Overview
School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) provide students with the opportunity to attain a nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification as well as their Higher School Certificate (HSC) while gaining valuable work skills and experience through paid employment.
These Guidelines set out the requirements for the implementation of school based apprenticeships and traineeships in NSW.
Eligibility
School based apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements are only available to students in NSW as part of their senior secondary studies (Year 11 and 12). Students can only undertake a school based apprenticeship or traineeship as part of their HSC pattern of study, with the formal training component (VET course) contributing unit credit towards the HSC.
Depending on industry requirements, students may commence a school based apprenticeship or traineeship in Year 10. In these instances, students are undertaking early commencement of a Stage 6 VET course and begin accumulating HSC units of credit while also completing the requirements for Year 10. See Section 4.5 of these Guidelines for more information.
Students may not undertake a school based apprenticeship or traineeship concurrently with another school based apprenticeship or traineeship.
Students may undertake more than one VET course as part of their HSC, however, schools must manage student subject selection in line with HSC pattern of study requirements and consideration of course exclusions.
Requirements for school based apprenticeships and traineeships
School based apprenticeships and traineeships are established when an application for a Training Contract that has been signed by the employer and the apprentice or trainee, College as the RTO as well as the parent or guardian (if student is under 18 years of age), has been approved by State Training Services.
School based apprentices and trainees must complete formal training that is delivered by a registered training organisation (RTO). The formal training must meet the requirements of the relevant Vocational Training Order (VTO) for that apprenticeship or traineeship vocation, and lead to a nationally recognised qualification on the NSW Skills List. The formal training (also referred to as off-the-job-training) component of school based apprenticeships and traineeships must contribute unit credit towards the HSC through Board Developed or Board Endorsed HSC VET course(s).
Arrangements for formal training and on-the-job training are developed by the RTO in consultation with the employer, the apprentice/trainee, the school and school sector representative and are formalised in a Training Plan, which must be lodged along with the Training Contract as part of the application.
School based apprentices and trainees must undertake a minimum of 100 days on-the-job training (unless otherwise stated in the relevant VTO) by 31 December of the year they will complete their HSC. This on-the-job training must be in the form of paid employment as an apprentice or trainee under an appropriate industrial arrangement. Further information is provided in Section 5 of these Guidelines.
School based apprenticeships and traineeships are binding on the parties to the Training Contract when the application has been approved and the probationary period (generally 3 months) has elapsed.
