Out-of-work support

Get help to continue your apprenticeship

If you’re an apprentice or trainee and you lose your job, there are options available to you.

You can continue with your formal training at your registered training organisation (also known as a RTO) whilst looking for another employer. For Trainees this is up to 3 months, for apprentices there is no fixed time limit, however you don’t want to progress too far into your training without gaining a new employer. Your registered training organisation will be able to provide some advice on this.

For assistance in finding a new employer the following services are available to help you:

The Retrenched Apprentice and Trainee Program helps people who have lost their job to find a new employer so they can finish their apprenticeship or traineeship.

It can help you apply for work and offer you advice.

First, you need to register for the service through Apprenticeship Employment Network.

Once you are registered a program officer will contact you to discuss next steps.

The program is a partnership between Apprenticeships Victoria and Apprenticeship Employment Network.
Based in TAFEs across Victoria, Skills and Jobs Centres help people with career advice, job searching and choosing courses.
You don’t have to be a student to visit a Skills and Jobs Centre – anyone can go along to get free expert help and advice.
This includes:
- guidance on training options, including apprenticeships and traineeships
- referrals and job matching to local employment opportunities and
- referral to welfare support and financial advice.
Find your local Skills and Jobs Centres.

Advice on reskilling

If you are looking to reskill you may wish you visit the Victorian Skills Gateway. The Victorian Skills Gateway allows you to explore training, skills and job opportunities in high demand industries across Victoria.

Explore the Victorian Skills Gateway to find out how to:
- continue your current studies
- get your student records
- transfer credit to a new course
- switch careers
- access Free TAFE opportunities or
- plot out a pathway to higher qualifications – including university.
- You can also use the course search function to see what kind of training is on offer.
Explore the Victorian Skills Gateway.

Further Support

If you need support during this time as you seek new employment you may wish to contact the Apprentice Helpdesk or your Apprenticeships Support Officer.

The Apprentice Helpdesk offers apprentices and trainees free, expert information, support, and advice on a range of issues, including:
- rights and responsibilities
- concerns or issues with apprenticeships or traineeships
- personal issues affecting training
- general questions about apprenticeships or traineeships.
The Helpdesk can provide information on relevant services that can be accessed if you have lost your job.
Apprenticeship Support Officers are very experienced and highly knowledgeable about the apprenticeship system in Victoria. Depending on your situation, they can offer support and advice via phone, email or text, a workplace visit or a longer period of contact if needed.
Here are some of the issues ASOs can help with:
- Wages, entitlements, incentives and superannuation obligations.
- Training contract obligations, including release for training.
- Adequate supervision of apprentices and safety concerns.
- Tackling bullying/discrimination/harassment in the workplace.
- Schooling issues, such as enrolment, falling behind and finding learning support.
- Financial issues, such as being unable to pay tuition fees.
- Accessing relevant specialised support services, for example, disability resources.
- Being placed on long periods of ‘downtime’ or losing your job.
- Officially completing the apprenticeship and applying for a Trade Paper.

Apprentice wearing hard hat and high-vis vest, speaking on mobile phone

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Updated 1 May 2026