What is a Mature Age Apprenticeship?

A mature age apprenticeship is simply an Australian Apprenticeship commenced by someone who is 21 years of age or older. There is no separate program or special category. The apprenticeship itself is the same as any other. The distinction affects your wage classification under the relevant Modern Award, and little else.

All MIGAS apprenticeships are open to mature age applicants unless a role is specifically advertised as a school-based placement.

Who is a Mature Age Apprentice?

The term mature age apprentice covers a wide range of people. It includes someone in their early twenties who spent a couple of years working after school before deciding on a trade. It includes people in their thirties changing careers after time in an unrelated field. It includes people in their forties or beyond who are returning to the workforce or pursuing something they have always wanted to do.

What these people have in common is that they have made a deliberate decision to pursue a trade qualification later than the traditional school leaver pathway. That intentionality is one of the qualities that makes mature age apprentices a genuinely strong option for many host employers.

Why Consider a Trade Apprenticeship at 21 or Older?

Job security in a sector with genuine demand

Skilled tradespeople are in consistent demand across Australia, and that demand is not expected to ease. An ageing trades workforce, ongoing infrastructure investment, the housing construction pipeline and the energy transition are all driving sustained need for qualified tradespeople across a broad range of industries.

Completing a trade apprenticeship puts you in a strong and durable position in the labour market.

You earn while you learn

Unlike a university degree, which typically involves years of full-time study and a HECS-HELP debt, an apprenticeship pays you from day one. You build your qualification while earning a wage, without taking on education debt. For people making a career change, this is a significant practical advantage compared to returning to full-time study.

Structured, hands-on learning

Trade apprenticeships provide a structured combination of on-the-job training under the supervision of qualified tradespeople and formal off-the-job study with a Registered Training Organisation. You develop practical skills that are directly applicable to your work, in a real workplace environment, rather than in a classroom disconnected from the actual trade.

A broad range of trade options

Mature age apprenticeships are available across the full range of trades, from electrical, mechanical fitting and fabrication to carpentry, automotive and refrigeration and air conditioning.

Choosing a trade that genuinely aligns with your interests and strengths makes a significant difference to both your experience during the apprenticeship and your satisfaction in the career that follows.

Strong long-term earning potential

The first year or two of an apprenticeship involves lower wages while you are developing skills and contributing less to the business. That is the investment phase. Once qualified, tradespeople in many specialisations can earn strong wages across industries including mining and resources, manufacturing, construction and utilities. FIFO roles in the resources sector, in particular, can offer very competitive remuneration for qualified tradespeople.

Viewing the apprenticeship as a three to four year investment in your long-term earning capacity puts the early wage rates in the right perspective.

What Do Mature Age Apprentices Earn?

Mature age apprentices receive higher wage rates than junior apprentices at the same year level under most Modern Awards. The adult apprentice rate applies when you commence your apprenticeship at age 21 or older.

Your specific wage rate depends on your trade, the applicable Award, your age and whether you have completed Year 12. Wages increase as you progress through each year level of your apprenticeship, and the Fair Work Ombudsman reviews Award rates annually, with updates typically taking effect on 1 July each year.

Some employers pay above the Award rate or operate under an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, which may result in higher wages than the Award minimum.

To look up the minimum rates that apply to your trade and circumstances, use the Fair Work Ombudsman's PAY Calculator.

For indicative weekly wages by trade type, see our What 1st Year Apprentices Get Paid: 2025-2026 Award Wages Guide.

In addition to your base wage, you may also be eligible for trade allowances, government support payments and other financial assistance depending on your trade and personal circumstances.

Is it Too Late to Start a Trade Apprenticeship?

No. There is no upper age limit for an Australian Apprenticeship, and the trades do not have an expiry date on who can enter them. People commence apprenticeships at a wide range of ages, and employers who have hosted mature age apprentices consistently speak to the value they bring.

The question worth asking is not whether it is too late, but whether the trade you are considering is the right fit for your interests, your circumstances, and the opportunities available in your area. Ready more about the realities of mature age apprenticeships.

Ready to Get Started?

All apprenticeships offered by MIGAS are available to mature age applicants unless a role is specifically advertised as a school-based placement.

Browse current opportunities on our 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.

View more Frequently Asked Questions about Australian Apprenticeships.