If you’re thinking about walking away from your apprenticeship, you are not alone, and you’re not failing. Trade apprenticeships are long, the pay is often low while you’re training, and a bad boss, a mismatched employer, or just realising the trade isn’t for you can make the whole thing feel unbearable. According to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), of trade apprentices who started in 2018, 58.2% had completed their apprenticeship within six years — meaning a large share of people who start a trade apprenticeship don’t finish it in that window, for all sorts of reasons. So if you’re on the fence, you’re in good company.
This guide isn’t here to talk you into staying or out the door — that’s genuinely your call, and only you know your situation. What we can do is lay out what you could lose financially and credential-wise if you leave before completing, what options exist that fall short of quitting entirely (like changing employer or pausing your training), and where to get real support if things are rough — whether that’s a workplace problem, a wellbeing issue, or you just need someone to talk it through with.
Take what’s useful, ignore the rest, and use the official links throughout to check anything that matters to your decision.
The short version (TL;DR)
- Roughly 4 in 10 trade apprentices who start don’t complete within six years, per NCVER data — leaving is a common outcome, not a rare failure.
- If you have an Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan (AASL), completing your apprenticeship currently gets you a 20% discount on the loan amount — leaving early generally means you don’t get that discount.
- There are apprentice milestone/completion payments in some priority occupations that are only paid if you reach those milestones — check current amounts on the official government page, as these change often.
- Quitting isn’t the only option — you can look at transferring to a different employer, pausing (suspending) your training contract, or getting mediation through your AASN provider before ending things altogether.
- If the problem is bullying, unsafe work, or unpaid wages, that’s a workplace rights issue — the Fair Work Ombudsman and your AASN provider can help directly.
- For some people, leaving genuinely is the right move (wrong trade, unsafe workplace, health reasons) — this guide won’t tell you which one you are.
What you could miss out on by leaving early
Before making any decision, it’s worth knowing what’s actually on the table if you complete versus if you don’t. None of this is a reason to stay if things are genuinely bad for you — it’s just information.
The AASL completion discount. If you’ve been receiving an Australian Apprenticeship Support Loan (AASL) — the government loan that replaced Trade Support Loans — you can borrow up to a set amount over the course of your apprenticeship (around $25,983 in total for 2025–26), and you only start repaying once your income is above a threshold (around $67,000 for 2025–26). As at July 2026, apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship receive a 20% discount applied to their loan balance. If you leave without completing, you generally keep the full debt without that discount. Check the official DEWR page for your exact numbers, since thresholds are indexed and updated most years.
Completion and milestone payments. Depending on your occupation and when you started, there may be milestone or completion payments available to apprentices in priority or in-demand trades under the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System. These have changed more than once in recent years (most recently from 1 January 2026), and the amounts and eligible occupations differ, so don’t rely on a figure someone tells you in the shed — check the current list and payment schedule on the government site for your trade.
The credential itself. A completed trade qualification is portable, nationally recognised, and generally the thing that unlocks higher pay, the ability to run your own business, or supervise others down the track. Partially completed apprenticeships don’t come with a qualification, though the skills and hours you’ve done aren’t wasted — they can often count toward a future apprenticeship if you switch trades or employers.
Options short of quitting entirely
“Stay or go” isn’t always the only choice. A few things exist in between that people don’t always know about:
- Changing employer (transfer of training contract). If the problem is your specific boss or workplace rather than the trade itself, you may be able to transfer your training contract to a new employer and keep your progress. This is managed by your state or territory training authority — search “transfer training contract” plus your state (e.g. NSW, QLD, VIC, WA) for the exact process, or ask your AASN provider to walk you through it.
- Pausing (suspending) your training contract. If you need a break — for health, personal circumstances, or just to reset — most states allow you to formally suspend a training contract rather than cancel it outright, which keeps the door open to resume later. Again, this is a state-based process, so check with your state training authority or AASN provider.
- Raising the problem with your AASN provider first. Your Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider is there specifically to help sort out problems — bullying, pay disputes, being given work that doesn’t match your training plan, personality clashes, safety concerns — before it gets to the point of quitting. Mediation between you and your employer is often part of what they do.
- Mentoring and personal support services. Providers like Apprenticeship Support Australia offer dedicated mentoring for apprentices, including help with workplace stress, mental health, financial stress, and bullying or harassment, with a support plan built around your situation.
Where to get help and support
You don’t have to figure this out solo, and you don’t have to wait until it’s a crisis to reach out.
- Your AASN provider — find yours through apprenticeships.gov.au. They’re free, government-funded, and their job is to support you through the apprenticeship, including problems with your employer.
- Apprenticeship Support Australia’s Mentoring and Personal Support Services — call 1300 363 831 or visit their mentoring and support page if you want to talk through your options with someone outside your workplace.
- Fair Work Ombudsman — if the issue is pay, entitlements, bullying, harassment, discrimination, or how your apprenticeship is being ended, fairwork.gov.au has specific guidance for apprentices and can help you resolve or escalate a workplace problem.
- Beyond Blue (beyondblue.org.au, 1300 22 4636) and Lifeline (lifeline.org.au, 13 11 14) — if the stress of all this is affecting your mental health, these services are free, confidential, and available any time, not just for emergencies.
When leaving might genuinely be the right call
Sometimes it is. Wrong trade, unsafe workplace, an employer who won’t fix a bullying problem, or a situation that’s genuinely hurting your health or wellbeing — these are all real reasons people leave, and none of them make someone weak or a quitter. Completion rates being what they are, a lot of people who leave one apprenticeship go on to start another trade, move into a different employer under the same trade, or find work that suits them better. This guide isn’t set up to tell you which situation you’re in — only you and the people who know your circumstances can weigh that up. What matters is that you look at the full picture (financial, workplace, wellbeing) and use the support available before deciding, rather than making the call alone at 11pm after a bad shift.
Frequently asked questions
Will I have to repay my whole loan if I quit?
Generally yes — your AASL balance still needs to be repaid once your income is above the threshold, whether or not you complete. The difference is the 20% completion discount, which is currently only applied if you finish your apprenticeship. Confirm your specific situation on the DEWR AASL page.
Can I switch employer or trade without starting completely from scratch?
Often, yes. Transferring your training contract to a new employer in the same trade usually keeps your progress intact. Switching to a different trade is a bigger step and may mean some retraining, but relevant skills and units can sometimes be credited. Your AASN provider or state training authority can tell you exactly what applies to your qualification.
Does pausing my apprenticeship affect my loan or incentive payments?
It can — suspending a training contract may pause your eligibility for ongoing payments while you’re not actively training, and rules vary by program and state. Check with your AASN provider and the relevant government page before formally suspending, so there are no surprises.
Who should I talk to first if I’m having problems at work?
If it’s a workplace relationship or training issue, your AASN provider is the first port of call — they can mediate and know the process. If it’s about pay, safety, bullying, or how you’re being treated, the Fair Work Ombudsman has specific guidance for apprentices and can help you understand your rights.
This guide is general information only — not financial or legal advice. Amounts and rules change and vary by state and trade. Always confirm with the official sources linked above before making decisions. Information correct as at July 2026.
Official sources: NCVER — Apprentice and trainee completion rates, DEWR — Australian Apprenticeship Support Loans, Australian Apprenticeships — Financial support for apprentices in priority occupations, Australian Apprenticeships — Find an AASN provider, Apprenticeship Support Australia — Mentoring and support, Fair Work Ombudsman, Beyond Blue, Lifeline.