School-based apprenticeships and traineeships
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships allow high school students - typically those in Years 11 and 12 - to undertake a training qualification and work with an employer as a paid employee while studying for their senior certificate.
School-based apprentices and trainees undertake paid employment with a business for a minimum of 48 days in each 12-month period. At work, they learn skills under the guidance of the employer, following a training plan drawn up between the employer, the apprentice or trainee, and the supervising registered training organisation.
Decide how to employ a school-based apprentice or trainee
Choose an apprenticeship or traineeship
Select a school-based apprentice or trainee
Getting started
Pay and employment conditions
When the student leaves school
Decide how to employ a school-based apprentice or trainee
To employ a school-based apprentice or trainee a business must have:
- The range of work and facilities for meeting essential training requirements
- A tradesperson or qualified person who has the essential requirements for training (this person must be employed at the same premises as the school-based apprentice or trainee, mainly during the same hours).
Businesses that do not meet the requirements listed above, can still be involved in employing a school-based apprentice or trainee through a Group Training Organisation. A Group Training Organisation can employ a school-based apprentice or trainee by placing them with a business as the host employer. To find a group training organisation, telephone 1800 819 747 or visit the Group Training Australia website.
Choose an apprenticeship or traineeship
There are more than 700 different apprenticeships and traineeships to choose from. Information on the different types of apprenticeships and traineeships is available from the Queensland Training Information Service or by calling the Department of Education, Training and the Arts Info line 1800 210 210.
Some apprenticeships and traineeships have a legal minimum age requirement prior to commencement. Additionally, in response to industry concerns, restrictions have been placed on entry to school-based apprenticeships in the electrotechnology industry and applications are now considered on a case-by-case basis.
Select a school-based apprentice or trainee
There are a number of ways to recruit a school-based apprentice or trainee:
- Contact a local high school to access students interested in a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
- Contact a cluster group. Cluster groups (also known as school-industry partnerships) are collectives of local schools which have partnerships with industry to provide workplace training programs for students. To contact a cluster group, telephone 1800 626 839 or visit the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training website.
- Contact a group training organisation, to employ an apprentice or trainee as a host employer. To contact a group training organisation, telephone 1800 819 747 or visit the Group Training Australia website.
Getting started
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships legally require a training contract to be drawn up between the employer, the apprentice or trainee, and the parent or guardian (where applicable).
The supervising registered training organisation will work with the employer and the apprentice or trainee to develop a training plan which results in attainment of the qualification.
An Education, Training and Employment Schedule will need to be completed to demonstrate how the student's time is to be allocated between school, work and training.
The student's school or cluster group provides support throughout the apprenticeship or traineeship. Additionally, the supervising registered training organisation and the Australian Apprenticeships Centre provide assistance to get the program started.
Pay and employment conditions
School-based apprentices and trainees are only paid for the time spent at work. Their wage is usually calculated as a percentage of the full-time apprentice or trainee wage as outlined in the relevant agreement or award.
School-based apprentices and trainees must work and be paid for a minimum of 48 days in each year of the school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
School-based apprentices and trainees do not receive entitlements to sick leave, recreation leave or public holidays. However, they do need to be paid an extra amount on top of their wage to compensate for not receiving these entitlements.
For more information on wages and employment conditions for school-based apprentices and trainees, telephone Wageline on 1300 369 945 or visit the Wageline website.
When the student leaves school
School-based apprentices and trainees may complete their training while still at school but others will need to finish their training after they have left school. These apprentices and trainees can convert to a full-time or part-time apprenticeship or traineeship as soon as they finish school.
Use the Amendment of school-based training contract form [PDF 33kb] to assist the parties to notify the Department of Education, Training and the Arts of the conversion. Once converted to full-time or part-time arrangements, normal award wages and conditions apply.
Information on dealing with problems with an apprenticeship or traineeship, and completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship are also available on the DETA website.
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