Program structure & support
Generally speaking, each apprenticeship runs for four years. When you first start with us, you'll complete an induction. This ensures you have a basic understanding of our company and the policies and procedures that you'll be required to follow. Once the induction is complete, you'll be able to begin your apprenticeship training.
When we are advertising for apprenticeship applications the details will be shown on our Positions and locations web page.
Apprenticeships are based on achieving competencies. A competency means that you have been assessed as being able to carry out a certain task or combination of tasks, both in theory and practice, to an established standard. Although each trade requires different skills, to complete your apprenticeship, to achieve the necessary competencies, and to become fully-qualified tradesperson, you must be successful in both off-job and on-the-job training.
Apprenticeships overview
Skip to descriptionHi, I’m Dan, and I’m from the Apprentice Management team here at Ergon and Energex.
If you’re interested in an apprenticeship with us, here’s a snapshot of what you could expect in what would hopefully be the start of a very exciting career with us.
We’re extremely proud of our apprenticeship program. That’s demonstrated by our high success rate. We have almost 100% of our apprentices complete their apprenticeship. That’s well above industry standard.
One of the reasons why our apprenticeship program is so competitive is that we offer top tier wages and conditions.
As an apprentice, you’ll be set up from day one. From the moment you walk through the door, you are set up with your tools, PPE, all the equipment you will need to succeed in an apprenticeship.
Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll receive wrap-around support from the whole-of-business.
We’ll expose you to awesome areas of work, whether it be far north Queensland in remote locations or southeast Queensland and literally everywhere in between.
You can expect to work across a whole raft of our industry – including overhead, underground, substations and domestic installations.
You can be asked to help out in a number of emergency responses such as cyclones bushfires, floods… anything that Queensland faces.
We also offer on-the-job and off-the-job training at our world class training centres throughout Queensland.
At these, you can expect to be both in a classroom and also receive hands-on, practical training in our safe, controlled training yards.
Underpinning all of this is our dedication to safety. Safety is our number one priority. We want to make sure that each and every one of you go home safe to your loved ones every night. It’s a non-negotiable with our business and something that we are very proud of.
So, if you’d like to find out more, take a look at our apprenticeship page on our website.
There you’ll find more detail on our apprenticeships on offer and the great opportunities that exist throughout our state.
Overview of our Apprentice Program
Learn about the different sorts of apprenticeships that are on offer, the types of training you'll receive and the benefits of working for us.
Specialised support for Apprentices
We maintain an apprentice completion rate of greater than 95%, far higher than industry standards. We have a specialised team of eighteen staff that provide support that underpins this high completion rate. Every apprentice is managed by their Apprentice Program Leader, who provides a range of support, including:
- Pastoral Care
- Counselling and advice
- Coaching and mentoring, and
- Progression Monitoring.
Skills and abilities are we looking for
To successfully complete and apprenticeship in the Electricity Supply Industry you will need a wide range of skills, aptitude, and abilities. We seek to employ people who reflect our professionalism and values, and the diversity and culture of our communities.
Applications are accepted from all members of the community and are assessed on merit. The knowledge, values, and abilities we are looking for in our apprentices include:
- Focus on safety and situational awareness
- Effective communication
- Ability to follow directions
- Capacity to consistently demonstrate respect toward colleagues, the community, and all others regardless of background, gender, age or differences
- Well-developed interpersonal skills and the capacity to work within, and contribute effectively to, a small team working in close proximity
- Capacity to acquire new skills and demonstrated problem solving ability.
Off-job training
Off-job training provides the theoretical knowledge you'll need to use on the job. This knowledge is taught at a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). You will attend an RTO for 28 to 34 weeks during your apprenticeship, in blocks of two to four weeks at a time.
If you have to travel away from home to attend training, we'll arrange and pay for your travel and accommodation expenses. You'll still be able to come home every second weekend as well if you choose, and we'll also pay for those travel costs.
On-the-job training
On-the-job training provides you with the chance to use the skills and knowledge learned at the RTO and put them into practice.
Throughout your apprenticeship you'll learn how to complete the competencies applicable to your trade and you'll be assessed on your ability to complete them to the required standard. To get the right on-the-job training, you may be required to travel to and work at our sites away from your normal home base for extended periods during your apprenticeship.
In the same way, you may also be required to work with other host employers, such as external electrical contractors. In these cases, your travel and accommodation (if necessary) will be arranged and paid for you.
During your apprenticeship, you'll work with qualified tradespeople who will assist with your on-the-job training. Try to make the most of their skills and experience, the people you will be working with are experts in their trades and can help you learn your skills.
Benefits of working for us
Employment terms and conditions
Our terms and conditions of employment are contained in the Energy Queensland Union Collective Agreement 2024 (PDF 10.5 mb). This Agreement sets out the benefits and working conditions that reflect the specific needs of our business and enable us to improve our ability to attract and retain employees, at a time when there is significant competition within the energy market for skilled people.
Remuneration, benefits, and rewards
We constantly strive to be competitive and flexible in our remuneration, benefits and rewards policies, and procedures. As part of their employment conditions, apprentices also receive:
- Living away from home allowance if applicable
- Locality allowance in specified locations
- Uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Toolkits
- Course fees and textbooks.
Full details of the allowances payable to employees can be found in the latest Energy Queensland Union Collective Agreement.
Need more information?
Read our Apprenticeships frequently asked questions, or if you'd like to talk to us about our apprenticeship program, please phone 1800 262 353 or email us at ApprenticeRecruitment@energyq.com.au.