Traineeships are more than you think 

Grow the Workforce: Strengthening VET pathways 

Did you know that there are people who can help you or your workplace secure government incentives? Traineeships are more than just jobs – they’re gateways to rewarding careers and upskilling in your workplace. They help sustain our workforce by supporting further growth and development.

WorkUP has partnered with Mas National (Mas) to provide a range of free government-funded and industry-funded services to support Australian apprentices, trainees, and employers. Mas provides services such as recruitment, administrative support, mentoring, career advice, and connections to training providers. Our Mas contact, Allison Cullen, is an experienced Apprenticeship Connect Australia Provider (ACAP) and can help employers, and their trainees access any eligible incentives. She also helps coordinate sign-ups and lodge Training Contracts.

We spoke with the Chief Executive Officer at Weipa Community Care, Paul Green, to hear how traineeship is impacting his team and their work.

“Here in Weipa Community Care we are committed to recruiting locally and developing capacity in the local community but so many times cost and practical issues have been a barrier to achieving the upskilling we need. Isla and the team at WorkUP Queensland have taken time to understand our needs and work with partners to find lasting practical solutions such as traineeships for Cert IV qualifications that will make the difference for our team, and we hope provide a blueprint for our community partners. We are very excited to see where this journey leads.”

–  Chief Executive Officer Paul Green

Available to anyone aged 15 and over, programs span over a huge range of occupations across a diverse range of industries including our sector.

If you are a worker, traineeships offer the opportunity to:

  • Earn while you learn
  • Receive a nationally recognised qualification
  • Gain hands-on experience
  • Pursue flexible pathways to higher learning
  • Progress your career
  • Avoid a HECS-HELP debt

If you are a service leader or manager, traineeships:

  • Help existing workers enhance skills while on the job
  • Involve a training contract with the employer
  • Offer online and in-person components
  • Offer financial incentives to employers through government incentives
  • Focus on practical skills development in the workplace
  • Offer full-time employees $5,000 from the Federal Government over two years OR $2,500 for part-time employees over four years

To learn more information about traineeship for yourself or for your workplace, contact

Allison Cullen: Allison.Cullen@masnational.com.au – Ph: 0408 001 296 or
Isla Swan at WorkUP Queensland: isla.swan@healingfoundation.org.au for more information.