VACC awarding winning apprenticeship programme offers Trade-qualified Field Supervisors who regularly visit the apprentices in the workplace to provide ongoing mentoring and support. As well as engaging with business owners and staff to ensure everything is running smoothly. If there’s a problem our Field Supervisors are there to help and remedy the situation.
As a VACC apprentice you have the opportunity to specialise in your chosen field and obtain a nationally recognised qualification. Apart from acquiring practical knowledge, you get a unique insight into how the automotive industry is changing and a great way to build a career. VACC prides it self on its apprenticeship programme with a 90% retention rate we’re in it for the long haul.
In this section you can find out all you need to know about apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships
School-based Traineeships
Selection Process
Useful Hints
Your Obligations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an apprenticeship?
Automotive apprenticeships combine paid, full-time employment and trade specific training at a Certificate III level. Automotive apprenticeships give you the fundamental training in your chosen trade.
If you become a VACC Auto Apprenticeships apprentice, VACC becomes your employer and is responsible for your wages, superannuation and all of your employment entitlements. VACC Auto Apprenticeships places you within VACC member workshops for your apprenticeship work placement (these workshops are known as Host Employers).
A VACC Auto Apprenticeships Field Officer will take care of your TAFE enrolment and monitors your TAFE progress, and also visit you in the workplace to discuss your apprenticeship progress or any issues you may want to talk about.
Why do an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeships provide an ideal pathway for individuals to enter the automotive trade and provides opportunities to up-skilling and career advancement in the automotive industry. Automotive apprenticeships have the benefits of:
- Paid full time employment
- Formal training with a Registered Training Organisation
- Nationally recognised Certificate III qualification upon completion
- Greater career options
- Up-skill and potentially become a Diagnostic Technician, Workshop Supervisor, Workshop Manager or Business Owner.
What is a school-based traineeship?
School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) allow students to train and get paid work while completing a Certificate II in Automotive, while studying VCE or VCAL. SBAT’s provide direct credits for Certificate III (Full-time apprenticeship) studies.
Students undertaking an SBAT will generally work with host employers for 1 or 2 days a week (including school holidays), and on the remaining days study for VCE or VCAL.
SBAT’s generally take two years to complete part-time, during years 10, 11, 12. Studies within an SBAT contribute to a students senior school results. Students are signed up under a Commonwealth Training Contract.
Why do a school-based traineeship?
School-based Part-time Traineeships allow high school students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to train while being paid as part of Certificate II Automotive. Benefits of doing a School-based traineeship include:
- VCAL or VCE and Certificate II in Automotive qualifications gained simultaneously
- Paid part-time employment
- Formal training with a Registered Training Organisation
- A work history to assist in obtaining employment after leaving school
- Opportunity to up-skill to a full trade (Certificate III) qualification
- Time completed through the traineeship is credited towards a full-time apprenticeship.
