School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Overview of establishing an SBAT

School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBATs) are arranged by a number of parties, including the student and their parent/guardian, the employer, the Registered Training Organisation (RTO), the school (where the student is enrolled to undertake their senior secondary certificate), and the Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP).

Below are 6 key steps to establish an SBAT. Further detailed information on each of these 6 steps can be found in key steps to establish an SBAT — detailed considerations.

Step 1: Establishing an SBAT

• An employer makes an offer of an SBAT to a student.
• The employer or student advises the school that they wish to negotiate the details of the employment and training.
• The school facilitates this process (and oversees the SBAT for its duration).
• The parties identify an appropriate RTO to deliver the training.
• The employer, the student and their parent/guardian sign the training contract.
• The employer is to ensure the training contract is registered with the ANP.

Step 2: Sign-up and approval

• The RTO prepares an appropriate training plan with the employer.
• The employer, the RTO and the student agree to and sign the training plan.
• The school is the final party to sign the training plan, after verifying its arrangements, prior to the student being enrolled with the training provider.
• The RTO provides the training plan to the relevant ANP.
• The school records the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Certificate and flags it as being undertaken as an apprenticeship or traineeship on the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS).

Step 3: Implementation

• The student undertakes their Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) at school, employment with their employer, and structured training at an RTO.
• The RTO is required to provide the results of training to the school in order to meet the reporting requirements of the VCE or VCAL.

Step 4: Changes to the Training Contract

• All parties must be notified immediately if there are any changes that need to be made to the training contract.
• Changes that may occur include:
  • cancellation of an SBAT
  • illness or injury
  • significant time off work
  • changes to RTO qualifications, units or training packages
• The school should facilitate clear communication between all parties.

Step 5: Completion of an SBAT

• Upon achievement of the required competencies, the student receives the qualification issued by the RTO.
• The school needs to ensure credits are entered into VASS by the yearly due date.
• The student receives credits towards their senior secondary program (VCE or VCAL certificate) from the VCAA.

Step 6: Student support

• Any absences, difficulties, issues or concerns must be reported to the school and the school must monitor these and follow up where necessary.
• Regardless of which party is involved, the school has a constant duty of care and plays an important role as intermediary between the student and other parties if any issues arise.
• Schools may wish to contact their ANP or Apprentice Support Officers (ASOs) as required. For more information on the ASO program visit the apprenticeship support officers website.