Trade Cadetships

The Gillard Labor Government will ensure that students at school who want to pursue a career in the trades have a clearly defined pathway, equal in quality, value and rigour to more traditional academic pursuits.

From 2012 students from years 9 to 12 will be offered a new National Trade Cadetship as an option under the National Curriculum. This Cadetship will be delivered through their local Trades Training Centre and through other eligible venues.

There will be two streams of National Trade Cadetship available:

National Trade Cadetship - Foundation which will focus on essential work readiness skills and laying the foundation for further training; and
National Trade Cadetship - Pre-Apprentice which will focus on specific trade or occupation area.

The National Trade Cadetships will be developed by the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority (ACARA), in partnership with Industry Skills Councils and with States and Territories.

National Trade Cadetships will be nationally recognised and will provide credit towards an apprenticeship or further training. ACARA will work with States and Territories to ensure the Cadetships contribute towards state based senior awards, in the same way as other approved subjects under the National Curriculum.

This will mean that the National Curriculum will define the essential skills and knowledge required for employability and vocational skills. This will mean that more secondary students will have the option to start a pathway towards recognised trade qualifications while still at school. The National Trade Cadetship will help make students work ready and will help create a more skilled workforce.

The Gillard Labor Government has also announced a Cadet Work Experience program to ensure school students gain experience and confidence in a real work environment as part of their National Trade Cadetship.