Hire existing workers as apprentices or trainees
By transitioning existing staff to an apprenticeship or traineeship, they can improve their skills and gain vocational or trade qualifications.
Existing staff can take up an apprenticeship or traineeship if they fulfil basic eligibility criteria for:
- minimum age
- visa requirements for workers other than Australian and New Zealand citizens or residents.
Eligibility requirements
Read more about age requirements, restricted callings and visa requirements for apprenticeships and traineeships in Queensland.
If your employee is eligible, follow the steps for employing an apprentice or trainee.
Subsidised training for existing workers
The definition of an existing worker is important when determining whether your employee can get government-funded training or incentives as part of their apprenticeship or traineeship.
An existing worker is defined as a person who has been employed with your business for at least 3 months full-time or 12 months part-time or casually, immediately before starting an apprenticeship or traineeship with you.
Learn more about the definition and exemptions in the existing worker policy.
Training credit
If your employee has some skills and experience, they can apply for recognition of prior learning to reduce the amount of off-the-job training they will need to complete. Once the off-the-job training has been completed, the apprenticeship or traineeship can be completed. Apprenticeships and traineeships are competency-based not time-based.