Traineeship Pathways

Traineeships are designed for non-trade qualifications and generally take between 12 – 24 months to complete, depending on if it is a Certificate III or Diploma level qualification.

Training includes both on‑the‑job training and formal study, integrated into your employment. WALGA Training delivers the training via a virtual classroom, making it easy for students across the region to access the formal Off the Job training component.

Traineeships are open to people of all ages.

Traineeships offer a range of benefits for employers including:

• Financial incentives from State and Commonwealth governments
• Increased employee loyalty and engagement
• Structured career development pathways from entry-level through to advanced roles in Local Government
• Improved job satisfaction and higher retention rates
• Employees trained to current industry best-practice standards

Traineeships are available to:

• New Employees, defined as a person who starts their employment with an employer under a training contract, or has been employed with the same employer for less than 3 months full-time or less than 12 months permanent part-time/casual, or a combination equivalent to more than 3 months full-time.
• The Certificate III in Local Government is also available as a School-Based Traineeship.

Having a supportive environment is key to success and should include:

• Blocking time to attend scheduled training sessions and access to suitable quiet room, a laptop or PC with audio and video capability
• Clarify when and where additional study requirements should be completed
• Providing access to systems, policies and procedures and other workplace documents
• Offering mentoring and guidance to support related study topics and how they apply to work
• Rotate the Trainee through different Departments

This support helps ensure learning is practical and immediately valuable to the organisation.

The employer needs to contact an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider to determine eligibility and to nominate WALGA as their Training Provider. The Provider will register the Trainee on the WA Apprenticeship Management System (WAAMS).

Employers will also need to register themselves on WAAMS to manage variations and process incentive payments. For more information on how to start the registration process, please visit www.apprenticeships.gov.au.

Trainees who have been deemed eligible via an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider are funded through Jobs & Skills WA. In addition, a registered Trainee must meet the eligibility criteria set by the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD).

Eligibility criteria for a subsidised training place: 

• you have left school; 
• your primary place of residence is in Western Australia and you are:
• An Australian citizen or Permanent Resident of Australia;
• Holders of a sub-class 309, 444, 785, 790, or 820 visa;
• Secondary holders of a temporary visa of sub-class 457; and
• Holders of a Bridging Visa E (subclasses 050 and 051) where the visa holder has made a valid application for a visa of subclass 785 or 790.
• A Secondary School Student undertaking a School Based Traineeship

The following enrolment categories will not be funded:

• Persons whose primary place of residence is not in Western Australia;
• Residents of Christmas Island or Cocos Island;
• Persons who are neither Australian citizens nor permanent residents of Australia unless they are holders of approved Visa subclasses described in the Fees and Charges Policy;
• Prisoners;
• Secondary School Students except students undertaking a school-based Traineeship;
• Persons under 15 years of age.

Persons and dependents of persons holding:

• A pensioner concession card;
• A repatriation health benefits card issued by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs; or a Health Care Card;
• Persons and dependents of persons in receipt of the Youth Allowance, AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY;
• Persons and dependents of persons who are inmates of a custodial institution;
• Secondary school-aged persons, not enrolled at school.