Who can do an ASbA?
School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships 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. You can find out more here.
How do I complete my ASbA and my school-work?
The minimum number of employment and training hours is 13 hours per week, which is made up of 7 hours of employment and 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.
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.
More information can be found here.
Is an ASbA the same as VET in Schools?
There are several differences between VET in schools and ASbAs. Primarily, ASbA’s require paid employment through a ‘third party’ employer whilst VET in Schools require students to complete VET units through a TAFE or RTO.
Students can choose to complete VET studies as part of their senior school certificate. In these cases, the VET units may count towards the student’s Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or Overall Position (OP). If a VET subject is not available at their school, students can enrol at a TAFE or other Registered Training Organisation (RTO) — in some cases, even a neighbouring school. Students who complete VET studies in Years 11 and 12 may be granted Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) if they choose to progress to higher-level study.
ASbA’s involve students completing an apprenticeship or traineeship part time during their senior secondary studies, with options including anything from carpentry to hairdressing.
Victorian students also have the choice of the Vocational Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) — a hands-on alternative to the VCE. The VCAL program covers four core areas: literacy and numeracy skills, work-related skills, industry-specific skills and personal development skills. Students complete the certificate in Years 11 and 12 and may be awarded a qualification at one of three levels: foundation, intermediate or senior. VCAL students can complete work placements and attend TAFE classes, and may also undertake some VCE-level units.
Students in Victoria and Queensland can attend specialised trade colleges that combine traditional academic classes with trade and technical education programs. Students are able to work towards a VET qualification while completing Years 11 and 12.
You can find out more here.
What Apprenticeships can I undertake with an ASbA?
Eligible ASbAs vary state-to-state. When considering an ASbA, choose an apprenticeship or traineeship that is approved as an ASbA in your state.
You can find this information in the Job and Training Description Search. When searching, be sure you are looking at the information true for your state.
Once you have considered your options and decided on an apprenticeship or traineeship, you must find an employer who is willing to take you on as an ASbA. The Steps to an Australian Apprenticeship gives tips on what to do.
Once you have found an employer, an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provider will need to do the sign up. They will talk to the employer, the school, and if you are under 18 to your parent or caregiver.