He longed for something more hands-on and outdoors, and when he saw the opportunity for an apprenticeship with Central Highlands Water, he jumped at it.

Now he never knows quite what the day will hold. It could be anything from fixing a water meter to tackling a burst water main under pressure anywhere in the CHW region.

Mr Rotumah-Onus is one of 322 young Victorians who have gained an apprenticeship or traineeship since September with government departments, agencies and local councils through the Victorian Apprenticeship Recovery Package.

"This was a career change. Before I was a youth mental health worker sitting at my desk seven hours a day and I wasn't really enjoying it so when this came up ... I went for it," he said.

The mixture of on the job training and study is working well as he masters job skills alongside a Certificate III in Water Industry. "I was a bit worried at first going in to it, going from a full-time job with pay and dropping down to a trainee, but after the first week or two I don't regret it - it's been a great change."

Mr Rotumah-Onus was one of six apprentices and trainees honoured in Ballarat for taking part in the package, which the state government rolled out to help combat the impact of the pandemic on young people.

Soraya Schulz is completing a Certificate III in Business Administration and working at Vic Roads.

"Business administration has an amazing variety of areas I can go through. I came from university, and it really wasn't for me, but now I get to work in the business, gain experience and gain a certificate that can be used in a variety of areas," she said.

Employment minister Jaala Pulford said young people were among the most heavily impacted by job losses caused by the pandemic, and the Victorian Apprenticeship Recovery Package for people aged 15 to 24 created opportunities for unemployed people and those coming out of school to get a foot in to a career while taking part in training.

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"We know young people are at particular risk of missing their start in their working life - it's been a real area of focus ... this gives them every opportunity to fully participate in the economic recovery that's underway," she said.

Almost two thirds of the traineeships and apprenticeships are in regional Victoria.

"This program has come at the right time to give young people the opportunity to achieve a qualification through on and off-the-job training. It will also support local communities grow their local skilled workforce for the future," said Apprenticeship Employment Network executive director Gary Workman.

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