Issued: 4 December 2007
Reviewed: 23 August 2013
School based apprenticeships and traineeships 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
- 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.
Commencement date
School based apprentices and school based trainees 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, that they will meet the minimum on-the-job training requirement specified in the Vocational Training Order by 31 December of the HSC year.
Training Plan
A Training Plan signed by all parties, including the school, must be lodged with Training Services NSW in conjunction with the apprenticeship or traineeship application. 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.
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 Vocational Training Order.
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.