Issued: 4 December 2007
Reviewed: 23 August 2013
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) are established on the following principles:
- School students enter into a binding training contract with an employer who agrees to offer paid employment and on-the-job training that meets the minimum requirement specified by industry in the Vocational Training Order (VTO).
- The obligations of the parties to a school-based apprenticeship and school-based traineeship are the same as for other employers and apprentices/trainees.
- The term of a school-based traineeship extends from the commencement date until 31 December of the HSC year.
- The term of a school-based apprenticeship is made up of the school-based component and the post school component. The school-based component extends from the commencement date until 31 December of the HSC year and is equivalent to the first year of a full-time apprenticeship. The post school component extends from 1 January after the HSC year for a further period equal to one year less than the nominal full-time term.
Important:
- Home Schooled students are not eligible to undertake an SBAT.
- Students can only undertake one 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. A student who undertakes an apprenticeship or traineeship that does not contribute unit value to the HSC, or another senior secondary certificate, will not be considered an SBAT.
For further information please refer to the School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships in NSW guidelines.
Commencement date
School-based apprentices and school-based trainees (SBATs) typically commence their training contract at the end of Year 10 or early in Year 11. They may not commence before the end of Year 10 unless their school agrees to support an early start to their Stage 6 program, and not before the beginning of Year 10 in any circumstances. They may commence their school-based apprenticeship and traineeship at a later stage of their HSC program only if they can demonstrate, in the Training Plan or SBAT Training Plan Proposal (TPP), that they will meet the minimum on-the-job training requirement specified in the VTO by 31 December of the HSC year.
SBAT Training Plan Proposal
Prior to a Training Contract being completed by the employer and apprentice or trainee, a SBAT Training Plan Proposal (TPP) will be completed in conjunction with the school sector representative, the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and the Apprenticeship Connect Australia Provider (ACAP).
The SBAT TPP must include details of the minimum on-the-job training requirement that need to be met by the apprentice or trainee and the pattern of attendance which includes off-the-job and on-the-job training to be undertaken within the student’s school timetable.
When signing the SBAT TPP the RTO must provide the expected date that the off the job training delivery is due to commence. By signing the TPP the RTO is confirming that they have capacity to train the apprentice or trainee and that the apprentice or trainee has consumed a training place.
The SBAT TPP is returned by the RTO to the ACAP and the school sector representative and the ACAP commences the formal completion of the Training Contract with the employer and the apprentice or trainee, and the parents/guardians. Included in this process is obtaining the signatures of the employer and apprentice or trainee on the SBAT TPP.
For further information please refer to the School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships in NSW guidelines.
Training Services and the Commissioner for Vocational Training
Training Services is responsible for the administration and regulation of apprenticeship and traineeship training in NSW. Support for employers, apprentices and trainees are provided through 9 Training Services regional offices across NSW. Training Services provide information and advice about obligations under the Act and help in resolving workplace disputes or training issues. They also offer specialist advice about school-based apprenticeships and traineeships to students and their parents/guardians, employers and schools.
Once the Training Contract has been completed by the employer and apprentice or trainee, along with the SBAT TPP, the ACAP submits the application to Training Services. Applications will be assessed as per the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act, 2001 (the Act) and SBAT Guidelines. Assessment of the apprenticeship or traineeship may include the Commissioner attending the worksite to undertake a Duty of Care and ensure that the employer has the capacity to train in the SBAT in the vocation that is being undertaken.
Applications for school-based apprenticeships and traineeships will not be approved unless the Commissioner is satisfied that formal training and on-the-job training arrangements specified in the Training Plan are supported by all parties and meet the minimum requirements specified in the VTO.
SBAT Training Plan
All apprentices and trainees must have a Training Plan completed by their nominated RTO in consultation with their employer. For a SBAT once the Training Contract has been Approved by the Commissioner the RTO has six (6) weeks to create the Training Plan in consultation with the employer.
The Training Plan must be signed by all parties, including the school, employer, apprentice or trainee and parents/guardians. Once the Training Plan has been signed the RTO must provide a copy to all parties, including the school sector. The Training Plan must include details of how the minimum on-the-job training requirement will be met, and confirmation from the school that the pattern of attendance at any off-the-job and on-the-job training can be accommodated within the student’s school timetable.
For further information please refer to the Vocational Training Guideline - Training Plan.
Training Term
The term for a school-based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 - 180 days of on-the-job training as specified in the VTO.
The term for a school-based apprenticeship will be the school-based component plus xx months full-time post-school, or until the relevant competencies are achieved. The school-based component will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During the school-based component of the apprenticeship the school-based apprentice must undertake a minimum of 100 - 180 days of on-the-job training as specified in the VTO.
Completion of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships
School-based trainees who successfully complete the appropriate qualification and undertake at least the minimum number of full-time on-the-job training days (or equivalent) by 31 December of the HSC year will be issued with a Certificate of Proficiency.
School-based apprentices who undertake at least the minimum number of full-time on-the-job training days (or equivalent) by 31 December of the HSC year will be eligible to commence work full-time from 1 January after their HSC year as a second year apprentice. They will successfully complete their apprenticeship at the end of the approved training term, or at an earlier date through competency based completion once they have successfully completed the appropriate qualification.
Competency Based completion of school-based traineeships
School-based trainees who successfully complete the appropriate qualification and undertake at least the minimum number of full-time on-the-job training days (or equivalent) prior to 31 December of the HSC year may apply for a Competency Based Completion to obtain a Certificate of Proficiency. As a part of the application the employer and trainee must provide evidence of successful completion of the minimum number of days completed. A Competency Based Completion cannot be applied for by the employer or trainee where the trainee is still in Year 11 and has not met the minimum number of days.