FAQs
What’s a tradie?
Tradies, aka tradespeople, are your go-to construction pros. They’ve got the know-how to take on a range of essential roles such as carpentry, plumbing, roofing, electrical work and more. Whether it’s a city tower, a zippy expressway or a state-of-the-art hospital, tradies are the highly-skilled workforce behind our state’s economic development and future.
What’s an apprentice?
An apprentice gets an ideal career start: you learn your trade hands-on, under the guidance of uber-skilled mentors, while working and cashing in on the job. Once you finish studying and earn your stripes, you move up from an apprentice to a full-fledged tradie ready to take on the construction world.
How old do I have to be to start an apprenticeship?
You need to be at least 16 years to start a full-time apprenticeship. If you’re not, don’t stress. You can start a school-based apprenticeship if you’re in years 10, 11 or 12.
Do I need a driver's licence to become an apprentice?
If you’ve not yet turned 16 and are still waiting to get behind the wheel of your ute, you can still start a school-based apprenticeship in year 10 without a licence.
As an apprentice or fully-qualified tradie, a driver’s licence will be a great addition to your tool kit to get from one site to another.
Can I become an apprentice whilst I'm still at school?
You sure can. If you’re in years 10, 11 or 12 you can start a school-based apprenticeship.
As a school-based apprentice, you can:
- Get a head start on your career
- Earn while you learn
- Apply your trade to your SACE
- Go to school part-time and get hands-on experience in real time
Once you’ve completed school, your apprenticeship will become full-time or part-time depending on what you and your employer choose to do.
Chat to your school career advisor or VET coordinator about how you can get your construction career started while still studying in school.