Caleb's apprenticeship restart with Pilot program

The Flexible Trade Training Delivery Pilot Program caught Caleb's eye while scrolling on social media. When TAFE Queensland contacted him to review his eligibility, Caleb was excited at the second chance he was given to continue his electrical apprentice training and to receive his Certificate III in Electrotechnology after being out of the workforce for several months.
 

The program enabled Caleb to get back on his feet with steady employment and restart his apprenticeship training. The program paired him with a local solar and battery installation company for an interview and was offered the apprentice position within the company.
 

"My experience with this program has been good. It was helpful that TAFE Queensland had all the contacts and was able to organise everything with this new employer and then everything has been smooth going since!

"CCL Energy was looking for a new apprentice to do their solar installs and so far they’ve been really good, lots of hours and work that pays decent. It’s nice to have job security back and cool to learn, a different aspect of the trade as that's where the industry is going, especially since the government is backing it." Caleb said.
 

With his new employment, Caleb has been able to restart his electrical apprenticeship training and is excited to be enrolled into training delivery in the new year.

"I'm a fourth-year apprentice, so I have to do my last two blocks and then Capstone in the new year before I’m a qualified electrician, and Acacia Ridge is the best for electrical delivery." He said.
 

TAFE Queensland's Flexible Trade Training Delivery Pilot program is designed to help apprentices who have lost their employment and training progress within the last 12 months receive funded training in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing through TAFE Queensland, with the goal of getting reinstated through our Find Your Apprentice service.
 

Caleb's employer, Jane Yu from CCL Energy said, the current electrical industry space is faced with a labourer shortage.
 

"Right now, we are begging electricians to take installation jobs for us, and so whoever offers to hire first, they will work for them. This is our current reality within the industry that we have to face. The reason we keep getting overseas labourers is because Australia is really, really short, as we don't have enough people working in this industry. So it's a great opportunity for apprentices to start their qualifications and they can make a very good income." Jane Said.
 

"We have been operating in the industry for 13 years and have recently established a working relationship with TAFE Queensland. As a community, we help each other create value, we grow together and this program is a great example of that. We reached out to TAFE Queensland in search of an apprentice, and were matched with Caleb, who came to us with relevant industry experience. He is currently buddied with one of our experienced electricians who will help Caleb sign off on his training, get his electrical qualification and can start working for CCL Energy on a qualified electrician rate.
 

"I would definitely encourage more young people to ask themselves if a trade is something they really want to do. You need to be determined as a trade job is not easy especially when handling live electricity; you need patience and attention to detail, but it can be really rewarding. " Jane said.
 

"This program has helped me and hopefully it can help other people, especially with the Olympics coming up. We need a lot more tradies, and with the ongoing incentives from the government, if there's any time if someone has started their apprenticeship, and like me, needs to get reinstated, it's definitely now." Caleb concluded.  

Improved Completions is a joint initiative between the Australian Government and Queensland Government.

Eligibility rules apply to this pilot program.