Does MIGAS Employ Mature Age Apprentices?

Yes. MIGAS employs apprentices and trainees of all ages. There is no upper age limit on any of our apprenticeship or traineeship roles, unless a position is specifically designated as a school-based placement. If you are 21 or older and considering a trade or a career change, an adult apprenticeship pathway is absolutely available to you.

What Does "Mature Age" Actually Mean?

In the context of Australian Apprenticeships, the term mature age simply refers to anyone who is 21 years of age or older at the time they commence their training. That is the threshold used by most Modern Awards to determine adult apprentice wage rates.

It does not mean middle-aged, and it does not mean you have missed your window. A 24-year-old who spent a few years working after school before deciding on a trade is a mature age apprentice. So is a 38-year-old making a deliberate career change.

The term is a classification, not a judgement about whether it is too late.

Why Mature Age Apprentices are a Strong Choice for Employers

Some host businesses actively welcome mature age candidates, and for good reason.

Adult apprentices typically bring prior work experience, professional habits and a clearer sense of direction than someone fresh out of school. They have usually already navigated the early adjustment to workplace life, which means they tend to settle into a team more quickly and require less hand-holding around basic workplace expectations.

The decision to pursue a trade at 21 or older is almost always a deliberate one. That intentionality tends to show in the commitment and attitude a mature age apprentice brings to their training.

What About Wages?

It is true that mature age apprentices attract higher wage rates under most Modern Awards than junior apprentices of the same year level. This is a common point of hesitation for some host employers.

However, when weighed against the reduced supervision burden, faster on-the-job competency development and the reliability that typically comes with a more experienced worker, many businesses find the value proposition of a mature age apprentice compares very favourably.

If you are an employer with questions about how mature age apprentice rates would apply to your program, MIGAS can walk you through the specifics. You can also use the Fair Work Ombudsman's PAY Calculator to look up current rates for your trade and state.

Considering a Career Change?

If you are in your twenties, thirties, forties or beyond and thinking about moving into a trade, you are not alone. Many people reach a point where the career they fell into after school is no longer satisfying, and a trade apprenticeship offers a structured, practical and financially supported pathway into something new.

An adult apprenticeship gives you the same formal qualification as someone who started at 17. You will complete the same training, sit the same assessments and receive the same Certificate at the end.

The difference is that you bring more life experience to the process, which is rarely a disadvantage.

Ready to Get Started?

Browse current apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities on the MIGAS Jobs Board, or register your details and we will be in touch when a suitable role becomes available that matches your trade interests and location.

You can also read more about mature age apprenticeships for further information on the pathway.