Start a fully recognised apprenticeship with the Army Reserve.

The Army Reserve Traineeship and Apprenticeship Program (ARTAP) is a scheme through which apprentices and trainees employed in either the private or public sector may gain additional or complementary work experience in their chosen field as Army Reservists.



The scheme allows employers to partner with the Army by agreeing to release their Reservist apprentices, at mutually suitable times, with the Army providing work and learning opportunities in their chosen field, within a military environment. 



This provides a win-win-win opportunity for all parties. The apprentice gains a depth of experience in their chosen field that may not ordinarily be available to them, while fast tracking the development of personal skills such as working in teams, problem solving, communication and exercising initiative.



The employer partner gains an employee with a greater depth of understanding and variety of experience in their trade, while having the opportunity to even out the workload peaks and troughs that occur in most business environments. There is also the opportunity to share the training and overhead costs of employing apprentices.



The Army Reserve gains a qualified individual that becomes an asset not only to the Australian Defence Force, but also to the nation. Defence Reservists fulfil a vital role, as they have been involved with humanitarian assistance and disaster response tasks both in Australia and in support of our neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region.



On successful completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship, the Army Reserve offers the opportunity to continue to serve the nation as a fully qualified part-time tradesperson, with the prospect of receiving additional trade courses to enhance their skills.



The Army Reserve and employer partners may offer the following fully recognised apprenticeships or traineeships:

The availability of specific apprenticeships or traineeships in particular areas around Australia will be determined by the location of employer partners, the recruitment needs of the Army Reserve, and the access by trainees to State training institutions and qualified trade supervisors for on the job support.

What you get

• You get on-the-job training with the Army Reserve and civilian companies.
• You earn an apprentice wage from the teaming partner.
• You get tax-free pay from the Army Reserve.

Who can apply?

• You must be at least 17 years old.
• You must have passed Year 10.
• You must meet the Army Reserve entry requirements.

Find out about the requirements

How to apply

Call 13 19 01

Information sessions and other contacts

While Army Reserve units are located all around Australia, ARTAP opportunities are generally to be found in metropolitan and regional centres, as this is where educational institutions, civilian employers and Army unit workshops or headquarters tend to be co-located.

Find out what recognition of prior learning you can receive.

Search for Australian Defence Force:

• nationally recognised qualifications
• statements of attainment (civil accreditation)

that the 4 Defence Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) award to Defence personnel.

Word search

Narrow your search

To narrow your search, include the Service name and qualification key word and choose 'All' from the drop-down.

For example, if searching for a Diploma of Management in the RAAF service, enter: 'RAAF', 'Diploma', 'Management' and choose 'All'. Then click Search.

Please note: If your search doesn't work, try using technical terms for different jobs. For example, instead of 'doctor' enter 'medical'.

To do another search: Click the Back button in your browser.

• Department of Defence Nationally Recognised Qualifications website
• Qualifications word search
• Qualifications service search

Service search

Choose 'Select' if you don't want to search by Service.

The Australian Defence Force has agreements (Memoranda of Understanding) with the UK, US, New Zealand and Canada. 

This means, if you're a temporary resident in these countries and not there on Defence business, you can keep up your Reserve training.

And Reservists from the UK, US, New Zealand and Canada can do the same over here.

Meeting training needs & developing skills

The agreements:

• Let individual Reservists volunteer for training while temporarily residing overseas.
• Let officers and other ranks undertake training in and be employed to do tasks related to their military qualifications while temporarily overseas.

(This depends on specific conditions and must be approved by the Australian Defence Force.)

Note: Attachments, loans or exchanges of Reservists (eg. mutual exchanges or small unit exchanges) are covered by other agreements - they're not covered by the MoUs here.

Maintaining strong relationships

The agreements also help us, the UK, US, New Zealand and Canadian Reserves develop and maintain a solid and committed Reserve relationship.

Need more information?

Email: CRESD.Communcation@Defence.gov.au

If you're a student, it's helpful to get special consideration when called for Reserve Service.

Students who are Reservists

If you're a student, it's helpful to get special consideration when called for Reserve Service.

We've developed a student support policy that helps you take on Reserve Service duties while studying. It's been adopted by a number of educational institutions.

The policy means, if you're absent from your studies because of your Reserve Service, you can get special consideration for:

• learning materials in alternative formats (where possible) to make studying easier while on Reserve Service
• more time to complete assessment requirements (when you apply)
• changing of due dates for assessment (when you apply)
• end-of-unit exams (when you apply)
• special exams (when you apply)
• withdrawal without penalty to your academic record (when you apply)
• fee refund if you need to withdraw (consistent with the educators fee refunds policy).

Note: Your Reserve Service won't affect your Centrelink payments (eg. AUSTUDY / ABSTUDY / Youth Allowance).

Developing a leave policy for student Reservists

Leave policy help

1800 803 485

We're keen for all universities and TAFEs across Australia to develop supportive leave policies for Reservists.

See supporting universities & TAFEs

Policy Statement

1. Policy Declaration

The University supports students who are members of the Defence Reserves and has adopted special provisions to ensure they are not disadvantaged academically or financially as a consequence of participation in Defence Reserves activities.
 

2. Policy Description

2.1. Objectives

This policy details the process for special consideration to be granted to students in the Defence Reserves with regard to attendance, availability of study materials, assessment requirements and refund of fees.
 

2.2. Content and Implementation

1. A student who is a volunteer member of the Defence Reserves and as such is required to attend one or more compulsory camps of continuous training in a year and occasionally a non-compulsory camp or course, may be granted special consideration with regard to attendance and assessment requirements. 

2. In these circumstances the student shall provide the Head of School with a statement signed by an authorised officer of the Defence Reserves detailing the times when attendance at the camp or training course is to take place. The Head of School will ensure that Unit Assessors for units being undertaken by the student are notified of the approved absence which will not disadvantage the student in terms of any compulsory attendance requirements.

3. Where possible the Unit Assessor shall arrange to provide learning materials in alternative formats if the student is unable to attend face-to face classes during their Reserve activity.

4. A student may apply to the Unit Assessor for additional time to complete assessment requirements, or a variation to the due date for submission of an assessment task on the grounds of being required to attend Defence Reserves training. Such a request shall be submitted on the University's prescribed form of application as soon as possible before the due date of the submission of the assessment task in compliance with the University's Rules Relating to Awards.

5. A student may apply to the Head of School for special consideration in the end of unit examination on the grounds of being required to attend Defence Reserves training. Such a request shall be submitted on the University's prescribed form in compliance with the University's Rules Relating to Awards.

6. Special consideration approved by the Head of School in e) above may include the granting of a special examination.

7. A student whose Defence Reserves service commitments impact negatively upon their attendance and assessment performance may apply in writing to the Head of School for special consideration to withdraw from the course without academic penalty (that is without a grade of fail on their academic record for units being undertaken in the current study period). Such written request must be submitted before the end of the study period.

8. A student who is called upon for full-time service (eg as part of a peacekeeping or humanitarian aid operation) shall provide the Head of School with a statement signed by an authorised officer of the Defence Reserves detailing the expected duration of the call to service.

   In the event a student is forced to defer or withdraw from study in order to undertake full-time service, the University will remit the student's HECS-HELP/FEE-HELP/OS-HELP for the relevant units, if the withdrawal occurs after the Census date.

9. The Head of School will ensure that Unit Assessors for units being undertaken by the student are notified of the approved absence and that provisions b) g) detailed above, are applied where possible.

10. In the event a student is forced to defer or withdraw from study in order to undertake full-time service, the University will remit the student's HECS-HELP/FEE-HELP/OS-HELP for the relevant units, if the withdrawal occurs after the Census date.

11. If a student is enrolled in a full fee-paying course and is forced to withdraw in order to undertake full-time service, the University will refund the student's fees for the relevant units, if the withdrawal occurs after the Census date.
     

2.3. Scope

These provisions apply to all students who are members of the Defence Reserves.