How Do I Find an Apprenticeship?

There are three main routes into an Australian Apprenticeship: applying directly with an employer, signing on with a Group Training Organisation (GTO), or checking the vacancies listed by an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (ACAP). Most successful applicants use more than one at the same time, since each route surfaces different opportunities and no single channel lists everything available.

Direct Employers

Many businesses recruit apprentices directly either through an in-house, annual apprenticeship program or as their workforce needs require. In this arrangement, the business is your legal employer, so they manage all aspects of your Australian Apprenticeship.

Direct employment suits candidates who already have a specific business in mind, particularly smaller operations that don't advertise widely and instead take on apprentices through word of mouth or a phone call. It's worth contacting local businesses in your trade of interest to ask whether they're recruiting, even if there's no listing posted.

The trade-off is continuity. If the business hits a quiet patch or can no longer keep you on, you're generally responsible for finding a new employer to complete your training with.

Group Training Organisations

A Group Training Organisation (GTO) employs you directly and places you with a host business to complete your on-the-job training. The GTO manages your wages, your Training Contract, your off-the-job training coordination and your ongoing support for the length of the apprenticeship.

The main advantage of the GTO pathway is continuity of employment. If a host placement doesn't work out, the GTO can generally move you to another host business rather than leaving you to restart the process from scratch.

Because any one GTO only has a finite number of positions open at a given time, it's worth checking with more than one if you're not finding a fit straight away. View the list of registered Group Training Organisations on the Government's Apprenticeships website.

MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees operates as a GTO across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, placing apprentices with host employers in electrical, engineering, automotive and construction trades. View our Jobs Board for current apprenticeship vacancies.

Apprentice Connect Australia Providers

Apprentice Connect Australia Providers (ACAPs) are funded by the Federal Government to provide free advice on apprenticeships, and they sit across the whole system rather than one employer or GTO. Because of that, an ACAP's job board will often list a higher volume of current vacancies, spanning multiple employers.

Checking an ACAP job board is a sensible first move if you're not yet sure which pathway suits you, or if you want the widest possible view of what's on offer.

Other Sources of Apprenticeships

General job boards

Sites like Seek, Indeed and Jora list apprenticeship opportunities from both direct employers and GTOs. Search using terms like the trade name plus "apprentice" or "apprenticeship", and filter by location.

Workforce Australia

The Federal Government's Workforce Australia service lists apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities and can connect you with an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) in your area.

ACAPs provide free advice on available opportunities, eligibility and the sign-up process.

Directly with employers

If there is a specific company you would like to work for, it is worth contacting them directly to ask whether they take on apprentices and when they typically recruit. Some businesses do not advertise publicly and fill positions through direct enquiries or word of mouth.

Your school or TAFE

If you are still at school, your career counsellor may have existing relationships with local employers and GTOs who are actively looking for apprentices. TAFEs also often have connections with employers in the trades they teach and may be able to point you toward opportunities.

Not Sure Which Trade is Right for You?

If you have an interest in working in the trades but are not sure which direction to take, it is worth spending some time researching before you apply. The trade you choose will shape the next three to four years of your working life and beyond, so it is worth getting it right.

The MIGAS website has detailed information on the trade apprenticeships and traineeships we offer, including what each trade involves day to day, the qualification you will work toward and the career pathways available once you are qualified. That is a good starting point if you are weighing up your options.

Learn about apprenticeship wages with our blog, How Much Do Apprentices Get Paid? 2026-27 Wages Guide.

What Happens Once You Find a Role?

Applying for an apprenticeship works much like applying for any job. You will typically submit a resume, complete aptitude testing, attend an interview, and go through pre-employment checks before a formal offer is made.

For tips on how to give yourself the best chance through the application process, read our guide on how apprentices are selected.

Once an offer is made, a Training Contract is signed and lodged with the relevant State or Territory Training Authority, and your apprenticeship officially begins.

Ready to Get Started?

Browse current opportunities on the MIGAS Jobs Board, or register your details and we will be in touch when a suitable role becomes available in your area and trade of interest.