Youth Transitions

School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

About School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

The School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships were introduced in 1998 as a distinct pathway within Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools. They are available to secondary school students from 15-years-old who are permanent residents of Australia.

A School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship offers students enrolled in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) the option of combining part-time employment, school and training. The program is undertaken under a training contract with an employer, has a training plan signed by the school and formally registered with Skills Victoria and leads to a nationally recognised qualification at Certificate II, III or IV level. It also includes paid work under some form of industrial agreement that endorses part-time apprenticeships, such as a Federal Industrial Award, Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) or Collective Agreement.

School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship programs generally provide the same contribution to the VCE as their related VET in the VCE programs. Many school based apprentices and trainees move on to a full-time contract with their employer after leaving school, while others choose to continue their education and training at TAFE or university.

For more information, see:

 

Changes to School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Changes to the workplace based training plan (training plan) for School Based Apprentices and Trainees (SBATs) were approved by the Victorian Skills Commission in October 2008. These changes mean that the distinction between integrated and non-integrated SBATs will no longer exist, as schools will only be required to endorse integrated SBATs.

These changes will impact on a school’s endorsement of a SBAT, as when a principal (or delegate) signs the training plan, they are now indicating that:

  • the student is enrolled in a senior secondary program (VCE or VCAL); and
  • the study, training and work commitments of the student form an integral part of that student’s school learning program and study timetable.

 

About the changes

A SBAT now forms an integral part of the student’s school learning program and study timetable when it can be verified that during term time, the training and employment timetable indicates that a minimum of one day of the school week during normal school hours (which may be averaged over three periods of four months duration in each year of the training contract) is spent in employment and/or structured training as an apprentice or trainee. Schools should only endorse the training plan for a SBAT in these circumstances.

Endorsement of the training plan by the school will continue to indicate that it is undertaking responsibility to enrol the student on Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) so that credit for the training within the VCE or VCAL can be awarded to the student.

The distinction between integrated and non-integrated SBATs will no longer exist, as schools will only be required to endorse integrated SBATs.

Students who undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship that is not integrated into their learning program and study timetable will be undertaking part-time apprenticeships or traineeships. This type of arrangement will still provide credit for VCE or VCAL if it is recorded on VASS.

Consultations on this issue were undertaken by both DEECD and Skills Victoria and broad support for the change was given.

The change will support the implementation of SBATs as a fully integrated learning and career pathway for students and support vocational pathways that are aligned with skill priority areas.

 

Endorsing training plans

Schools should only endorse the training plan for an SBAT if the new SBAT criteria has been met. Endorsement of the training plan by the school will continue to indicate that it is undertaking responsibility to enrol the student on Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) so that credit for the training within the VCE or VCAL can be awarded to the student.

 

Part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Students who undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship that is not integrated into their learning program and study timetable will be undertaking part-time apprenticeships or traineeships. This type of arrangement will still provide credit for VCE or VCAL if it is recorded on VASS.

 

Further information

The change will support the implementation of SBATs as a fully integrated learning and career pathway for students and support vocational pathways that are aligned with skill priority areas.

Sample templates of the revised training plans are available from the Related Resources section on this page and the Skills Victoria website

Schools must use the revised training plans for integrated SBATs that commence training and employment from 1 January, 2009.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the minimum number of employment and training hours for SBATs been changed?

Yes. The minimum number of employment and training hours is now 13 hours per week. SBATs are to be undertaken by the student over two years at an average of 13 hours per week for employment and training per week. The option of undertaking an SBAT over three years at an average of ten hours per week of employment and training no longer exists.

 

What hours of training and employment should a SBAT student undertake?

SBAT students must undertake at least 7 hours of employment and 6 hours of training per week which may be averaged over three periods of four months in each year of the program. Training should be averaged over three periods of four months duration in each year of the training contract.

 

How much time should a student spend on the job or in training?

At least one day during the normal school week must be timetabled to be spent on the job or in training. Schools should only endorse the training program for an SBAT when it forms an integral part of the student’s school learning program and study timetable and when it can be verified that during term time, a student’s timetable indicates that a minimum of one day of the school week during normal schools is spent in employment and/or structured training as an apprentice or trainee.

 

What are the definitions of the ‘normal school week’ and ‘normal school hours’?

Section 4.3.1 of the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide states that: 

“Schools should provide at least 25 hours student instruction per week... Generally, instruction is undertaken in schools between 8.30 am and 3.30 pm.

The specific times for each school will be determined at the local level, taking into account such things as bus schedules, links with other schools and the organisation of the school day...”

The above statement clarifies conventional school operating hours, but recognises that each school is responsible for determining its own ‘normal school week’ and normal school hours’. Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) should consult with the school at which the prospective school-based apprentice or trainee is enrolled for clarification of that school’s normal school hours and week, in order to ensure that the SBAT program satisfies structured training and employment requirements. 

For further information please refer to the full text of section 4.3 of the Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide (PDF - 52Kb)

 

What happens if an employer cannot offer a school-based apprentice or trainee any work during school time?

The requirement that a school-based apprentice or trainee spend a minimum of one day during the normal school week in employment or structured training allows for students to undertake a combination of employment and/or training.

If the only time a student can obtain employment as part of their apprenticeship or traineeship is outside of ‘normal school hours’ (i.e. in an industry that only operates in the mornings or evenings, for example bakeries, horse-racing stables or some hospitality arrangements), the student is permitted to undertake their employment at such times but must then complete at least one day of structured training per week during normal school hours to fulfil the SBAT requirements.

RTOs should contact the school at which the school-based apprentice or trainee is enrolled to find out their normal school hours.

 

Can school-based apprentices and trainees be employed over the Christmas break and other school holiday periods?

A school-based apprentice or trainee’s employment and structured training obligations may be averaged over 3 periods of 4 months in each year of the program. This allows for employment to be undertaken in school holiday periods.

It is acceptable to continue to employ the school-based apprentice or trainee for the Christmas period so long as this is specified in their training plan and training contract, and the employment is adequately monitored. During such periods, schools are still required to fulfil their duty of care requirements in relation to the student. Though the employer has duty of care in the workplace, the school needs to take steps to ensure parents are notified of holiday placements and approve these arrangements. The Department’s parental approval letter for VETiS students undertaking studies at an external provider may be used to inform the development of a parental consent form for such a purpose. For a sample form, please see: Sample Parental Consent Form (Word - 41Kb)

Regardless of the amount of employment undertaken in school holidays, school-based apprentices and trainees must still have at least one day of each school week during normal school hours timetabled to be spent on the job or in structured training. The requirement that the study, work and training commitments of the SBAT form an integral part of their school learning program and study timetable still stands.

 

Students must be undertaking a senior secondary program (VCE or VCAL) to undertake a SBAT

In order for the training contract to be registered with Skills Victoria as an SBAT, a school representative is required to sign the student’s training plan to acknowledge that the student is enrolled in a senior secondary program such as VCE or VCAL and that it forms an integral part of the student’s learning program and study timetable.

 

Related resources

The following are key resources with useful information and advice on the school based apprenticeships and traineeships pathway:

 

References

Presentations

Documents