FAQs about school-based apprenticeships and traineeships
How do I find a student to employ as a school-based apprentice or trainee?
How often does a student go to work and training as part of their school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT)?
What is the difference between a SAT and a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship?
Is there a minimum age requirement to be able to do a SAT?
Is there a minimum or maximum number of days that a student has to attend work or training as part of a SAT?
What wages and conditions do SATs receive?
What happens if I don't finish my SAT when I am at school?
What happens if a SAT changes schools?
How do I find an employer to take me on as a school-based apprentice or trainee?
The first thing you need to do is check that your school will support you in undertaking a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT). Talk to the guidance officer or career counsellor at your school.
Once you have decided which SAT you want to do, you will need to find an employer. Some suggestions for doing this are:
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talk to your school co-ordinator - they are often aware of SATs that are currently available
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contact employers directly - either in person or through a letter
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contact a group training organisation directly or call 1800 819 747 to find a group training organisation that can place you with a host employer
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apply for jobs advertised in the newspaper
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search the internet - visit the Australian Jobsearch website
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use your personal networks - talk to family and friends to see if they know anyone who could employ you as an apprentice or trainee.
The Finding an Employer page may also be helpful.
When applying for a SAT, you need to make a good impression. Search these sites for tips on getting that job:
How do I find a student to employ as a school-based apprentice or trainee?
Recruiting a school-based apprentice or trainee is very similar to recruiting any other employee. You might consider:
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contacting a local school which may have students interested in a SAT
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informing people in your industry or company that you are offering a SAT
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registering vacancies with the Australian Jobsearch website
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placing an advertisement in the local newspaper
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offering the position to a student on structured work experience with your organisation
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contacting a group training organisation. To find a group training organisation in your area, phone 1800 819 747 or visit the Group Training Association website.
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using a recruitment agency or an online recruitment service
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contacting an Australian Apprenticeships Centre. Phone 13 38 73 or visit the Australian Apprenticeships Centre website to find the centre closest to you.
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contacting the Job Network employer line. Phone 13 17 15 to find a local Job Network member.
How often does a student go to work and training as part of their school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT)?
Each student will negotiate with their employer, training organisation and school, the days that they will attend work, training and school. This may be different for each student.
An education, training and employment schedule (ETES) is developed as part of the training plan which documents when the student is at work, school and training and must be negotiated at the same time as the training contract is signed.
School-based apprentices and trainees must be provided with a minimum of 48 days paid work each year or 80 days if they are doing an electrical apprenticeship.
School-based apprentices may only complete a maximum of one-third of the off-job training component for the apprenticeship while they are under the school-based arrangement. School-based trainees do not have a maximum limit and may complete the traineeship while they are at school (however this is not a requirement).
What is the difference between a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) and a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship?
SATs are undertaken as part of a student's high school studies. A school-based apprentice's or trainee's school timetable must reflect a combination of work, training and school studies. The work or training that a student has to do as part of their SAT must impact on the student's school timetable for the program to be considered school-based.
Under a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship you must work and/or train for at least 15 hours per week over a four-week cycle, throughout the duration of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
If a school student undertakes a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship, work and training occurs outside school hours and does not impact on the school timetable. There is no involvement by the school in a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship arrangement.
Is there a minimum age requirement to be able to do a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT)?
Entry into a SAT is generally available to students in years 10, 11 and 12. However, there are some apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications that have minimum age requirements as specified in relevant legislation, e.g. electrical.
Information on age restrictions applicable to particular apprenticeships or traineeship is available from:
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the industrial relations instrument applicable to the trade or occupation
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an Australian Apprenticeships Centre, phone 13 38 73
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Apprenticeships Info, phone 1800 210 210.
School-based apprentices or trainees who are under 18 years of age at the date of signing the training contract must have their parent's or legal guardian's details and signature on the training contract. Parents and legal guardians are a party to the training contract until the apprentice or trainee turns 18 years old.
Is there a minimum or maximum number of days that a student has to attend work or training as part of a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT)?
A school-based apprentice or trainee must work a minimum of 48 days for their SAT each year.
Electrical apprentices have specific requirements for the number of days they must work and how they must undertake their training. Refer to the information sheet on school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
There is no maximum number of days that a school-based apprentice or trainee may work. The number of days that are worked, above the minimum requirements will need to be negotiated between the school-based apprentice or trainee, the employer and the school.
School-based apprentices may only complete up to a maximum of one-third of the total off-job training component for the apprenticeship while they are school-based. However, school-based trainees do not have a maximum limit and may complete the traineeship while they are at school (however this is not a requirement).
What wages and conditions do school-based apprentices and trainees (SATs) receive?
School-based apprentices and trainees are only paid for the time they spend at work.
Unlike other apprentices and trainees, school-based participants are not paid for the time spent undertaking training arranged by the training organisation, and do not receive entitlements to sick leave, recreation leave (holidays) or public holidays. However, they are paid an extra amount on top of their wage instead of these entitlements.
School-based apprentices and trainees must work and be paid for a minimum of 48 days in each year of their school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT).
For specific information on wages and employment conditions for SATs, contact Wageline on 1300 369 945 or visit Wageline apprenticeship and traineeship website.
What happens if I don't finish my school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) when I am at school?
Many students will not complete their SAT by the time they finish school. These students will be required to convert their apprenticeship or traineeship to full-time or part-time when they finish school, to allow them to complete the qualification. Once converted to full-time or part-time arrangements, appropriate award wages and conditions apply.
What happens if a school-based apprentice or trainee (SAT) changes schools?
If a school-based apprentice or trainee changes school, the student will need to confirm with the new school that they can continue with their school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT). They will also need to notify their training organisation and contact Apprenticeships Info to advise that they have changed schools.
The training organisation will coordinate with the student, employer and school to review the student's training plan, including the education, training and employment schedule (ETES). This will ensure that everyone is aware of the days that the student is at school, work and training.