Mature Age Apprenticeships WA

Mature Age Apprenticeships WA

Western Australia is the largest state in the country, with the majority of the population residing in the metropolitan Perth area.  It has a booming mining industry, which accounts for about 4.6 percent of the country’s GDP.  Agricultural production also accounts for a large part of the state’s economic output, therefore, both of these industries could be worth researching in-depth if you are looking for adult apprenticeships in Western Australia.

Programs

Western Australia implements a state training plan each year, and the current plan from 2018-2021 emphasizes increasing the number of Western Australians participating in VET (vocational education and training) programs.  This means that the state hopes to provide many opportunities available in the state for apprenticeships and vocational training.  To find out more about the specifics of the plan, visit WA’s Department of Workforce Development and Training here.  Unfortunately though, rates of apprenticeships have been decreasing steadily since 2015, with a nearly 9% total decrease between 2015 and 2019. (source: aapathways)

Wages

According to Western Australia’s commerce website, the minimum wage for an adult apprentice over the age of 21 is $638.20/week (before tax).  This is a national minimum that applies to “award free” apprentices.  However, most employees are usually covered by an award, or minimum pay set by certain industry standards.  These awards vary by occupation, so it is important to keep this in mind.  You can find a useful pay calculator that will determine the award in whatever field you are interested in at www.fairwork.gov.au.  Usually jobs that are covered by awards have a bit higher pay.  For example, a first year adult electrician’s apprentice could make $759/week when the employer is covered by the Electrical, Electronic and Communications Contracting award.

Popular Apprenticeships

The most popular apprenticeship positions in Western Australia include conservation and land management, engineering, and electricians.  You can find a full list of popular apprenticeships in WA here and here.

How to Apply

Those looking to get into the apprenticeship programs in Western Australia will need to undertake training through a registered training organisation such as TAFE (technical and further education).  There are many programs offered in the Perth area, which you can view here.