Policy
This policy sets out the requirements for schools to run and manage apprenticeships and traineeships for secondary school students.
Summary
- School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) are available to secondary school students who are over 15 years old and enrolled in Victorian Certificate of Education or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, the VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC).
- SBATs must be established through a training contract between the employer and the apprentice or trainee. The training contract is then submitted to the Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP), and a training plan is endorsed by the school.
- The minimum number of employment and training hours for SBAT arrangements is 13 hours per week.
- Head Start is a school-based apprenticeships and traineeships model for secondary students which focuses on flexible delivery Victorian Certificate of Education, Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, VCE Vocational Major or Victorian Pathways Certificate.
Details
School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs)
SBATs are available to secondary school students who are:
- over 15 years old
- enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12
- Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Non-citizens may be eligible under certain circumstances. To find out more speak with your Head Start coordinator.
SBATs offer students the option of combining:
- part-time employment
- school
- training.
An SBAT program runs under a contract with an employer and has a training plan registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). The training must lead to a nationally recognised qualification.
The vocational training components of SBATs also contribute credit towards a senior secondary certificate. Many SBATs move on to a full-time contract with their employer after leaving school, while others choose to continue their education and training at a registered training organisation (RTO) or university.
Head Start Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Head Start is a school-based apprenticeship and traineeship model for secondary students which focuses on the flexible delivery of VCAL and VCE .
Head Start will be available in all government schools from 2023 to support all SBATs regardless of the qualification (Certificate II/ III/IV), as long as the employment represents a genuine, long-term career opportunity.
Materials to support the transition to Head Start SBATs are available in the Resources tab.
The Head Start Delivery Guide supports school staff, employers, training providers and apprenticeship partners to establish and run a Heat Start apprenticeship or traineeship.
Participating schools will receive their funding through the Student Resource Package — Targeted Initiatives.
Further information about the Head Start program is available at: Head Start apprenticeships and .
Training plans for SBATs
Training plans must be signed by an authorised school representative within 2 months of the training contract commencing. A copy of the signed training plan is to be provided to the relevant Australian Apprenticeship Support Network.
A school representative must only endorse the training plan for an SBAT if:
- the student is enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12
- the student’s study, training and work commitments form an integral part of that student’s school learning program and study timetable and are consistent with the student’s career aspiration as outlined in their career action plan
- it will not be detrimental to the student’s overall education.
Following endorsement of the training plan, the school is responsible for enrolling the student on the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) so that the credit for the training within the VCE or VCAL can be awarded to the students.
In order for the training contract to be registered with the Victorian Regulations and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) as an SBAT, a school representative is required to sign the student’s training plan to acknowledge that the student is enrolled in a senior secondary program and that it forms an integral part of the student’s learning program and study timetable.
Training hours
The minimum number of employment and training hours is 13 hours per week, which is made up of:
- 7 hours of employment
- 6 hours of training.
These hours may be averaged over 3 periods of 4 months in each year of the training contract.
At least 1 day during the normal school week must be timetabled to be spent on the job or in training. Schools should only endorse the training program when:
- it forms an integral part of the student's school learning program and study timetable
- it can be verified that the student's timetable includes 1 day of the normal school week in employment and/or structured training as an apprentice or trainee.
Normal school hours are generally between 8:30am and 3:30pm, however schools may set their own normal hours and normal week. For more information, refer to School Hours.
RTOs should consult with the school about their hours and ensure the SBAT program satisfies the requirements above.
Employment outside normal school hours
If the only time a student can obtain employment is outside normal school hours, the student is permitted but must then complete at least 1 day of structured training per week during normal school hours to fulfil the SBAT requirements.
This may happen in an industry that operates early or late, such as bakeries, horse-racing stables or hospitality.
Employment over holiday periods
A school-based apprentice or trainee’s employment and structured training obligations may be averaged over 3 periods of 4 months in each year of the program. This allows for employment to be undertaken in school holiday periods.
Regardless of the amount of employment undertaken in school holidays, school-based apprentices and trainees must still have at least 1 day of each school week during normal school hours timetabled to be spent on the job or in structured training.
Apprenticeships that are not integrated into a learning program
Students who undertake an apprenticeship or traineeship that is not integrated into their learning program and study timetable will be undertaking a part-time apprenticeship or traineeship instead.
This type of arrangement will still provide credit for VCE or VCAL if it is recorded on the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS). These arrangements do not require school endorsement. These arrangements are at an individual student’s discretion and do not attract Skills First or Targeted VET funding subsidies.
Child Safe Standards
The Child Safe Standards are compulsory minimum standards for organisations which provide services for children, to ensure they are well prepared to keep children and young people safe and protect them from abuse.
Ministerial Order 1359 – Implementing the Child Safe Standards - Managing the risk of child abuse in schools outlines how the Child Safe Standards apply in schools and school boarding premises. Schools and school boarding premises must comply with Ministerial Order 1359 as part of the prescribed Minimum Standards for school registration.
The child safety obligations under the Child Safe Standards and Ministerial Order 1359 apply to all school environments, including workplace learning environments where students undertake work experience, structured workplace learning, school community work (volunteering) and school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
Guidance on the Child Safe Standards and workplace learning is available in Duty of care and Child Safe Standards for SBATs.
Definitions
Apprenticeships
Structured training arrangement of usually 3.5 or 4 years duration. The training combines practical experience at work with complementary off-the-job training with a Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
Child Safe Standards
Compulsory minimum standards for organisations which provide services for children, to ensure they are well prepared to keep children and young people safe and protect them from abuse. Ministerial Order 1359 – Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the risk of child abuse in schools provides the framework for child safety in schools, including workplace learning environments.
Head Start
An apprenticeship and traineeship pathway available to all government secondary students from 2023 to spend more time working, while completing the necessary vocational training and a senior secondary qualification. Head Start school-based staff support the student throughout the apprenticeship or traineeship, and engage regularly with the employer, registered training organisation (RTO), school and other stakeholders.
School based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs)
Apprenticeships and traineeships available to secondary school students who are over 15 years old and enrolled in years 10, 11 or 12.
Traineeships
A training agreement between the trainee and respective employer whereby the employer agreed to train in a specific industry, and the trainee agrees to work and learn. Traineeships usually last between 9 to 48 months, depending on the vocation and certificate level undertaken.
Related policies
- Child Safe Standards
- Community VCAL
- Purchasing Secondary Courses and Vocational Training from External Providers
- School Community Work
- Structured Workplace Learning
- VCE Vocational Major and Victorian Pathways Certificate Provision
- Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students
- Vocational Education and Training Delivered to School Students (Reference 143 of the Student Resource Package Guide)
- Work Experience
Relevant legislation
Reviewed 15 March 2023