling and working in remote areas.
• Are willing to even move to those areas.
• Be a team player, as you might in with a team in close conditions.
• Be positive and with a good attitude towards work.

What qualifications are required?

This is a small list of qualifications that are needed in order to work in the mining industry.

• A big plus is having relevant experience, if you are able to get some real experience, it is highly recommended you do.
• Level III or if possible Level IV Certificate. These can be obtained through completing mining apprenticeships.
• If you would like to drive the diggers and trucks, you need a Heavy Vehicle licence. Get more information here: http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/licensing/20675.asp
• Due to the nature of the work involved, a first aid qualification will help you a lot.

Career outlook

There are many career paths in the industry, and as such, you will have the possibility to become very specialised and trained in a very specific area. Mining is a very important trade in the Australian economy, and as such is always in demand. In recent years, as mentioned earlier, there has actually been a shortage of workers. Despite the terrible state of the world’s economy it is predicted that the amount of jobs will continually increase over the next decade and, most likely, beyond.

What are the Mining salaries like in Australia?

Due to the huge size of the industry, salaries vary tremendously. If you do an Mining Apprenticeship, your wages depend on many factors, and the minimum salary is determined by the NTWAS (National Training Wage Award System). Some of the factors will of course be your past experience, training and in some cases even age.

Once qualified, and depending what specific  path you decide to take, your earnings could be anything between $42,000 (Australian Dollars) to over $270,000. To give you just a few examples, if you decide to become a Metallurgist, you can earn around $7,200 a month. Geologists and Geophysicists salaries average around $6,500 a month, and Mining assistants can expect around $5,200 per month.

I am a female and interested in mining apprenticeships, what chance do I have?

Absolutely! Despite the Miner stereotype usually being male, the mining companies have gone through great efforts to attract women into mining apprenticeships. Women are a critical part of every organisation, and mining is no different. If you have any questions relating to this, please contact your local Australian Apprenticeship Centre, you can find the nearest one through their website http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/ in the contacts section.

In what states can I find mining jobs?

There are numerous mines around Australia, but the states with the most jobs are usually Queensland, Northern Australia and Western Australia. Mining apprenticeships, however, should exist throughout Australia. If you would like to see what is in your area, you can check out our mature age apprenticeship jobs section.

Good luck!
-Mature Age Apprenticeships.org Team

Electrician Apprenticeship is another extremely popular Apprenticeship in Australia. Electricians are in charge of maintaining all types of electrical systems, networks, facilities and appliances. There will always be demand for Electricians, however, due to the potential dangers involved in the profession, the only way to become an Electrician is by completing supervised training.

How to get an Electrician Apprenticeship in Australia?

• You must first complete an electrician apprenticeship that will allow you to obtain an AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) certificate III, this should include two years of practical training, or a certificate IV. You can secure one through an established company or under a contractor.
• Get in contact with your state’s local Electrician Licensing Authority to find learn more about what the registration prerequisites in your specific area.
• One general requirement that every Electrician Authority has, is for the candidate to take various assessments to measure your competence.
• Once you pass these assessments and any other prerequisites you will need to fill in the application forms, together with your electrician apprenticeship certificates, photograph and any other relevant supporting documents.
• You can now submit your application and if everything is in order, you will receive a Electrician licence, which means you are able to carry out works without the need of supervision.

 Some essential qualities needed to get an Electrician Apprenticeship:

• Great hand-eye coordination
• Good eyesight.
• No colour-vision problems, as you will need to distinguish between coloured wires.
• Very methodical approach to working
• Great technical ability
• Be responsible.

-Mature Age Apprenticeships.org Team

A Mature Age Plumbing Apprenticeship is an extremely popular choice amongst job seekers after Mature Age Apprenticeships, as it is a trade that will always be needed as long as people want to drink clean water, have warm showers and heating systems.

Plumber Job Description

Plumber Apprenticeships are one of the most sought-after trades, and due to the high demand, one of the best paid trades you can do. 

Plumbers are always on the move and meeting new people, so you should be someone who doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty to help find difficult problems, and then have the ability to find a solution. Plumbers will deal with Gas, Water supplies, Sewerage, Heating systems and even roofs, which makes it a very broad and ever changing job.

Plumbers spend most of their time dealing with customers or on site, which means you need excellent communication and working skills.

How To Become A Plumber In Australia?

To become a Plumber in Australia, you must:

• Obtain a registration or a Plumber license. To do this you must obtain an AQF (Australia Qualifications Framework) certificate III, that has at the very least two years of training or an AQF IV certificate, all of which can be obtained through the completion of a plumbing apprenticeship.
• You will need to pass a test with each certificate to prove your competency.
• Now you can give Plumbing Authority in your state a visit to learn more about what the registration prerequisites in your area.
• In some cases you may be asked to take another test for the Authority.
• After this you will receive official applications forms to register, which you will need to fill in and return together with your training certificates, plumber certificates, photograph and possibly a fee (dependant on state).
• All that you need to do now is submit your completed form to the Plumbing Authority and wait for your licence and registration.

How much do plumbers earn in Australia?

As mentioned above, Plumbing is one of the highest paid trades, and here are 2011’s average Plumber salary that shows the earning potential you will have once qualified:

Date	Average Salary	Average Min.	Average Max.
Oct – Dec 2011	$58,496.54	$53,408.65	$63,584.44
July – Sept 2011	$56,224.09	$51,489.91	$60,958.27
April – June 2011	$60,618.59	$55,939.30	$65,297.87
Jan – March 2011	$62,861.56	$58,684.33	$67,038.80

 

**Source: MyCareer job listings inclusive of wage. Figures may incorporate total pkg.

Benefits Of A Plumbing Apprenticeship

There are many benefits to completing a Plumber Apprenticeship. Some of the main ones are:

• You gain a Nationally Recognised Qualification that is valid in every Australian state and over 20 other countries
• You have the potential to earn more money than in other trades
• Plumbing is in very high demand and is a job for ‘life’
• You earn money whilst you are trained
• You are entitled to benefits, pension and holidays during your plumbing Apprenticeship.
• You are constantly meeting new people and you are always on the move.

If you are interested to see the job market for Mature Age plumbing apprenticeship now, have a look at our Mature Age Apprenticeship Jobs page.

Good Luck.
-Mature Age Apprenticeships.org Team