The MDT DESIGN Australian Apprentice Tool Grant

$3,000 Towards the Tools of Your Trade

Supporting the next generation of Australian tradespeople.

At MDT DESIGN, we’re jewellers. We work with our hands, use specialist tools every day and understand the skill, practice and dedication it takes to learn a trade.

That’s why we’ve created the MDT DESIGN Australian Apprentice Tool Grant.

We’re offering one Australian apprentice up to $3,000 towards tools and equipment for their trade.

MDT DESIGN is an award-winning, family-owned and operated Melbourne jewellery business founded by Nicholas Theochari in 1981. Our jewellery is handmade the traditional way in our onsite workshop – without casting or mass production – by jewellers who have spent years developing their skills at the bench.

Want to Apply?

Tell us your best apprenticeship story in 100 words or less.

It could be something you built, made, fixed or created. A mistake you have learnt from and will never make again. Something your mentor taught you. A difficult job you finally figured out on your own. Or simply a moment from your apprenticeship you’ll never forget.

Serious, funny, inspiring or unexpected – we want to hear your story.

Who Can Apply?

The grant is open to apprentices in any recognised trade, anywhere in Australia – from electricians, carpenters, plumbers and mechanics to chefs, hairdressers, horticulturists, jewellers and more.

To apply, you must:

• Be an Australian resident.
• Be undertaking a recognised Australian apprenticeship.
• Still be an apprentice when applications close on 30 November 2027.
• Be able to provide evidence of your apprenticeship if selected.

There is no application fee and no complicated application form.

Applicants Under 18

Applicants under 18 years of age must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to apply. MDT DESIGN may request written confirmation of this consent before awarding the grant or publishing information or photographs relating to the recipient.

How to Apply

Email [email protected] with the subject: Australian Apprentice Tool Grant Application

Include:

• Your full name and phone number.
• Your trade and stage of apprenticeship.
• Your employer.
• Your TAFE, RTO or training provider.
• Your best apprenticeship story in 100 words or less.
• A short description of the tools or equipment you would purchase with the $3,000 grant.

That’s it. No résumé, academic results or lengthy application required.

Privacy

Personal information provided as part of an application will be used by MDT DESIGN to administer and assess the grant, verify eligibility and contact applicants in relation to their application. Personal information will be handled in accordance with the MDT DESIGN Privacy Policy.

Applications are now open.

Applications close: 11:59 pm AEDT, 30 November 2027
Recipient announced: 14 December 2027

How Will the Recipient Be Chosen?

This isn’t an English exam!

We’re looking for a genuine story from an apprentice who takes pride in learning their trade – not perfect grammar or professional writing but it must be written by you. Not by AI.

We’ll consider the story, the applicant’s enthusiasm for their trade and how the $3,000 tool grant could help them develop their skills.

Be yourself. We’d rather read 100 honest words than 100 perfect ones.

This is a skill-based grant. There is no element of chance in determining the recipient.

Eligible applications will be assessed by MDT DESIGN based on:

• The authenticity and originality of the story.
• The applicant’s enthusiasm for their trade.
• What the applicant has learnt through their apprenticeship.
• How the proposed tools or equipment could assist their development in their trade.

MDT DESIGN will select the recipient it considers best meets these criteria.

Why Is MDT DESIGN Supporting Australian Apprentices?

Because we’re tradespeople too.

Different trades use different tools, but we understand the importance of learning from experienced tradespeople, developing practical skills and taking pride in doing a job properly.

We know what good tools mean because we use them every day.

The MDT DESIGN Australian Apprentice Tool Grant is our way of supporting the next generation of Australian tradespeople.

TAFEs, Schools & Training Organisations

We encourage TAFEs, schools, universities, RTOs, apprenticeship organisations, employers, careers advisers and industry associations to share the MDT DESIGN Australian Apprentice Tool Grant with eligible apprentices.

The grant is open to apprentices across Australia in all recognised trades, there is no application fee, and applying takes just a 100-word story.

Please feel free to share or link to this page as a resource for your students, apprentices or members.

Terms & Conditions

Applicants must be Australian residents undertaking a recognised Australian apprenticeship and still be an apprentice on 30 November 2027.

The successful applicant must provide evidence of their apprenticeship.

The grant provides up to $3,000 AUD towards tools or equipment directly related to the recipient’s trade.

MDT DESIGN may request quotations or invoices for the proposed tools or equipment.

The submitted story must relate to the applicant’s own experience and be no more than 100 words.

By applying, the successful recipient agrees that MDT DESIGN may publish their name, trade, story and approved photographs in connection with the grant.

MDT DESIGN’s decision in selecting the recipient is final.

The grant is non-transferable.

False or misleading information may result in disqualification.

Your story must be based on your own apprenticeship experience and written in your own words.

Entries that MDT DESIGN reasonably believes have been generated by AI, plagiarised or written by another person may be disqualified.

Applicants under 18: Applicants under 18 must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian to apply. MDT DESIGN may require evidence of this consent before awarding the grant.

Skill-based selection: The MDT DESIGN Australian Apprentice Tool Grant is skill-based. There is no element of chance in determining the recipient. Eligible applications will be assessed against the selection criteria published on this page.

Original work: The submitted story must be based on the applicant’s own experience and written in their own words. MDT DESIGN may disqualify an entry it reasonably believes has been generated by AI, plagiarised or written by another person.

Payment of the grant: The grant is not redeemable for cash. MDT DESIGN may pay an approved supplier directly or reimburse the recipient for approved tools or equipment upon presentation of satisfactory invoices or receipts, up to a maximum total value of $3,000 AUD.

Verification: MDT DESIGN may request reasonable evidence necessary to verify an applicant’s identity, residency, apprenticeship status, employer, training provider or proposed tool and equipment purchases.

Publicity: The successful recipient may be invited to participate in reasonable publicity relating to the grant. MDT DESIGN will obtain the recipient’s consent, and where required the consent of a parent or legal guardian, before publishing photographs or additional personal information.

Privacy: Personal information collected in connection with the grant will be used to administer the grant, assess applications, verify eligibility and contact applicants. Personal information will be handled in accordance with the MDT DESIGN Privacy Policy.

Changes outside our control: MDT DESIGN reserves the right to modify, suspend or cancel the grant if circumstances outside its reasonable control make it necessary to do so.

Tax: Any tax implications arising from receiving the grant are the responsibility of the recipient. Recipients should obtain their own advice where required.

Applications must be received by 11:59 pm AEDT on 30 November 2027.

The successful recipient will be announced on 14 December 2027.

About MDT DESIGN

Founded by Nicholas Theochari in 1981, MDT DESIGN is an award-winning, family-owned and operated Melbourne jewellery studio, boutique and onsite workshop specialising in individually designed and handmade engagement rings, wedding rings and custom jewellery.

Our jewellery is handmade the traditional way, without casting or mass production. Every piece is individually made by our jewellers, reflecting the practical skills, good tools and experienced mentoring that sit at the heart of our trade.

Kosta Theochari is MDT DESIGN’s Managing Director, as well as a jeweller and diamond grader. He continues the family business with the same focus on traditional jewellery-making, quality, practical skill and the value of learning a trade properly.

MDT DESIGN – Supporting Australian Tradespeople.