Supporters Bring National Apprenticeship Week to Apprentices Across Australia
National Apprenticeship Week Australia 2026 saw supporters step up in a big way, taking celebrations directly to apprentices where they learn and work across the country.
Rather than waiting for apprentices to come to events, leading brands hit the road with BBQs, breakfast runs, and genuine connections that brought the spirit of the week to life on campuses and construction sites nationwide.
Bunnings Trade: A National BBQ Tour
Bunnings Trade launched an ambitious "Give a Shout" BBQ tour that visited over 19 TAFE campuses across all states and territories throughout the week. The initiative brought the celebration directly to apprentices where they train, with local Bunnings teams working the tongs and serving up bacon and egg rolls to appreciative students.
At TAFE Queensland's Nambour campus, apprentices turned out for a morning of good food and conversations. The relaxed BBQ atmosphere fostered genuine connections between apprentices and the Bunnings team, while highly sought-after Bunnings Trade merchandise added to the excitement.
The grassroots approach of bringing BBQs directly to training campuses across the country ensured apprentices could participate without disrupting their studies, creating good chats and great vibes at each stop along the way.
Queensland Government and TAFE Queensland: Cairns Campus Celebration
In Queensland's far north, the Queensland Government partnered with TAFE Queensland to host a vibrant morning event at the Cairns campus. Apprentices turned out in force for the celebration, which provided valuable opportunities to grab some food, score giveaways, and connect with support services to help them on their apprenticeship journey.
Days like this matter – giving apprentices time to focus on their pathway in the trades while connecting with industry partners and government representatives who back Australia's future workforce.
The event showcased the collaborative spirit between government, training providers, and industry in supporting apprentices across regional Queensland.
Subway and Triple M: Breakfast Where Apprentices Work
In a creative twist on campus celebrations, Subway Australia partnered with Triple M to deliver breakfast directly to apprentices on active job sites. The collaboration recognised that many apprentices are hands-on at worksites during the week, so the celebration needed to meet them where they are.
The team visited construction sites, including a Hutchinson Builders' project, arriving with fresh breakfast subs and merchandise for apprentices and their supervisors. The initiative showed genuine understanding of the apprentice experience, acknowledging that their commitment often means early starts and full days on site.
Bringing breakfast to building sites created a different kind of connection, celebrating apprentices in their actual work environment and recognising the real-world contribution they make every day to Australia's building and construction industry.
Celebrating Our Future Skilled Tradies
Across all states and territories throughout National Apprenticeship Week, apprentices and trainees were recognised for their contribution to the workforce. The week demonstrated the industry-wide commitment to not just celebrating apprentices, but meeting them where they are and showing up in ways that matter.
National Apprenticeship Week, which ran from 9-15 February 2026, celebrated the role of apprenticeships and traineeships in building individuals' skills and confidence while strengthening our nation's industries and economy.
A huge thank you to all the industry partners, government agencies, and training organisations who made National Apprenticeship Week 2026 such a success. Your commitment to celebrating and supporting apprentices makes a real difference to the next generation of Australia's skilled workforce.
Get Involved in National Apprenticeship Week 2027
Want to be part of National Apprenticeship Week Australia next year? Whether you're an employer, training organisation, industry partner, or government agency, there are many ways to celebrate and support apprentices in your community.
From hosting events on campus to taking celebrations on the road, every effort to recognise apprentices makes a difference.
Join our supporter list to find out how you can get involved in National Apprenticeship Week 2027.