education.vic.gov.au

School operations

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 officersExternal Link website.
Chapter in the Guidelines for School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships providing a high level summary of the process for establishing an SBAT for a student

Reviewed 26 May 2020

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