A Bright Future Ahead for Electrical Apprentices

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An apprenticeship provides the technical and interpersonal skills needed to become a successful, licensed electrician.

In an industry where learning on the job is just as important as vocational school learning, broad experience within an apprenticeship provides an apprentice with the opportunity to consider how their interests connect with growth industries and sectors and preferred specialisations. The age-old saying, "if you do a job you love, you’ll never work a day in your life", translates very well to a trade. If you’re given the opportunity to try different types of work and aim for an area of specialisation you enjoy, you’ll be on the right track from the outset.

The 2024/25 federal government budget indicated $3.7 billion will be set aside for a five-year national skills agreement intended to make skills and training more accessible and equitable and to support clean energy initiatives. The establishment of the government’s Net Zero Agency and Advisory Board also means you don’t have to look too far to see that a clean energy future ranks highly on the government’s list of priorities. And clean energy means more jobs for electricians.

As of December 2023, there were over 74,000 people undertaking apprenticeships or traineeships in Victoria, and around 400,000 nationally, including electrical apprenticeships. It’s also important to note that there is an ever-growing number of women who are joining the electrical trades, and the industry is supporting and encouraging this. Training and employment for electrical apprentices are available through TAFE and non-TAFE providers like NECA Education & Careers, who both employ apprentices through their GTO (Group Training Organisation) and train apprentices at their campuses in Carlton North and Dandenong.

The NECA E&C trainers are passionate about the roles they play in the life of an apprentice. They are both mentors and teachers of all things electrical, drawing from their experience as A-Grade electricians and passing on their knowledge and expertise to their classes. As an organisation that provides training by electricians, for electricians, the focus is on ensuring their apprentices complete their training and seek broad experience in their on-the-job training too.

With the forecast growth in demand for electricians and an ever-growing focus on mentorship and education by the government and the electrical industry, the future looks like a positive place for anyone thinking about an electrical apprenticeship. Hard work and investment in education and training by apprentices and their mentors will provide the electrical trades sector with the next generation of highly skilled tradespeople that Australia needs.

Written by NECA

Experienced electrical trade teacher? An electrician thinking of getting off the tools?

NECA Education & Careers is seeking electricians to deliver industry-focused practical and digital training at our purpose-built trade schools in Carlton North and Dandenong.

We pride ourselves on developing apprentices to have the best skills and attitudes in the industry by drawing on the talents of qualified teachers.
We want to hear from you if you have:
• A current A Grade Victorian electrical licence
• Extensive industry experience
• A passion for sharing your knowledge and skills
• A TAE 40116 Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.