Australia is currently experiencing a skills shortage in many of the traditional trade areas including the food industry trades. The cooking, baking and meat industries in particular, are calling for skilled workers and for people wanting to take up apprenticeships and traineeships.

Apprenticeships and traineeships give you the opportunity to get paid while you're studying and lead to a nationally recognised qualification. Australian Apprenticeships include all apprenticeships and traineeships and combine work and training. You can undertake an Australian Apprenticeship full-time, part-time or as part of your school-based studies.

You will gain skills and training, and get to apply them in the workplace. At the end of your course, not only will you be fully qualified, but you will also have lots of experience and industry contacts.

You can do a number of different Australian Apprenticeships at William Angliss Institute in traditional trade areas, as well as in emerging careers in business and the foods industry, including:

Kitchen Operations
Commercial Cookery
Patisserie (Traineeship)
Baking
Pastry Cooking
Butchery (Meat Retailing)
Retail Management (Traineeship)
Business (Traineeship)
Tourism (Traineeship).

Who can do a New Apprenticeship?

Anyone over 15 years old.

How do I get started?

First, you need to contact your local Australian Apprenticeship Centre (AAC). They are located throughout Australia and provide valuable information on how to become an apprentice. The Australian Apprenticeship Centre Hotline is 1800 639 629.

Second, you need to find an employer. Your AAC can help you with this. You can also have a look in your local and major newspapers for any apprenticeship advertisements, or contact a local job agency.

What is a training contract?

Once you have contacted an AAC and found an employer, you and your employer will need to select a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for you to complete your training, in this case, at William Angliss Institute of TAFE. Your boss will complete a contract, which you need to sign and send to an Australian Apprenticeship Centre (AAC) or to the Apprenticeship Administration Branch. They will provide you with a copy within 14 days of starting work. If you're under 18, this contract must be signed by a parent or guardian.