Steps to getting started
With the support of their school and parents or guardians, students can get a head start on their career by training for employment before finishing school.
To establish a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT), simply follow the five steps below:
Step 1: Choose the right apprenticeship or traineeship
There are hundreds of apprenticeships or traineeships available. To find one that suits the student, they will need to think about what they enjoy doing and what their interests are. Talking to family, friends or the school's guidance officer or career counsellor may help. The student can also visit career websites such as:
Find out if there is an apprenticeship or traineeship offering skills they will enjoy learning by browsing the A - Z of apprenticeships or the A - Z of traineeships.
Step 2: Talk to the school
Negotiations need to be carried out between the school, parent and student to ensure that the apprenticeship or traineeship forms an appropriate component of an overall school program.
Step 3: Find an employer
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The student will need to find an employer who will give them a job so they can earn while they learn. The school should be able to help with finding a suitable employer.
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As part of the school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, the student will work for a minimum of 48 days (or an equal amount of hours) over a 12-month period. This may be either one or more (full or part) days a week, for blocks of a time or on weekends, school holidays or after school.
Step 4: Training partners
Work with an Australian Apprenticeships Centre
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The Australian Apprenticeships Centre organises and conducts the signing of the training contract with the employer, student, and if appropriate, their parent/guardian.
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The signing of the training contract must not be done without the consent of the school. The school will receive a copy of the training contract registration approval letter that is then forwarded to the school-based apprentice or trainee.
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The Australian Apprenticeships Centre will confirm with all parties the requirements of a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship during the sign-up process.
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Find an Australian Apprenticeships Centres via the Australian Apprenticeships Centres website, or by phoning 13 38 73.
School
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The apprentice or trainee will continue to go to school to earn their Queensland Certificate of Education and work towards an Overall Position (OP).
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A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship must have an impact on the apprentice or trainee's school timetable. This means that some of the training and work must take place during school hours.
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The qualification or competencies completed during the SAT can be recorded on the student's Queensland Certificate of Education and will be recognised throughout Australia.
Choose a training organisation
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The apprentice or trainee and their employer will choose a training organisation who will work with them throughout the apprenticeship or traineeship.
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The training organisation will help develop the training plan [including the Education, Training and Employment Schedule (ETES)], deliver training, undertake assessment and issue a qualification on successful completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship.
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As each training organisation offers different ways of training, the apprentice or trainees and their employer should shop around for an appropriate training organisation. Visit Queensland Training Information Service (QTIS) for a list of training organisations delivering training in the chosen apprenticeship or traineeship.
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Once the training organisation agrees to become the preferred training organisation, they will be referred to as the supervising registered training organisation (SRTO) in all official paperwork but may also be called college, RTO or training organisation.
Step 5: Get started
Complete the paperwork
- Once the training contract has been completed by all parties, the Australian Apprenticeships Centre will lodge the contract with the Department of Education and Training for registration.
- The training organisation will work with the employer, apprentice or trainee, parent or guardian and school to complete the training plan and ETES. The ETES will confirm and document the agreed pattern of school, training and employment.
Use the probation to be sure
- Probation is the period of time when the apprentice or trainee works and trains with their employer before each decides whether to continue with the apprenticeship or traineeship.
- Probation begins on the first day the apprentice or trainee commences the apprenticeship or traineeship and usually lasts 90 days for apprentices and 30 days for trainees.
Dispute resolution
Disputes regarding training contracts and training plans do at times arise. The relevant parties should attempt to resolve issues in the best interests of the school-based apprentice or trainee.
Your local Department of Education and Training (DET) regional office should be contacted if:
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a resolution cannot be reached between the relevant parties
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a party [Australian Apprenticeships Centre, supervising registered training organisation (SRTO) or school] does not fulfil its obligations in relation to its role in the establishment of a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT).