Editing Apprenticeship (section)

===Australia===
Australian Apprenticeships encompass all apprenticeships and traineeships. They cover all industry sectors in Australia and are used to achieve both 'entry-level' and career 'upskilling' objectives. There were 475,000 Australian Apprentices in-training as at 31 March 2012, an increase of 2.4% from the previous year. Australian Government employer and employee incentives may be applicable, while State and Territory Governments may provide public funding support for the training element of the initiative. Australian Apprenticeships combine time at work with formal training and can be full-time, part-time or school-based.<ref>
{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/default.asp
 |title       = Australian Apprenticeships Homepage
 |publisher   = www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au
 |access-date  = 2007-12-11
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20071229111241/http://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/default.asp
 |archive-date = 29 December 2007
 |url-status = dead
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</ref>

Australian apprentice and traineeship services are dedicated to promoting retention, therefore much effort is made to match applicants with the right apprenticeship or traineeship. This is done with the aid of aptitude tests, tips, and information on 'how to retain an apprentice or apprenticeship'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apprenticeshipcentral.com.au/resource/tips-on-retaining-your-apprenticeship/|title=Applicant Tips: Retaining Your Apprenticeship / Traineeship|first=The ApprenticeshipCentral Dev|last=Team}}</ref>

Information and resources on potential apprenticeship and traineeship occupations are available in over sixty industries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aapathways.com.au|title=Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Pathways - AAPathways}}</ref>

The distinction between the terms apprentices and trainees lies mainly around traditional trades and the time it takes to gain a qualification. The Australian government uses Australian Apprenticeships Centres to administer and facilitate Australian Apprenticeships so that funding can be disseminated to eligible businesses, apprentices and trainees, supporting the whole process as it underpins the future skills of Australian industry. Australia also has a fairly unusual safety net in place for businesses and Australian Apprentices with its Group Training scheme. This is where businesses that are not able to employ the Australian Apprentice for the full period until they qualify, are able to lease or hire the Australian Apprentice from a Group Training Organisation. It is a safety net, because the Group Training Organisation is the employer and provides continuity of employment and training for the Australian Apprentice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/|title=Home &#124; Australian Apprenticeships|website=www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.megt.com.au|title=MEGT Australia – Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Recruitment|work=MEGT (Australia) Ltd}}</ref>

In addition to a safety net, Group Training Organisations (GTO) have other benefits such as additional support for both the Host employer and the trainee/apprentice through an industry consultant who visits regularly to make sure that the trainee/apprentice are fulfilling their work and training obligations with their Host employer. There is the additional benefit of the trainee/apprentice being employed by the GTO reducing the Payroll/Superannuation and other legislative requirements on the Host employer who pays as invoiced per agreement.{{Citation needed|date=April 2011}}