Information for parents

The electrotechnology industry offers career choices for young men and women that place them at the cutting edge of technology and growth in Australian business and enterprise. Career pathways are clear, with opportunities for relatively high wages, excellent future employment prospects and great lifestyle choices.

Today, there are approximately 99,000 electricians, 31,000 communications tradespersons, 28,000 electronic and communications tradespersons and close to 13,000 refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics employed in Australia, a fair percentage of the Australian workforce.

The industry is projected to grow and is looking for skilled workers. There is a great future in electrotechnology - in fact, the IT and electrotechnology industries are interdependent. The Australian Government's National Broadband Network project will also provide new opportunities to train and work on this exciting project.

As we become increasingly reliant on technology, automation and the Internet, those with a career in electrotechnology are well-placed to enjoy a long and prosperous working life with unlimited prospects for advancement.

Your son or daughter can commence a New Apprenticeship, or carry through to a diploma or University degree. Once employed, they can continue working in the trade as a technician or enter sales, marketing, estimating, design, management, project management or teaching. They could even go on to start their own contracting business. The challenges and opportunities are broad and exciting.

It is worth noting that more and more young women are entering the electrotechnology sector - as they realise the benefits of a career in this sector and the opportunities it provides.

More information is available on this website through links and contact information.

How you can help

You can help your child secure a position in this industry by:

• Encouraging them to look through this site and learn about the industry
• Encourage them to study the most useful subjects at school (Maths, English and IT/Communications, for example)
• Seek out the Pre-apprenticeship Aptitude Test
• Actively work with them to find an apprenticeship
• Work through the interview tips section on this site including preparing questions and answers
• Attend open days and career expos at local TAFEs or Registered Training Organisations that run courses in electrotechnology and/or pre-apprenticeship courses

See the Useful Links section of this site for other useful websites that offer career information.