Welcome to Wettrade Apprenticeships (WTA), a group training organisation designed specifically for the Wet Trades including:

Painting and Decorating

Solid Plastering

Wall and Ceiling Lining

Wall and Floor Tiling

Construction Waterproofing

WTA was established in 2023 to close the skills shortage gap and provide alternative solutions for apprentices seeking real world outcomes in the wet trades.

Wettrade Apprenticeships (WTA) is a Group Training Organisation (GTO) that is a new greenfield division of Master Painters Association of Qld Ltd (MPA) which is owned and operated by Master Painters Decorators and Signwriters Association Queensland Union of Employers. MPA is a member owned not for profit industry association, set up over a century ago.MPA supports, consumers and painters, setting industry standards in ethical business practices, and competency trade skills. Today, MPA is recognised by government and industry stakeholders, as the peak representative body for Queensland’s painting and decorating industry.

What is group training?

Group training provides the opportunity for apprentices to complete an apprenticeship in the trade of their choice while working with a host employer, in most cases, more than one. Apprentices are employed by a group training organisation who places them for specified timeframes with host employers throughout the duration of their apprenticeship. Host employers provide apprentices with the on the job training component while the group training organisation is responsible for the payment of the apprentice’s wages.

Group training organisations in Queensland are:

Subject to regulation under the Further Education and Training Act
Assessed against the requirements of the National Standards for Group Training Organisations

The Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training is responsible for the regulation of group training organisations in Queensland.

Click here for more detailed information on group training including the responsibilities of WTA, host employers and apprentices.

Benefits of group training

Everyone benefits from group training. Statistics show that the completion rates for apprentices are greater for those apprentices employed by a GTO.

Apprentice benefits:

Apprentices are rotated across employers to gain the requisite skills required for their chosen trade
Matching apprentices with suitable host employers in locations that suits their needs
Ongoing support and mentoring from a team of education, training and employment specialists
Continuity of employment – if the host employer runs out of work, the apprentice will be rotated to an alternative host employer

Host employer benefits:

Engage an apprentice for short term or longer term projects depending on their business needs
Less administrative work associated with employing apprentices and paying wages
All insurances, workers compensation and other employment expenses are paid for and managed by WTA QLD
Regular monitoring and support offered by a dedicated field officer

Wettrade Apprenticeship is currently recruiting full and part time apprentices in the painting and decorating trade. Click here to see our current vacancies.

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Apprentices

Our aim is to ensure you work in a safe environment and one where you are encouraged and supported to learn and develop.

Employers

We believe that our employers are the most valuable asset we have. We uphold standfast relationships with our employers to ensure the best results.

GTO

Group training organisations (GTOs) provide alternative employment and training options for apprentices and trainees.

WTA offers the following services:

Recruitment and selection of apprentices
Skills training and development programs

Work-based training and mentoring

Job placement services, including matching apprentices with suitable employers

Ongoing support and monitoring throughout the apprenticeship period.

What Our Customers Say

Robert Gibbons Employer

"Wettrade Apprenticeships helped me find an awesome apprentice for my team! So helpful"

Sandy Jackson Apprentice

"From the start of my apprenticeship I have been taken care of by the team".